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Fast Company
20-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
6 ways effective leaders think like astronauts
I've served the NASA space program for many years as an adviser, research scientist, flight surgeon—and astronaut. My career has encompassed both in-flight and non-flight contributions to NASA, supporting space missions, space medicine, and research in advancing human space flight. Space exploration encompasses a fair amount of uncertainty by nature. The space program's early days were fraught with a number of crew losses, including the Apollo 1 mission, and the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle missions. The challenges of space flight were on full display during the Apollo 13 crew's near-disastrous mission on the way to the moon in 1970. We all know those infamous words: 'Houston, we have a problem.' But the determination of a mission control team led by flight director Gene Kranz—marked by the phrase 'failure is not an option'—ended in a successful mission. Anyone, though, can pick up smart leadership lessons from space travel, even if you're not headed to the moon yourself. Here's how the best leaders think like astronauts. Recognize The Power of Vision Every great leader starts with a vision. Whether you are leading a company, a team, or a personal endeavor, the ability to see beyond present circumstances and chart a course for the future is what separates extraordinary leaders from the rest. When I first dreamed of becoming an astronaut, I had no road map. The road ahead was full of uncertainty, doubts, and obstacles. After determining that doctors were needed in the space program, my pathway was set. My goal was to become a physician with the knowledge and skills to work in space. But I learned early on that it's not about having all the answers—it's about having the courage to pursue a vision, adapt to challenges, and inspire others along the way. In business, just as in space exploration, those who succeed are the ones who remain focused on their mission despite adversity. Turn the Vision into a Mission The mark of a good leader is their ability to transform the vision into tangible goals and objectives for the mission. We accomplish this at NASA through extensive training and mission preparation. The flight crew and mission support team dedicate countless hours to training in simulators and facilities, preparing for every scenario, whether it's smooth sailing or unforeseen challenges. They focus on identifying the critical factors for success, then conduct 'nominal' training for ideal outcomes and 'off-nominal' training to tackle potential setbacks. We have a saying in the Astronaut Corps: 'Fly as you train.' Training reflects conditions similar to those of the mission so we're best prepared for the unexpected. Once those conditions are clear, we set high expectations to drive high performance. People and organizations can achieve amazing things when they know what's expected of them. The most successful leaders embrace challenges, set high expectations, remain adaptable, and focus on the greater impact of their work. Let High Expectations Drive High Performance Leaders who expect mediocrity will get just that, while those who challenge their teams to push beyond limits foster excellence. On my second flight, STS–63 in February 1995, we had multiple challenges. During my spacewalk, my fellow crew member and I experienced unexpected extreme temperatures of -165°F at orbital night and +200°F during the day, which exceeded the temperature capability of the space suit. There were other malfunctions on the mission, like issues with critical equipment on the spacecraft that almost canceled our rendezvous with the Russian space station. NASA's training program assumes that astronauts must be prepared for the unknown. The same principle applies in business. Leaders must prepare their teams for challenges that may not yet exist, setting expectations that encourage innovation, accountability, and excellence. If you want to see growth in your organization, ask yourself: Are you setting high-enough expectations? Are you fostering a culture where your team is encouraged to reach beyond what they believe is possible? Success is often the result of leaders who challenge their teams to think bigger, work harder, and embrace bold ideas. Buckle into Resilience in Challenging Times One of the most valuable leadership lessons is understanding that failure is not the enemy—complacency is. Some of the best business leaders I have met share one trait: they're not afraid of failing. They see failure as feedback, as a necessary component of growth. I also had moments of uncertainty during my first flight—STS-55 in April 1993. As we were about to launch, one of the three main engines of the Space Shuttle Columbia failed 2.5 seconds before liftoff. Fortunately, the safety system worked, cutting the fuel to the engine while simultaneously putting out the ensuing fire. This event certainly got my attention, as we say when