KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Aisha Bowe, aerospace engineer, entrepreneur, and founder of two STEM-focused companies, joined Burns & McDonnell, a 100% employee-owned architecture, engineering and construction firm, for a STEM education engagement. A member of Blue Origin’s all-female New Shepard NS-31 flight, Bowe spoke with students from DeLaSalle High School and Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School about her journey from community college to space. She later took part in a discussion with Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Burns & McDonnell employee-owners.

Bowe is an aerospace engineer who worked at NASA’s Ames Research Center, where she focused on nanosatellites and flight trajectory optimization. In 2013, she founded STEMBoard, an engineering and technology services firm delivering solutions to government and commercial clients, twice recognized by Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest-growing companies in America. Driven by a passion to make STEM accessible to all, she also created LINGO, a self-paced coding kit that helps students learn technical concepts at home.

“Exposure matters, but opportunity is what changes outcomes. My focus is on building pathways that allow curiosity to turn into real technical skills and careers,” Bowe says.

Bowe’s career showcases her dedication to advancing STEM education and inspiring future generations of engineers and scientists, highlighted by her participation in Blue Origin’s New Shepard program as a science payload operator conducting NASA affiliated research.

“Aisha’s journey from rocket scientist to CEO is incredibly inspiring. She showed our students that passion for STEM can be the foundation not just for a career, but for building their own company and shaping the future,” says Quinton Jones, structural engineer & Alliance Committee chair at Burns & McDonnell.

“Her journey sends a clear message to students that a career in STEM is attainable for anyone, from any background. It's critical for young people to see leaders who look like them, and Aisha’s presence helped reinforce our commitment to building a more inclusive future in STEM fields,” says Leon Harden, employee experience manager at Burns & McDonnell.

Bowe’s participation in the event provided a unique opportunity for students and STEM professionals to hear from a leader who is shaping the future of STEM and space exploration.

About Burns & McDonnell

Working from more than 75 offices around the world, Burns & McDonnell designs and builds critical infrastructure. Our family of companies — driven by engineers, construction professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists — delivers projects grounded in safety and a desire to make a difference as we make our clients successful. Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned. Learn more.