About Me

Hi, I'm Claudia Pineda - aerospace engineer, speaker, traveler, and founder of Cosmically Minded.

I grew up in South Central Los Angeles, looking up at the sky and at airplanes. Today, I get to work beside aircraft as a Flight Test Engineer at Boeing, helping to test and refine the airplanes that connect our world.

As a first-generation Latina with roots in El Salvador and Guatemala, I've learned that our beginnings don't define how far we can go, but rather they give us the grounding to rise.

Through Cosmically Minded, my mission is to spark curiosity, celebrate representation in STEM and inspire others to explore - the world, their passions, and themselves. I use storytelling, travel, and STEM to remind people that exploration is not just about reaching new places but it is also about discovering and healing parts of yourself along the way.

Whether I'm speaking on stage, testing an airplane, or hiking a new trail, everything I do is driven by one belief: Your story matters. Your curiosity is your compass. You are capable of reaching heights beyond imagination.