Jorge, Co-Founder & CEO at Ascender Systems: Advize Career Interview

Ascender Systems' CEO journey began with a foundation of technological expertise gained through a 25-year Navy career, Northrop Grumman, and L3 Harris Technologies, culminating in the CEO role.

Today, time, cost, and scope management are paramount, with a week structured around financial compliance, customer engagement, and dedicated work time.

Success hinges on people management skills, fostering communication, empowerment, and inspiration to build a self-managing team that are able to overcome the "unknown and unplanned things that occur." The most rewarding aspect is witnessing and recognizing team success, enabling employees to view their work as more than just a job, with fulfillment rooted in impacting warfighters and allies through RQ-4 drone technology.

Thriving in this industry requires self-motivation, collaborative learning, and open knowledge sharing, and aspiring professionals should consider entry-level roles in engineering, contracts, or as a PIT lead.

A crucial career lesson emphasizes responsible financial expenditure, especially with government funds, and graduate school provided vital skills in finance and budget management.

The confidential nature of the defense industry mirrors the military, restricting information sharing, but the opportunity to contribute to national security and make a global impact should excite any student.