Margot Lee Shetterly

Date of Birth: September 30, 1969

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Biography

Margot Lee Shetterly is an American non-fiction writer who gained international recognition for her book “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Who Helped Win the Space Race.” She was born in Hampton, Virginia, and grew up in a family and community of scientists, engineers, and educators. Her father worked as a research scientist at NASA Langley Research Center, and her mother was an English professor at Hampton University. Shetterly attended Phoebus High School and went on to earn a degree in economics from the University of Virginia. After college, she moved to New York City and worked in investment banking, media startups, and other entrepreneurial ventures. Eventually, she turned to writing full-time. “Hidden Figures,” published in 2016, became a New York Times bestseller and was adapted into an acclaimed film the same year. The book tells the story of African-American female mathematicians at NASA whose work was crucial to the success of the U.S. space program during the Cold War. Shetterly’s work has been praised for shedding light on these overlooked pioneers and has won numerous awards.

5 Interesting Facts about Margot Lee Shetterly

1. Margot Lee Shetterly is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in economics.

2. Her book “Hidden Figures” was adapted into a film that received multiple Academy Award nominations.

3. She founded The Human Computer Project, an endeavor aimed at recovering the work and legacy of all of NASA’s female “computers” and mathematicians.

4. Shetterly was awarded a MacDowell Colony Fellowship for her work on “Hidden Figures.”

5. She was named one of the “Top 50 Women in Tech” by Forbes in 2018.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Margot Lee Shetterly

1. “I think that the story of ‘Hidden Figures’ is a story of the American Dream, and it’s a story of what happens when people are allowed to succeed, and they have the opportunity to succeed.”

2. “The women in ‘Hidden Figures’ are not anomalies. They are examples of what happens when you give someone an opportunity.”

3. “We all get where we are because of the people who came before us.”

4. “It’s important to tell stories that have been overlooked because they add to the richness of our understanding of history.”

5. “Creating change is not a solo endeavor; it requires a collective effort.”