Shreya Rastogi: Aerospace Engineer On Women's Inclusion, Innovation, Impact In STEM

Shreya Rastogi's journey is a testament to the phrase 'the sky is the limit.' From a child dreaming of flying planes to an aerospace engineer and licensed private pilot, she has turned her childhood wonder into a high-flying career. The path was challenging for a young girl entering a male-dominated industry, especially in a society where societal expectations weigh heavily on women in STEM. However, her determination and clarity of purpose took her beyond the barriers, establishing her as a respected, fresh voice in India's aerospace industry.

Rastogi pursued her education at the prestigious University of California, Davis. Now based in Bengaluru, Rastogi founded her own company, SR Aerospace Solutions, to bridge critical gaps in the Indian aerospace landscape. She has previously worked on projects with acclaimed R&D labs like NASA, The ePlane Company, etc.

Speaking to SheThePeople, she shared her career in STEM and academia, recounting the triumphs and struggles that shaped her path. She also reflected on the growth of the Indian space technology industry, the indispensable role of women and youth within it, and the future of scientific innovation in the country. 

Shreya Rastogi in conversation with SheThePeople

STP: Can you share a bit about your background, upbringing, and professional journey? How did you get into aerospace engineering?

Shreya Rastogi: I’ve always been a bit obsessed with flight. As a kid, I dreamed of becoming a pilot, but I didn’t meet the height requirements. That didn’t deter me.

Instead, I set my sights on building the machines themselves. I pursued aerospace engineering, became a licensed pilot anyway.

I immersed myself in hands-on work, from flying taxi startups to R&D in advanced material systems. This journey, across academia, startups, and on-the-ground engineering, made one thing very clear: India lacked the deep-tech infrastructure to build aerospace products from the ground up. That’s the gap I set out to address—and the mission that continues to drive me today.

STP: What was it like growing up as a young girl with aspirations of entering the science world? Was there a person or moment that shaped your dream?

Shreya Rastogi: It was equal parts exhilarating and isolating. I rarely saw other girls; sometimes not even one who was fascinated by engines, equations, or the mechanics of flight. But that never made me question my passion. A turning point came in high school, thanks to an incredible physics teacher who never once treated my curiosity as out of place.

Instead, he handed me books on aerodynamics and said, “You’ll probably build something wild one day.” That simple, unwavering belief lit a fire in me. I’ve been chasing that ‘wild’ ever since.

STP: Can you share the story behind S R Aerospace and how you turned your passion into a full-fledged business?

Shreya Rastogi: S R Aerospace wasn’t just launched as a business—it was born out of necessity. At the time, we saw a critical gap in the Indian aerospace ecosystem: propulsion components were either outdated, imported at high costs, or simply not tested to real-world aerospace standards. So, we decided to build our own solutions, starting from advanced simulations all the way to rigorous physical testing. We’re still proudly bootstrapped, but our carbon fibre propellers have earned certification from the National Aerospace Laboratories. Everything is made in-house and engineered to exceed—not just meet—global standards.

STP: Can you describe how India’s aerospace industry is working to better the lives of undeserved communities, indigenous people, women, students, etc?

Shreya Rastogi: There’s a quiet but powerful revolution underway in India’s aerospace industry. Indigenous design and manufacturing are finally getting the recognition and support they deserve—and with that comes space for grassroots talent to thrive. Whether it’s a tribal youth learning to assemble UAVs or a student from a small town gaining hands-on experience with flight control systems, the industry is becoming far more accessible.

Government initiatives like the Atal Innovation Mission, iDEX, or Drone Didi are creating pathways that didn’t exist a few years ago. What we’re witnessing is the real democratisation of aerospace knowledge, and that has the potential to uplift entire communities.

But this is just the start. To truly empower women and underserved communities, we need to go beyond basic operation and into deeper upskilling, training in drone design, diagnostics, maintenance, and flight testing. Imagine tech-first fellowships where women are not just flying drones but actually building and servicing them. That kind of capacity-building creates long-term value. 

Public-private partnerships can play a huge role here. MSMEs are well-positioned to act as implementation arms on the ground, bringing real industry exposure into local ecosystems.

STP: What are the gender dynamics like in the aerospace industry of India? What are the challenges that women in aerospace, or STEM in general, continue to face today, and what can be done to alleviate them?

Shreya Rastogi: There’s definitely progress—but we’re still far from true parity. Whether it’s in boardrooms or labs, women often have to prove their credibility twice over. There’s this unspoken pressure to be flawless, because one misstep can feel like it reflects on all women in tech. While that’s slowly changing, we need a more supportive ecosystem, not just in words, but in structure. It has to be more forgiving, more risk-tolerant, and genuinely committed to backing female talent beyond symbolic gestures or token campaigns.

Having studied and worked in the US, I noticed the level of institutional support for women in STEM in other countries. In the US, there are structured mentorship programs, legal frameworks, and strong alumni networks that actively help women navigate their careers in STEM.

In India, while those support systems are still developing, the ambition and drive among women are often even stronger. I’ve seen Indian women break barriers despite limited resources and societal pressures—and not just succeed, but excel on global platforms. The talent is absolutely here; what we need now is to build the right scaffolding around it.

STP: What has your journey in STEM and entrepreneurship taught you? Is there a learning from your professional life that you apply in your daily life?

Shreya Rastogi: One core lesson I’ve carried with me is this: when you’re building something bold, you have to be comfortable being misunderstood—at least for a while. In both STEM and entrepreneurship, you're often venturing into uncharted territory, where no clear roadmap exists. You learn to trust the data, your instincts, and your team’s resilience. That mindset—of taking action before everything is certain—is something I apply in my everyday life.

It’s also taught me that the future belongs to those who build it with intention. Whether it’s developing next-gen propulsion systems or creating platforms for women in hardware, I’ve realised that meaningful innovation goes beyond technology. It’s about access, inclusion, and creating systems that outlast you. I want to build things that push boundaries—and bring others along in the process.