What Astronauts Know About High-Performing Teams (That Many Don't Understand)

Teamwork beats raw talent. It's a fact astronauts know well but one that Earthbound teams can sometimes overlook. European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti shares what space crews understand about building teams that work well together – and the shift that preparation undertook to make that happen. She shares what mentors taught her about being a great team member and why the 'experience' of the work day is as important as the task at hand. She also details other lessons learned from her more than 200 days in space, including:

-Why the best leaders are great followers

-Why space sovereignty will shape the next phase of space collaboration. "You want to be an equal partner—not just a customer."

-Why the gender gap in space is closing. Learn why some astronaut classes are at parity and what it teaches other sectors about talent pipelines

This interview was recorded in January 2026 at the Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

About this episode:
Read here - Transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/samantha-cristoforetti-esa-teamwork-leadership
Watch here - YouTube: https://youtu.be/AI_7QcZy5A8

About this guest:
European Space Agency: https://www.esa.int/

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