SEPTEMBER 2016
The Orbiter September 2016
4 8
CONTENTS
Working in a New Century
6
SSPI Announces the 2016 Promise and Mentor Award Recipients
7
Join the Recruitment Drive at SpaceVision 2016
The Right Talent for the Right Role: An Interview with Angela Galyean, Intelsat
10
The Workforce: What Two Related Industries Have Learned
13
SSPI Wants to Hear from You!
Upcoming Events GVF Applied Innovation Conference, October 13, 7900 Tysons One Pl, McLean, VA 22102, USA. Click here for more information. 2016 Hosted Payload & Smallsat Summit, October 20, Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1000 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA. Click here for more information. SSPI Recruiting Mission to SpaceVision, November 3 - 6, Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. Click here for more information. SSPI 2016 Future Leaders Dinner, November 9, The Penn Club, New York City. Click here for more information. Learn more about upcoming events at www.SSPI.org The Orbiter September 2016
3
Working in a New Century By Robert Bell The future just isn’t what it used to be. When I was young, the future promised a lot of things. A space station was on the list, and so were spaceships making regular trips to orbit and a moon base and self-driving cars. And what did I get, here in the second decade of the 21st Century? Well, there is a space station, though it doesn’t rotate like a giant wheel to simulate gravity inside. The US government has gotten out of the spaceship business but other governments and private companies are stepping up; one of them is even landing a rocket on its tail, just like in the old sci-fi movies. No moon bases, but self-driving cars appear to be coming our way, whether we are ready or not. No, the future isn’t what it used to be. It’s better. The question we need to ask ourselves is: are we ready for it? New Century Workforce SSPI is on a mission to make this industry one of the world’s best at attracting and nurturing the talent that powers innovation. Last month, we told you about one of our campaigns: Better Satellite World. With the help of many partners, we are making sure that the next generation – as well as future customers and today’s policymakers – know that satellite is the world’s indispensable infrastructure and one of the most exciting businesses in which to work. This issue of The Orbiter is dedicated to another of our ongoing campaigns: the New Century Workforce. Through it, our industry is challenging itself to do better at recruiting talent and making our companies places where that talent finds a good fit. The satellite business has long depended on broadcasting and the military to provide it with qualified engineering staff ready-made. For many reasons, they are no longer sufficient to the need. According to our 2016 report, Launch Failure, companies are busy poaching these scarce individuals from each other instead of recruiting and building their own. We also have a very high voluntary attrition rate for new hires. As the report says, “a successful tech industry 4
The Orbiter September 2016
should be sending fewer of its newest employees out the door, and rely less on those who will be heading off to retirement within the next 20 years.” Taking Action What is SSPI doing to help? Last year’s report was our second based on interviews with human resource executives and surveys of employees. In September, we will launch a Webinar series that looks at the issues of attracting, hiring and managing talented folks and turning them into long-term employees. The first Webinar is “Disruptors in the Talent Market,” which explores the impact of our industry’s many new entrants on talent recruitment and retention. In November, we will take a group of human resources executives to meet 300 graduate and undergraduate students eager for employment in something related to space. They are members of our partner association, the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS), and its SpaceVision conference is fertile ground for recruiters, who might otherwise have to visit a dozen universities to find the same caliber of potential recruits. Next year, we hope to extend our recruiting missions to the United Kingdom through our emerging partnership with the UK branch of SEDS.
There are more such programs on the way. They will play their part in getting our industry ready for the future. So will the efforts of forward-thinking HR executives within their own companies. There is much good practice going on today in the industry. There is a new excitement about satellites and space – we even made the cover of The Economist at the end of August, with articles mentioning many of SSPI’s long-time sponsors. The time is now to make sure we get our share of the talent that is looking for really big technology challenges in an industry that is changing by the day.
The Orbiter September 2016
5
SSPI Announces the 2016 Promise and Mentor Award Recipients The Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) has announced that it will present its 2016 Promise Awards to Dr. Jennifer Dawson of Space Systems Loral (SSL), Pascale Dumit of SES and Erin Feller of Boeing Network & Space Systems. The Promise Awards honor three satellite executives age 35 and under for outstanding achievement in the early stages of their career. The three recipients will be honored on November 9 in New York City at SSPI’s 11th Annual Future Leaders Dinner. On that night, SSPI will also honor its 2016 Mentor of the Year, David Myers of DataPath, for the encouragement, support, and inspiration he has provided to young professionals throughout his career. SSPI will be publishing full profiles of each recipient and short interviews with them in the next issue of The Orbiter.
Dr. Jennifer Dawson
Pascale Dumit
Erin Feller
David Myers
Come see the 2016 Promise and Mentor Award Winners when they are honored on November 9 at the SSPI Future Leaders Dinner at The Penn Club in Manhattan! Then, on November 10 at the 2016 NAB New York Show, see the Promise Winners as they join Mark Spiwak, President of Boeing Satellite Systems International, on a panel discussing the future of the industry. The panel begins at 11:30 am. Click here to learn more about this year’s winners!
