We train Astronauts.
And you.
Former Astronaut Instructor. Now training leaders who can't afford to fail.
What separates leaders who thrive under pressure from those who crack?
Every great business is built by great people. People who communicate clearly, lead courageously, and stay resilient when it matters most.
These skills aren't soft. They're hard-won. And in my years training astronauts, ground control teams, and Antarctic explorers, I've seen what separates those who perform under pressure from those who don't. It's not talent. It's training.
The methods I use aren't theory. They've been tested where failure isn't an option and they work just as powerfully in a boardroom as they do in mission control.
I founded Charlesworth Human Performance because everyone deserves access to this training. Not just astronauts. Your leaders, your teams, your next generation of talent.
No guesswork. No fads. Just proven, practical skills that change how people show up.
Susan Charlesworth
Founder, Charlesworth Human Performance
Keynotes
What got you here won't get you there
Susan's signature keynote explores the tipping points of human performance, the critical moments when what worked before suddenly doesn't.
From the Apollo 1 fire to Mars mission prep, she traces how the competencies required for success evolved from individual technical mastery to team collaboration, psychological resilience, and autonomous decision-making. The question becomes: What are the tipping points facing your industry, your team, your leadership?
Whether it's a conference of 500 or an executive offsite, Susan delivers a keynote that challenges audiences to question their assumptions about performance - and prepares them for what comes next.
Perfect for: Leadership conferences, organisational change initiatives, industries facing disruption, teams navigating high-pressure environments.
As seen on the BBC and TEDx.
About Susan
Performance psychologist, astronaut trainer, leadership coach
Susan spent over a decade training astronauts and ground control teams at the European Space Agency, teaching them how to make decisions under pressure, communicate in high-stakes environments, and lead when it matters most.
Now she brings those same methods to businesses. Her programmes are built on real performance psychology, not theory, not motivational fluff and they're designed to create lasting change in the people who go through them.
Elite human performance skills for your next generation of leaders
The transition from individual contributor to leader breaks more careers than anything else. We make sure yours don't.
For managers navigating critical transitions
Your rising stars and mid-level leaders are stepping into bigger roles with no structured preparation. Launchpad gives them what astronauts get: practical training for high-pressure decisions and leadership under uncertainty.
Proven methods from mission-critical environments
Communication under pressure. Handling difficult conversations. Self-management when workload spikes. Leading with adaptability. Tested skills, not theory.
Delivered live online
All the intensity of in-person training, none of the logistics. Designed for distributed teams who need results, not another day out of the office.
Public Speaking Workshops
Train your team to speak with authority
Twenty years of keynotes, panels, and a TEDx stage
taught me one thing: technical brilliance means nothing if you can't
communicate clearly.
This workshop fixes the problem plaguing technical
sectors, brilliant people giving terrible presentations. Your
team learns structure, confident delivery, and how to handle
tough questions without losing the room. Real practice, real
feedback.
Courageous Leadership workshops
Build leaders who create high-performing teams
In mission control, trust, clear communication, and
accountability aren't leadership buzzwords, they're
operational requirements. Teams that don't speak up, challenge assumptions,
or hold each other accountable cause missions to
fail.
This one-day workshop teaches your leaders how to build
teams that perform when it counts.
You were so amazing. Extremely engaging and a lot to take away. You were so considerate and calm and made it very comfortable.
Rohini
Science Communicator, STFC
Susan presented to the Group SHE Leaders exploring human performance, human factors and psychological safety. It was very well received and valuable. I would highly recommend Susan who tailored the offering to our audience and business.
Carole Bardell-Wise
SHEQ Director, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure
Susan was brilliant at encouraging me to challenge myself. I had some great breakthrough moments. She encouraged me to believe in my own thoughts and feelings, finding strengths that I didn't really believe I had.
Sarah Wilson
Director of Communications, Global Swiss Jewellery Group
It was inspiring to see you speak for all 3 hours. I personally liked the techniques related to voice exercises and circle of excellence.
Siddharth
Data Scientist, STFC
Susan was a consummate professional and responded to our enquiry to speak at short notice with enthusiasm and poise. She delivered an engaging talk which gave the audience great insights into the human factor as part of the space supply chain.
Ann Swift
Space Sector Development Manager, The Manufacturing Technology Centre
Susan has a wonderful open and empathetic style of facilitating and leading. She makes every participant feel that they are special and that they have something to contribute to create action and change.
Heather MacRae
Chief Executive, The Ideas Foundation
Working with Susan was invaluable. I gained really deep insights into what was holding me back. Thank you so much for your help!
Hannah Galliers
Finance Manager, IT Services Company
Susan was thoughtful, professional and knowledgeable. The style and content of the session was just right and the activities were genuinely useful. I have some important actions to do as a result.
David Pearson
Payload Engineering Manager, RAL Space
Working with Susie has been a breath of fresh air! When you are striving for excellence you need Susie to come and pave the final step. She showed us that everything we needed we already had, we just weren't applying it right.
Freddie Gibbs
Designer and Studio Manager, Nicholsons
You were so amazing. Extremely engaging and a lot to take away. You were so considerate and calm and made it very comfortable.
Rohini
Science Communicator, STFC
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