things don't go well. I'm lucky to be here today. During my astronaut training and missions, I faced countless setbacks. Physical demands of endless hours of spacewalk training underwater in the neutral buoyancy facility pushed me to my limits, technical challenges of microgravity simulation forced me to rethink strategies, and high-stakes flight simulations that exposed weaknesses I needed to improve. Had I let failure define me, rather than energize me, I would never have made it to space. Resilience is just as crucial for leadership in life and business. Markets change, competitors arise, and setbacks occur. The best leaders are those who are resilient and thrive to adapt, learn, and continue forward with an unwavering commitment to their goals. Maintain Confidence in the Face of Adversity Great leaders possess both confidence and humility. Confidence allows you to make bold decisions, take risks, and lead with conviction. But humility ensures that you remain open to new ideas, feedback, and growth. In my career at NASA, in venture capital, and as an entrepreneur, I've worked with some of the most brilliant minds in science, engineering, and business. The leaders who stand out are those who strongly believe in their abilities yet understand they don't have all the answers. They surround themselves with talented individuals, listen more than they speak, and remain adaptable in the face of change. In your leadership journey, have the confidence to make difficult decisions and the humility to recognize that leadership is a lifelong learning process. Build a Legacy of Impact After my time at NASA, I joined SpaceHab as an SVP and chief medical officer, contributing to one of the pioneering companies in commercial spaceflight. In 2002, I founded a venture capital firm focused on telemedicine and healthcare technologies. Later, I founded the Harris Foundation and Institute, which has been involved in math and science education for over 25 years. Leadership is not just about personal success—it's about the impact you leave behind. For business leaders, this means looking beyond profit margins and quarterly results. It means fostering a culture where employees feel valued, innovation thrives, and measuring success by long-term impact rather than short-term gains. Ask yourself: How do you envision the legacy you wish to leave as a leader? Are you investing in people? Are you creating a vision that extends beyond yourself? Leadership lessons from space Leadership is a journey of vision, mission, expectation, resilience, and confidence. The most successful leaders embrace challenges, set high expectations, remain adaptable, and focus on the greater impact of their work. As you lead your organization, your team, or even your own personal ambitions, remember that the key to success lies not in avoiding obstacles and uncertainty, but in using them as stepping stones to greater achievements.
The Journal
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Sitdown Sunday: 'Don't worry, we're your pals' - the crooked lawyer who stole millions from clients
IT'S A DAY of rest, and you may be in the mood for a quiet corner and a comfy chair. We've hand-picked some of the week's best reads for you to savour. 1. The secrets of Stephen David Jones Shutterstock Shutterstock Many people who met the solicitor described him to Hettie O'Brien as an English gentleman, making it easy to gain the trust of wealthy clients. But, as she writes here, he was actually stealing from them. An extraordinary read. ( The Guardian , approx 34 mins reading time) From the outset, Jones was eager to assist. He suggested that Jirehouse become a partner in the Feddinch Club, and arranged for McKay to fly to New York and meet some investors and an architect. McKay had never worked on a project of this scale before, and was keen to secure financing, so he brought Jirehouse on board as a partner. 'My dad's his own worst enemy,' said McKay's son, Bruce. 'If he meets somebody who appears successful, he'll take their advice.' In early 2013, McKay decided to move closer to St Andrews to be nearer to the golf course. He found a bungalow with a wide view of the site and the sea beyond. On Jones's instructions, Scotia would be listed on the deeds for McKay's new home, just as it had been for his house in Angus. Shortly before the purchase went through, however, Jones told McKay there had been a change of plan. Instead of Scotia's name appearing on the property deeds, Jones and another Jirehouse colleague would be listed as the property's owners. McKay panicked when he heard this, but Jones reassured him. Jirehouse would be holding the house on trust for him and his family, he said, so it would still technically belong to them. McKay continued to worry. He couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't him who owned his new house – it was Jones. 