6
The Orbiter September 2016
Join the Recruitment Drive at On November 3-6, the Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) will be leading a recruiting mission to SpaceVision 2016. The mission will connect up to 300 students from the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) organization with recruiters from the satellite and space industry that hopes to one day employ them. These students come from many disciplines, from engineering to business, but they share a passion for space and have all devoted time and energy to space projects. SpaceVision is the annual conference of the, a 1,500-strong student-led organization. The SEDS conference will be hosted by Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, USA. SSPI works with SEDS to attract talent to the satellite industry. Founded in 1980 as an independent, student-run organization, SEDS promotes the exploration and development of space through public outreach and education, supporting its expansive network of space-minded students, providing leadership development opportunities, and inspiring others through involvement in space-related projects. The 30,000 strong non-profit organization has chapters at universities across the US and around the world. In working with SEDS, SSPI’s goal is to make the students that make up SEDS membership aware that there is an industry that operates profitably in space today - where their passion for space can forge a successful and fulfilling career. At the same time, we hope to bring new talent straight to recruiters throughout the industry. Click here to learn more about the recruitment mission and register to attend SpaceVision 2016 as a recruiter.
The Orbiter September 2016
7
The Right Talent for the Right Role With this issue of The Orbiter dedicated to what we call the New Century Workforce, which is SSPI’s focus on talent recruitment and management, we interviewed Angela Galyean, VP, Human Resources at Intelsat. Angela has contributed to both of the Society’s reports on the workforce and has been generous in suggesting ideas for this part of our mission. What are the biggest human resource challenges facing your company and the broader industry today? The satellite industry and the broader communications industry are changing at a rapid clip. As a result, the skill sets that we are looking for not only need to fit the needs of the business today, but also adapt to the changing needs of our customers and their end-users. The challenge is to recruit the right talent, continue to develop our current employees and align them to the right roles. Many great careers in our industry began when a company recruited new talent and helped it find its footing. What are the most important things to get right in that process? From the company’s side, you need to make sure that you clearly communicate the company’s vision and effectively convey how the role that you are hiring for will contribute to achieving that vision. In terms of recruiting, we recommend developing questions that not only screen for the skill sets and experience necessary for the job, but will also highlight how a candidate would work across organizational functions and fit into the company’s corporate culture. Intelsat has some industry-leading practices in developing talent over the long term. What are the success factors that other companies could learn from? Intelsat’s employees have a strong history of innovation and commitment to excellence. In order to continue to foster innovation and provide current and future employees with an exciting work environment, you need to align your recruitment strategy to your business objectives. Then you need to continue to provide avenues where employees can continue to develop their skill sets, room to think outside of the box and provide a direct correlation of how the work they are doing in their 8
The Orbiter September 2016
An Interview with Angela Galyean VP, Human Resources, Intelsat
respective role is contributing to the company’s overall mission and business objectives. One obstacle to recruitment is that few people know how large and dynamic this industry is. What can we do to change that situation? Many people are unaware of the critical role that satellite plays in the crosssection of the communications landscape. We view each and every conversation as an opportunity to educate prospective candidates on the services that Intelsat offers. The best people to do that are not just members of our HR team, but our employees themselves. They are on the front lines and are truly our greatest brand ambassadors. They are able to provide real life examples of the innovation we are spearheading, services that we are facilitating and the impact that that it is having on people’s lives—whether it is broadcasting large scale events such as the Olympics or providing essential broadband connectivity in remote areas throughout the world. While companies compete for talent, the entire industry gains when it improves its talent practices. How might companies approach this kind of improvement on a collaborative basis while still protecting their competitive positions? Participating in industry surveys and becoming involved in professional organizations can assist in gathering and reporting on industry practices without compromising competitive position. In addition, as the broader communications landscape is converging, we believe it is also valuable to go outside the satellite industry to adjacent sectors to better understand their approach to talent acquisition and retention. As a global company, it is particularly important, that we leverage best practices to attract the talent that we need for the future and make sure we stay one step ahead, so we can retain the best talent in the business.
The Orbiter September 2016
9
The Workforce Launch Failure?
