What Type Of Person Thrives In The Space Industry According To A Project Manager At United Launch Alliance
Historically, success in the space industry favored "conservative, risk-averse" individuals prioritizing "quality," but Joshua, a Project Manager at United Launch Alliance, notes a shift towards innovative leaders who can "think outside the box" and manage risk effectively. This requires a balance: maintaining a focus on safety and quality while embracing new approaches to improve efficiency, as exemplified by Joshua's emphasis on identifying and mitigating risks with "innovative thinking."
Project Management, Risk Management, Innovation, Problem-Solving, Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Joshua Adams
Project Manager
United Launch Alliance
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
MBA - University of North Alabama
Industrial, Supply Chain Management
Aerospace, Aviation & Defense, Manufacturing, Operations & Supply Chain
Operations and Project Management
Worked 20+ Hours in School, Veteran
Video Highlights
1. Individuals who thrive in the space industry are increasingly required to possess innovative thinking and problem-solving skills alongside a focus on quality and safety.
2. The ability to manage and mitigate risk effectively is crucial for success in this field.
3. A balance between risk aversion and a willingness to embrace prudent risk-taking is becoming increasingly important for project managers in the space industry.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
That's a loaded question. The industry I'm in is space. Traditionally, people who thrived were more conservative and risk-averse. Quality is king, especially with rockets.
However, I think that dynamic is starting to change. Having an innovative approach to situations, thinking outside the box at a high level, and simplifying complex ideas is quickly becoming the trait of successful leaders. Quality is still king in this environment, but that's where the innovative factor comes in.
For example, if we've never messed up a certain part, do we need to spend 40 hours inspecting it every single time we build a rocket? It's about setting those tolerances, and it all comes down to risk. It's not about not being risk-averse, but managing risk in a way that you can accept it.
In the military, we call it a prudent risk. It's about understanding and identifying your risks for any given decision, and then having the courage and innovative thinking to mitigate them. How do I put something in place that helps increase our process flow times while keeping safety and quality in check? I'd say that's probably the number one trait.