2. Space archaeologists With space travel now being commercialised in a way we've never seen before, these are the people who work to preserve and save human-made artifacts found beyond Earth's atmosphere. ( BBC , approx 8 mins reading time) 'We might have chosen the site of the Soviet Luna 2 probe because that was the first human artefact to land on the Moon. Instead, we picked Tranquillity Base because it was the first time humans had landed on another celestial body, and it has an international significance comparable to that of Stonehenge. Unable to visit the Moon, we had to really dig in the archives to find out what was left on the lunar surface at Tranquillity Base.' The project has found around 106 artefacts and features left there (a feature is an artefact that cannot be moved, such as each footprint). These include the mundane, such as sample scoops; the emotive, such as footprints; and the poignant – an Apollo 1 Mission patch. The three Apollo 1 crew were killed in 1967 when fire swept through their capsule while still on the launchpad at Cape Canaveral. There were also surprises. They discovered that medals from two cosmonauts, Vladimir Komarov and Yuri Gagarin, had been left there by the Apollo 11 astronauts. 'Their widows had passed on the medals to the American astronauts at the height of the Space Race and the Cold War,' O'Leary says. 'It's very powerful, isn't it?' 3. How Biden handed the US presidency to Trump Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo In this excerpt from a new book by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, they write about Biden's health and a supposed Democratic cover-up to hide his decline. ( The New Yorker , approx 24 mins reading time) Advertisement It seemed clear that the President had not recognized Clooney. 'It was not O.K.,' recalled the Hollywood V.I.P. who had witnessed this moment. 'That thing, the moment where you recognize someone you know—especially a famous person who's doing a fucking fund-raiser for you—it was delayed. It was uncomfortable.' 'George Clooney,' the aide clarified for the President. 'Oh, yeah!' Biden said. 'Hi, George!' Clooney was shaken to his core. The President hadn't recognized him, a man he had known for years. Clooney had expressed concern about Biden's health before—a White House aide had told him a few months before that they were working on getting the President to take longer steps when he walked—but obviously the problem went far beyond his gait. This was much graver. This was the President of the United States? Clooney was certainly not the only one concerned. Other high-dollar attendees who posed for photographs with Obama and Biden described Biden as slow and almost catatonic. Though they saw pockets of clarity while watching him on television, and onstage later that night, there were obvious brain freezes and clear signs of a mental slide. It was, to some of them, terrifying. 4. Airbnb's reinvention The holiday rental company's CEO has spent hundreds of millions to launch a new services and experiences app that features, well, just about everything. ( WIRED , approx 15 mins reading time) Now that a whole slew of people will have new reasons to chat with each other and coordinate plans, Airbnb has also enhanced its messaging functions. Fellow travelers who share experiences can form communities, stay in touch, even share videos and photos. 'I don't know if I want to call it a social network, because of the stigma associated with it,' says Ari Balogh, Airbnb's CTO. So they employ a fuzzier term. 'We think of it as a connection platform,' he says. 'You're going to see us build a lot more stuff on top of it, although we're not an advertising system, thank goodness.' (My own observation is that any for-profit company that can host advertising will, but whatever.) This brings us to the services—the heart and soul of this reinvention. Those now on offer seem designed to augment an Airbnb stay with all the stuff that drives up your bill at a luxury resort, like a DIY White Lotus. It will be interesting to see how the company handles the inevitable cases of food poisoning or bad haircuts (and skeezy customers), but Airbnb can draw on its 17 years of experience with dirty sheets, all-night discos on the ground floor, or a host who is literally terrorizing you. Eventually, Chesky says, Airbnb will offer 'hundreds' of services, perhaps as far-ranging as plumbing, cleaning, car repair, guitar lessons, and tutoring, and then take its 15 percent fee. 5. David Attenborough at 99 Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo In the same week that he turned 99 and his new documentary about the ocean premiered, the natural history presenter reflects on his favourite marine moments throughout his incredible career, and looks to the future with optimism. ( The Times , approx 14 mins reading time) We now understand how to fix many of the biggest problems we face as a species, and we have centuries of progress to draw on for inspiration. Indeed, in the past 100 years alone we have dramatically reduced infant mortality, suppressed many of our most feared diseases, increased access to education and healthcare, acquired scientific knowledge that has transformed our understanding of the world and co-operated on global issues to a degree never seen before. Young children playing on a beach today will live through perhaps the most consequential time for the human species in the past 10,000 years. They will grow up to see how this story ends, to see how our choices play out. If we use our great discoveries, apply our unique minds and direct our unparalleled communication and problem-solving skills to restoring our ocean, then those children will bring their own into a world where the biggest challenges our species has ever faced have already been navigated. 