We Are Our People

What aspect of leadership gives you the most satisfaction? 

I put trust in our colleagues and empower them to a maximal degree, so that they can unleash their full potential. When the colleague is starting to shine, I feel deeply rewarded. 

What’s an ideal, productive day for you?

A productive day for me means working closely together with our teams on solving a business challenge. In our company, we share the same vision and passions, and such collaborations always lead to excellent results.

What do you do when you’re not working?    

I’m passionate about team sports, which has many similarities with my way of running our company. Furthermore, I love being in nature and with my family. Nevertheless, my work and private life is deeply integrated.

What continues to surprise you in your role?

What characterizes my role is that it is diverse and always evolving. Whenever I reach a point where I think I have figured it out, I discover that there is something new to learn. That’s what I love about it! The one constant in my role is that it revolves around people, and people will never cease to surprise me!

What’s one piece of advice you’re glad you ignored?

A lot of the advice one typically gets, is based on what is generally expected and accepted (society, trends, peers, etc). I think life is too short for that, and much more interesting when one follows their own path. Most of the important decisions I made so far, have been against the advice I got. An example I can give: when I was deciding on what to study, I was advised not to choose Aerospace Engineering, and go for something less demanding instead… So glad I didn’t listen!

What kind of challenges are you best at solving?

I like challenges; they keep life interesting! I’m most motivated by challenges that lead to something better, an enrichment of sorts. I am best at handling situations that make sense to me; where I can see a logic to the solution. What I don’t like is having to solve problems that are unnecessary; I get frustrated when common sense or logic doesn’t apply. 

What’s the most important lesson you have learned as a manager? 

We need to be aware of the massive impact we as management have not only on the business but more so on the well-being of the team and all employees within the company. Therefore, I often preach to lead by example as we want to create a workspace and society that operates with strong and carrying values to make life more grateful and warm.

Why did you want to work in the aerospace industry? 

My second cousin is part of NASA’s committee for space electronics and during my time in San Francisco, California he gave me a glimpse of what is and will be possible thanks to the aerospace industry which inspired me to become a proud member of the industry with Telespazio Germany.

What’s something that always makes you smile? 

A smile from a stranger, a person holding the door open, a kid freeing up the seat for an elderly person. To sum it up, all kind of human touches that signal that somebody cares about someone else without prioritizing their own need as the most important one.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? Why?

The greatest influence in my life has and is continuing to come from my wife and our children. They keep empowering and motivating me, not to mention keeping me on the ground and not letting me drift into outer space.

How do you define success? 

I would say that everyone has a slightly different definition of success and how it resonates with them. For me, success is finding the right challenges to keep you growing professionally and personally day in, day out.

What do you consider to be overrated?

One human trait is the desire to be right all the time. I believe this should not be our obsession and we should allow ourselves the freedom to learn and evolve at every possible opportunity.

What were you great at during your childhood? 

As a curious kid growing up in a small village near Aachen, I had a special talent for getting into little accidents.

What’s one piece of advice you’re glad you took?

Take the responsibility for your life - make things happen rather than waiting for them to happen.

What three things could you never live without? 

• Coke light
• Family & friends
• Work

What's the most difficult thing about being a leader?

To stay on top of the running business is just one aspect; driving meaningful changes is yet another. The latter requires patience, perseverance, and a mindset for dealing with challenges over an extended period of time. Having the support of a great team makes all the difference and is a valuable source of reflection on the way towards new goals.

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Taking on the role of CSO is a rollercoaster in itself and leads to something new almost every day. Within the company, I am surrounded by extremely skilled and motivated people who keep me on my toes every day. Outside, the (aero-)space industry is moving at a high pace, and we strive to be at the forefront of it. This motivates me to go beyond what I know and venture into new territories.

What can you tell us about yourself that's not on your resume?

I have always been a big fan of nature and the outdoors, for sports and leisure. With a growing fascination for space, I discovered the role that our industry plays in preserving our planet and its fragile ecosystem. I recognize that same passion in the people that I work with, which makes working for Telespazio an incredibly rewarding experience. Together, we push the boundaries of space technology while prioritizing environmental sustainability.

How would you describe your leadership style?

I tend to be flexible with people but inflexible when it comes to deadlines and goals. At the end of the day, I want to be growing the business while also growing the people around me.

If you could remove one thing from your daily routine, what would it be?

Non-optimized admin and bureaucratic processes (yes, I’m also talking to you expense reimbursement…!)

What’s something outside of work that you’ve been working to accomplish?

There is a significant difference between living and existing. I want to be living life every day, not just existing.