Questions about your career and its development

What is your name?

Des Gleeson

Where do you work and what is your role/job title?

IntSatEx (International Satellite Exchange) CEO, working in Dublin, Ireland

Does your job allow you to have a lifestyle you are happy with?

Yes, but the area I find of great interest is in problem solving, working in a new industry and with people.

Questions about your current Job

How did you go about getting your current job?

An opportunity to address an issue in industry arose (data sovereignty). We first came up with a business model and set tasks to solve or greatly improve on the issue and from here we identified our partners and built the team.

Describe a typical day

My days are normally well planned in advance, but this said it’s important to be 100% flexible here. Up early and head to the office or a meeting.

What’s the coolest part of your job?

People, challenges etc… and for now the learning curve is fascinating i.e., Space and the people involved.

Are there any elements of your job that you dislike

Space takes time !

Questions about yourself

What have been the most rewarding events in your career so far?

Accreditation is always good and the ability for when people jump on board so as to follow in achieving the set aims and goals of the company.

What is your dream job? I have a few. But achieving what we have targeted would very interesting.
Advice for people thinking of this job as a career choice

What advice would you give to someone considering this job? Are there important personal characteristics, or good work experience they can undertake for example.

The Space industry has so much to offer in the way of roles, missions and tasks. Find what area most interests you and run with it. Science, Space and the future of both is guaranteed to open many doors, some of which you couldn’t even dream of right now