6. A growing challenge in women's sport Katie C Reilly writes about the increasing hostility, harassment and threats that female athletes face while trying to be the best at their sport. ( ELLE , approx 14 mins reading time) This harassment isn't limited to one sport or professional league. During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, 87 percent of online abuse targeted women athletes, according to a World Athletics study, and most of the comments were sexual or racist in nature. 'The levels have gone far beyond what I think anyone would ever have thought,' tennis player Sloane Stephens, who's been vocal about online abuse she's received, told ELLE. 'Just how dangerous it is—no one's really ever speaking about it.' When Stephens lost in the third round of the 2021 US Open, she received over 2,000 messages of abuse. Today, she said she receives around 100 abusive messages after each match, win or lose. 'This isn't something that happens once a year—it's happening every week,' Stephens said. 'To do your job and also manage being harassed and being mistreated—that's another job in itself.' …AND A CLASSIC FROM THE ARCHIVES… A gripping longread from 2021 about Stéphane Bourgoin, a self-proclaimed expert on serial killers who became famous in France for interviewing 70 murderers. Then his past was exposed. ( The Guardian , approx 35 mins reading time) After the interview, Kehringer reviewed the tape. Bourgoin had asked Kemper about various violent incidents from his childhood, about the details of his killings, about the particulars of his monstrous fantasy life. 'What were those fantasies?' Bourgoin inquired. 'What were they?' Kemper replied, almost taken aback. 'Possessing the severed heads of women.' The documentary went forward, but Kehringer stopped speaking to Bourgoin. 'I saw Stéphane change,' she told me. His interest in serial murder was evidently more compulsive than mere curiosity. 'When he had the killers in front of him, it was as if he was sitting across from his idols.' Bourgoin, she concluded, was in fact a fan. Note: The Journal generally selects stories that are not paywalled, but some might not be accessible if you have exceeded your free article limit on the site in question. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Perth Now
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Astronaut Chris Hadfield reveals why Space Oddity cover put 'big smile' on David Bowie's face
Chris Hadfield is glad his version of 'Space Oddity' "put a big smile" on David Bowie's face. The 65-year-old astronaut and spaceship commander performed his own "optimistic" rendition of Bowie's iconic 1969 hit 'Space Oddity' from the International Space Station in 2013, and he has opened up about the process of putting a different spin on the track. He told the Metro newspaper's 60 Seconds column: "He wrote that song before Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin went to the Moon. "There had been the Apollo 1 accident, where the astronauts burned to death and there was a huge amount of uncertainty and much higher risk than we might be willing to take today. "So the original was more pessimistic. My song Evan updated the words to have an optimistic take at the end, instead of dying alone in space. "We got permission and Bowie loved the final version. The great delight for me was it put a big smile on his face in the final years of his life." Chris' version was the first music video to be performed in space, and featured him floating around the space station as he sang and played guitar. In the original song, the character of Major Tom lost communication with Ground Control and ended up lost in space. However, in Chris' story Tom gets orders to land and manages to do so safely. Bowie - who died aged 69 in January 2016 - referred to the cover on his Facebook page as "possibly the most poignant version of the song ever created". Meanwhile, Chris has now admitted he's received offers to turn his own experiences in space into a feature film, although it's not something he's immediately jumped on board with. He said: "I was approached recently by someone who wants to do a biographical movie. It's flattering and maybe interesting but..." If the project did come to fruition, Chris has a simple guideline for who would be best to portray him on the big screen. He quipped: "Someone with a moustache, I guess! When I was living in London, as I turned 18 that year, that was the last time that I shaved my upper lip."
