I didn’t have that fancy story of looking up at the stars as a child, dreaming of working in the space sector. In fact, I landed in the space industry very unexpectedly. I went to business school, did my master’s in international development, and despite my academic background, I worked for many years in communications. My first company was OMV in Vienna, in the oil and gas field, and later I moved to Siemens, working in corporate communications. Communications have always been a guiding thread for me, but space? That was a surprise.

The only connection I had to space, which I only realized much later, was that I was born in Kazakhstan, where Baikonur is—where rockets launch and astronauts from around the world head to space. But at the time, I had no clue that this would eventually play a part in my life.

While I was at Siemens and studying international development, I felt this hunger for something more. I didn’t feel challenged enough. I was surrounded by good people, but I was hungry for people with high ambitions, big dreams, people who wanted to change the world. One night, I came home, and something just clicked—I decided to apply to the United Nations. I applied to every possible position related to communications, not thinking much of it. Months went by, I heard nothing, and frankly, I forgot about it.

Then one day, during a boring university lecture, I was deleting old emails, and I almost moved an email from ‘UNOOSA’ to spam. At the last second, it clicked—UN, United Nations! I opened it, and it was an invitation for an interview with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. I didn’t even remember applying to it! But I took the interview, passed, and found myself with a decision—leave my stable job at Siemens for an unpaid position at the UN? Thanks to the support of my mother, my now-husband, and my friend Sonja, I decided to take the leap.

Once I stepped into that UN building, everything changed. It wasn’t the building itself—it was the people. I found myself surrounded by some of the brightest minds, people whose dreams weren’t limited by the sky anymore. I met people like Alberto Rueda, Susan Higashio, Nina Kickinger, Lóránt Czárán, who were so passionate about space, and they made me fall in love with it. They showed me that the space sector isn’t just for astronauts and engineers—it needs marketers, designers, lawyers, doctors, photographers, journalists, entrepreneurs, and more. 

Every day since then, I’ve fallen more and more in love with the space industry.

Now, through Re.Brand Academy and BluDot, I’m helping others find their own path in the space sector. The opportunities in the new space economy are endless, and I want more people to see that they, too, have a place in this incredible field.

I’m currently doing two major things that are very close to my heart. First, I’m the founder and mentor at Re.Brand Academy, an ed-tech company designed to help space professionals and enthusiasts find their path in the space sector. My work is deeply rooted in guiding individuals to not only become visible and investable but also to realize their dreams and make meaningful contributions to the industry. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the transformation of the people we mentor as they find their place in the space industry.


Through our program—focused on Foundation, Personal Branding, Communication, and Monetization—I have the privilege of watching participants grow their careers and expand their networks, with some finding opportunities at companies like NASA, ESA, DLR, Astra, Airbus, Stardust, Astradyne, and more, while others start their own ventures. Some have been featured in national and international media, invited to prominent TV programs, won startup competitions, or even made it to Forbes. What drives me is the belief that the people we support today will be the ones shaping the future for the next generation. It’s about helping them tap into their full potential and watching them create an impact that goes far beyond Earth.

On the other side, I’m also the COO of BluDot, a space industry marketplace app that I co-founded with my business partner, Lama Aloraiman. BluDot’s mission is to enable easier access to the space industry with our motto, ‘space is one click away.’ The app offers three main routes—building a payload, launching your project to space, and becoming an astronaut. We aim to connect users and companies through this application, making space more accessible.

As a small team, a lot of responsibilities fall on us as founders. I’m closely involved in the onboarding of clients and work directly with our developers—a completely new role for me. Being in the operations of developing an app is an exciting and educational process. It’s a true entrepreneurial roller coaster that challenges you every day, but it’s also so much fun.

It’s exciting to be working at the intersection of education, technology, and space, where we’re making dreams possible for people who want to leave a real impact on the world.

If you believe you have something to contribute to the space sector—whether it’s your talent, a cosmic idea, a breakthrough project, or research—believe me, there is space for everyone. This is undeniable. 


There are three essential steps to get started. 



1. Do a deep self-assessment. Understand who you are, what you offer, your strengths, and your mission. Find that intersection between what you’re good at and where you can contribute in the space sector.



2. Find a mentor who is already where you want to be. Mentors can save you years of trial and error. 



3. Build your personal brand. Even if you’re just starting out, share your journey—your ups and downs, your progress as a space enthusiast or professional. People are no longer just interested in the polished, final success story. They want to see the real journey, the highs and lows, and they will resonate with that. Along the way, you’ll find incredible people who will join your journey and support you.

This is my shortcut to success, and it saved me years. It can save you time, too.