In this episode of the Stellar Work Podcast, Benjamin interviews Tom Soderstrom, former CTO at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. They discuss the intricacies of working at NASA, the creative processes behind space missions, the search for extraterrestrial life, and the differences between government and commercial space industries. Tom shares insights on fostering a culture of innovation, the importance of data visualization, and the integration of cybersecurity in space missions. He also provides valuable advice for aspiring professionals in the space industry, emphasizing the importance of passion and hands-on experience.
Tom Soderstrom
Since June 2023, Tom Soderstrom serves as an Enterprise Strategist helping and coaching executive customers with their transformation and innovation strategies and actions. From 2020-2023, he created and built the worldwide Chief Technologist team for AWS Public Sector, responsible for identifying emerging technology trends, helping solve complex technical problems at scale, and advising public sector executive CTOs and AWS leaders. Soderstrom served as the IT Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) from 2006-2020, where he helped define, support, and implement innovative Space missions, emerging IT trends, and mentor the next generation of IT and Space explorers. Prior to JPL, he led teams working on large scale IT technologies, best practices, tools development, and change efforts in small startups, large commercial companies, international venues, and the US Government.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomsoderstrom/
AWS: https://aws.amazon.com/executive-insights/enterprise-strategists/tom-soderstrom/
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Chapters
00:00 Exploring NASA's Work Culture and Mission Goals
03:23 The Distinction Between NASA and Private Space Companies
06:36 The Search for Extraterrestrial Life
09:28 Career Paths in the Space Industry
12:31 The Differences in Work Culture: NASA vs. Commercial Space
15:43 Encouraging Open Communication in Large Enterprises
18:27 Collaborating for Innovation in Space Exploration
21:33 Harnessing Data for Space Missions
24:02 The Power of Data Visualization
27:27 Cybersecurity Insights and Challenges
29:38 Building Cross-Functional Teams
35:59 Creating a Culture of Psychological Safety
40:22 Advice for Aspiring Space Industry Professionals
46:58 Introduction and Episode Overview