Buzz Feed
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
This Week's "The Last Of Us" Had Some Perfect Details, So Here Are 25 That You Might've Missed The First Time
There are obviously MASSIVE spoilers ahead for The Last of Us Season 2 and The Last of Us Part II video game! 1. First, Dina (Isabela Merced) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) searching for supplies in the pharmacy is something directly from the game. While playing The Last of Us Part II, gamers search through rooms, buildings, etc, to find items to craft weapons and more. 2. Notably, Dina checks to see if there are any pills in a bottle, which is something you collect in the game as well, in order to upgrade various skills, like health, listening mode, and more. 3. The phramacy that Dina and Ellie are in is also a direct location from The Last of Us Part II. 4. The show titles this portion "Seattle Day One," which is something directly from the game, as Dina and Ellie start their journey into Seattle while tracking down Abby. 5. Dina and Ellie coming across the pride murals and flags in the street is something directly from the game as well, right down to them not knowing what the rainbows represent. In the game, Ellie and Dina also go into a queer bookstore after spotting the pride murals and flags. 6. The opening scene where Isaac (Jeffrey Wright) kills FEDRA agents is something added for the show; however, in the game, we do see FEDRA skeletons right when Ellie and Dina get to Seattle, like Ellie does in the episode. 7. Ellie mentions Apollo 1 while comparing the dead FEDRA agents to the members of the space mission. In the games, Ellie is obsessed with space, which is actually something Ashley Johnson, who voiced and did the motion capture for Ellie in the games, is obsessed with, too. HBO 8. Just like in the game, the music store Dina and Ellie stumble into is called "Valiant Music Shop," and the logo for the store matches what is in the game, too. 9. And, Dina playing the drums while exploring downstairs is something that happens in the game, the longer a player explores the store. 10. When Ellie walks up the stairs, you can see a poster for Pearl Jam, which is also something Ellie sees while walking upstairs in The Last of Us Part II. 11. Ellie playing the guitar and singing "Take on Me" to Dina is a shot-for-shot recreation of a scene in the game. In the game, the scene is sometimes missed because it's not necessary to advance in the story. 12. When Ellie leaves the guitar behind, the shot mirrors a similar shot from later in the game. 13. The sweater that Isaac wears in this episode matches exactly what he wears in the game. Also, Jeffrey Wright did the voice and motion capture for Isaac in The Last of Us Part II, so he's reprising his role. 14. While interrogating the Seraphite, Isaac calls him a "Scar," which is something directly from the game. The W.L.F., who are the biggest enemies of the Seraphites, call them Scars, which they don't appreciate. 15. When Dina and Ellie enter the TV station, the W.L.F. bodies that are hung from the ceiling mirrors the same moment from the game. Warning This image is graphic Click to reveal 16. The message written in blood on the wall from the Seraphites is a saying that Ellie and Dina encounter throughout Seattle on murals during The Last of Us Part II. 17. Ellie kills one of the W.L.F. members by stabbing him in the neck with her knife, which is something gamers do in order to complete a stealth kill. HBO / Naughty Dog / Via 18. Dina and Ellie running from a horde of infected and clickers in the abandoned metro tunnels in Seattle is a moment directly from the game. HBO / Naughty Dog / Via 19. When Ellie and Dina are trying to escape from the infected in the train car, Dina asks Ellie for a boost, and then she helps Ellie up through the emergency exit on the roof. In the game, Ellie and Dina boosting each other up happens consistently in order to climb over tall walls and more, in order to get to new locations. HBO / Naughty Dog / Via 20. The turnstile moment where Dina is almost bitten does happen in the game, except it's Ellie who is stuck and trying desperately to get through. HBO / Naughty Dog / Via 21. The theater that Ellie and Dina hide out in is directly taken from The Last of Us Part II, right to the look of the outside and inside of the building. HBO / Naughty Dog / Via 22. Dina finding out Ellie is actually immune happens differently in the game than the show, in that Ellie's mask cracks — in the game, they are dealing with airborne spores — and when Dina goes to take her mask off too, Ellie tells her she's immune. HBO / Naughty Dog / Via 23. In the game, Ellie and Dina actually have sex for the first time while hiding out in the blizzard in Eugene's grow room before they find out Joel and Tommy are missing, and ultimately before Joel's death. For the show, the couch moment between Ellie and Dina was split up between the "rate our kiss" moment in Episode 3 and the sex scene in Episode 4. HBO / Naughty Dog / Via 24. Ellie telling Dina about how the burn on her arm