Lindsey's professional journey began with launching satellites into space. She graduated in 2000 with an economics degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, she went to Los Angeles to manage financial analysis for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, a government effort to reduce the cost of space launch while increasing access for government and commercial customers.
Compared to today, with companies like SpaceX launching weekly, the pace of operations at the EELV program was slow. There were eight launches during Lindsey’s five years with program and each was a monumental undertaking.
When she completed her five-year commitment to the Air Force, she enrolled in MIT’s Sloan School of Management with the goal of pivoting to industry.
“Many of my colleagues left the military to work for a government contractor. They would come back a week later wearing different clothes, but doing the same job,” Lindsey explained. “I wanted to try something different.”
Her post-MBA career initially led her to consulting, where she found herself back in government-related projects until a move to Dubai offered broader industry exposure. There she took on roles in telecommunications, IT services, and industrial equipment.
When a former client offered her a job working for a Swiss airline MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul), she accepted with the hopes of shaking up her career and getting deeper aerospace industry experience.
Over the next several years, she worked in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Zurich, enjoying the opportunity to be on the execution side of an industry she was passionate about.
Former coworkers would reach out often to pitch her on rejoining the consulting ranks, but she resisted until one gave her the hard sell about why AlixPartners was different.
“She told me that working at AlixPartners wasn’t like our past experiences where we would hand over a deck and walk away,” she explained. "She described the projects that she was working on and I thought, ‘OK, you’re really in there, rolling up your sleeves and doing the implementation.’”
That was all she needed to hear. In 2018, she moved to Boston to join AlixPartners’ Aerospace & Defense team. During her six years at the firm, Lindsey has happily seen an increase in space-related projects driven in part by the proliferation of small satellite deployments and the resultant demand for infrastructure and logistical support. This is also attracting the attention of private equity firms looking for advice on how to invest in the new market.
For Lindsey, the allure of the space industry extends beyond its rapid evolution to its inclusivity. Unlike older industrial segments such as aviation or automotive, the 'New Space' phenomenon is offering an environment for women to lead without encountering the same cultural barriers.
Lindsey emphasized, “There is so much churn in the industry right now with emerging players entering the fray almost daily. What excites me most is the unique opportunity 'New Space' presents for women to be involved and leading the charge."
And Lindsey is right in the middle of it, working with the companies that are defining and shaping the way we will interact with space in the future.
“Growing up, I wanted to find a way to one day work at NASA. They were the only ones with access to space. But the scene has now shifted. It’s now the commercial companies driving the exciting innovation in space, and those are the ones that I get to work with.”