Can We Attract and Retain the Talent that Powers Innovation? Today’s industry relies heavily on a cadre of experienced workers in the 45-54 age range, who make up 42% of employees. These are people who know the business and the technologies, and are deeply versed in the processes and the unique demands of customers. At the same time, a shocking 67% of employees with between 1 and 5 years on the job voluntarily leave their companies. Is it high attrition among younger employees that leads companies to rely on veterans, or does the reliance on veterans close off career paths for the next generation? SSPI’s New Century Workforce Study is the only multicompany, multinational study of the satellite industry’s most vital resource: its workforce. The study was conducted in partnership with Korn Ferry, the global recruiting and human resources consulting company. It combines in-depth interviews with human resources executives of more than a dozen companies spanning more than 50 countries and the results of a global online survey of over a thousand industry employees. The study had two components: »» A Web-based survey of satellite industry employees »» A telephone survey of human resources professionals conducted by Korn Ferry executives. What SSPI learned from this study is that satellite has become the invisible infrastructure, known only to a fraction of the potential employees who could find challenging and rewarding careers there. In the report, SSPI illustrates the problems this invisibility causes and shares examples of employers that find ways to overcome it. The study showed that the industry can learn a great deal from a small number of companies that are highly proactive in attracting and nurturing talent. The lesson they teach, however, is not about spending money but about putting resources to the right use. Click here to learn more about SSPI’s 2016 New Century Workforce Report. 10
The Orbiter September 2016
What Two Related Industries Have Learned Aviation Week Executive Intelligence Special Report For the past 20 years, Aviation Week has conducted the Workforce Study to answer some basic questions about the aerospace & defense (A&D) industry’s ability to meet ever-changing customer requirements through the innovation, ingenuity and capability of its people. To answer these questions, Aviation Week conducts three different studies: »» A corporate study on hiring, demographics and factors important to and factors important to employees as they make career decisions. »» A survey of students at universities identified as preferred suppliers of new hires to the A&D industry. »» A survey of young professionals at a selection of organizations representing the industry in terms of size, technologies, and geography. What they learned is that the A&D industry retains older, more experienced workers very well (the rate of retirement for eligible employees was only 27%, and the average age of employee is 47), but attracting new young talent is more of a challenge, with only 13% of hires in 2016 being new college graduates. In repeated surveys of employees and students, Aviation Week has identified technological challenge, professional development/learning and respect for individuals as the top factors affecting career decisions. Pay is also a major factor, particularly among students. Perhaps the largest hurdle this year’s report uncovered was visibility. One of A&D’s biggest challenges is not sheer quantity of university graduates hired, but rather the specific engineering disciplines required. The majority of high caliber students who are not interested in going into A&D report never having known anyone in aerospace—a clear opportunity for the K-12 and university outreach programs developed by the industry. Click here to learn more about the 2016 Aviation Week Workforce Study.
The Orbiter September 2016
11
12
The Orbiter September 2016
SSPI Wants to Hear from YOU! SSPI is introducing a new series starring YOU - the satellite professional. Each month, we will ask a question about your experience working in this most exceptional industry, your suggestions for meeting SSPI’s mission of attracting and retaining the best new talent into the industry, and your thoughts on where the industry is headed. We hope you’ll chime in on our site or on Facebook or LinkedIn with your responses! Best of all, if you post a particularly interesting, funny, well-put or eccentric response - it might be in the next issue of The Orbiter! Each month, we’ll choose three answers, from any platform for inclusion in the next month’s issue. So join the conversation! We look forward to hearing from you. This month’s question is: What is your favorite thing about working in the satellite industry? Click on one of the buttons below to respond on the platform of your choice!
The Orbiter September 2016
13
SALUTE THE AWARDEES OF THE 11TH ANNUAL FUTURE LEADERS DINNER WITH YOUR AD IN THE SPECIAL FLD/ SATCON EDITION OF THE ORBITER, THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE SOCIETY OF SATELLITE PROFESSIONALS INTERNATIONAL. * The Orbiter Special Edition Cover Wrap SSPI will publish a special print edition of The Orbiter for distribution at SATCON/CCW and the Dinner. »» Front cover logo display and full-page salute ad on back cover »» 2 tickets to the Reception and Dinner $4,750
Salute Ad Salute ad in the special SATCON/CCW edition of The Orbiter. * $1,150 (Full Pg); $850 (Half Pg)
Advertising Opportunities are available! As you know, SSPI has transformed its monthly news vehicle, The Orbiter, into a beautiful, pageturning digital magazine you can read from your desktop, tablet or phone, or as a handy print-out to carry with you on travel trips. The Orbiter brings Society news, coverage of the Better Satellite World campaign, and the annual Workforce Study to more than 6,000 members and industry contacts. Advertise With Us We invite companies to advertise in the new Orbiter. Full-page and half-page ads are available Some SSPI sponsorships include one or more ads with the sponsorship – but now you can purchase an ad directly! Download the media kit or email Tamara Bond-Williams for more information. Copyright 2016 by the Society of Satellite Professionals International Photo for the cover by Steve Wilson. Edits were made to add a satellite, cell phone, computer, and credit card to the “bubbles” at the top ofSeptember the image. Source The Orbiter 2016 image used under Creative Commons license. Click here for license information. 14