was originally a bite also happens in the game, but it happens earlier. It's also part of the couch/weed scene from before Joel is killed, and Dina doesn't know Ellie's immune at the time and thinks she's lying. HBO / Naughty Dog / Via 25. And finally, in The Last of Us Part II, Ellie has a much harsher reaction to Dina's pregnancy than she does in the show. In the game, she calls Dina a burden and wonders why she even accompanied her to Seattle. HBO / Naughty Dog / Via Alright, that's all for now. Come back again next week for even more details from the next episode. Did you catch any other Easter eggs or cool details? Tell us everything in the comments below! More The Last of Us Easter eggs I Genuinely Can't Watch The First Episode Of "The Last Of Us" Season 2 The Same Way Again After Noticing These Easter Eggs And Details Nora Dominick · April 14, 2025 This Week's "The Last Of Us" Had Some Brilliant (And Heartbreaking) Details, So Here Are 17 That You Might've Missed The First Time Nora Dominick · April 21, 2025 This Week's "The Last Of Us" Had Some Cool (And Sob-Inducing) Details, So Here Are 19 That You Might've Missed The First Time Nora Dominick · April 28, 2025
Hindustan Times
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Houston, we have a publicity stunt! Blue Origin's all-women flight sparks hoax claims; Katy Perry trolled
Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos' space tourism venture, recently made headlines for launching its first all-female crew to the edge of space. The flight, which lasted 11 minutes, featured a high-profile lineup led by Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sánchez and included CBS anchor Gayle King, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, film producer Kerianne Flynn, as well as pop star Katy Perry. While the mission was billed as a landmark moment in both private space travel and women's representation in the industry, the internet had other ideas. According to a growing faction of online sceptics, the entire mission may not have been what it appeared to be. Comments across Reddit and X are casting doubt not just on the mission's purpose, but on whether it even happened at all. The scepticism was ignited by a now-viral video, a snippet of the original live, posted by Blue Origin. The video showed Bezos using a lever to open the capsule door post-landing, despite the fact that it already appeared to be unlatched from the inside. Many netizens quickly pointed out this bizarre discrepancy, saying that such a design contradicted standard spacecraft protocols, especially after incidents like Apollo 1. 'That is not a space vehicle. Look up Apollo 1, the fire,' one Reddit user wrote. 'After that, every return vehicle made since then has doors that open outward. Also, just look at the thing. No way that flimsy thing is gonna stand up to the pressure differentials a return vehicle will experience. Not to mention all those giant windows.' Another user added, 'Whole thing looked fake. Did you see the capsule door open after it 'landed'? My bathroom door is more secure than that hatch.' But perhaps the most viral moment came courtesy of Katy Perry, whose space antics drew both fascination and ridicule. Upon exiting the capsule, Perry paused dramatically, held up a daisy, dropped to her knees, kissed the ground, and delivered a poetic post-flight monologue. 'This journey has always been about love and belonging,' she told reporters. 'It's not about singing my songs. It's about a collective energy in there. It's about making space for future women and taking up space and belonging.' The performance did not go down well with everyone. 'Katy has truly some of the worst instincts, it is amazing,' one Reddit comment read. 'Maybe she should try doing the exact opposite of what she thinks is a good idea, because things haven't exactly been going well. The comeback album flopped, the tour didn't sell, and no one bought into this publicity stunt.' And now, according to a Daily Mail report, an insider claimed that Perry may be experiencing some spaceflight regret, not about the mission itself, but about how it was received. 'Katy doesn't regret going to space. It was life-changing. What she does regret is making a public spectacle out of it,' the insider said, noting her zero-gravity moments where she stared into the camera with a soft smile, promoted her upcoming tour with a butterfly setlist and floated dramatically with a flower. The pop star has yet to publicly address the criticism surrounding her space mission directly. According to the live webcast and Blue Origin's statement, as well as the crew, the Blue Origin capsule reached the Kármán line, the internationally recognised imaginary boundary of space. But for many viewers, the farce and show surrounding the flight made it hard to take seriously. While the mission was meant to be empowering, it ended up raising more eyebrows than aspirations, and in true internet fashion, if there's room for doubt, there will be conspiracy threads and enough Reddit scepticism to last until the next launch.
