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#30 Tom Soderstrom Tech Transformation Learnings from NASA JPL and AWS episode artwork

Apr 6, 2025 52 min

#30 Tom Soderstrom Tech Transformation Learnings from NASA JPL and AWS

from Stellar Work Hosted by Benjamin Igna

In this episode, Tom Soderstrom shares insights from his extensive experience in technology transformation at NASA and AWS. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on the mission, making informed decisions, and fostering a culture of experimentation. Tom discusses the critical role of AI and data in driving business success and highlights the need for collaboration between IT and business units. He concludes with practical advice for leaders navigating organizational change, stressing the importance of speed and adaptability. Tom Soderstrom Since June 2023, Tom Soderstrom serves as an Enterprise Strategist helping and coaching executive customers with their transformation and innovation strategies and actions. From 2020-2023, he created and built the worldwide Chief Technologist team for AWS Public Sector, responsible for identifying emerging technology trends, helping solve complex technical problems at scale, and advising public sector executive CTOs and AWS leaders. Soderstrom served as the IT Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) from 2006-2020, where he helped define, support, and implement innovative Space missions, emerging IT trends, and mentor the next generation of IT and Space explorers. Prior to JPL, he led teams working on large scale IT technologies, best practices, tools development, and change efforts in small startups, large commercial companies, international venues, and the US Government. LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomsoderstrom/ AWS:⁠ https://aws.amazon.com/executive-insights/enterprise-strategists/tom-soderstrom/ Stellar Work: Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.stellarwork.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information about how evolutionary agile transformations work Make sure to follow us on your podcast player 🔔 as well as on LinkedIn to never miss out on more content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/stellarwork/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sponsors: This podcast is 100% sponsored by me :) If you need help with you agile transformation and opting for an evolutionary approach seems like something you want to check out, click here and lets meet: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/benjamin-igna-dcs_/30min⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Note: Stellar Work Podcast hosts and guests may hold assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions. 🤘 Generated Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://suno.com/@stellarwork⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Tom Soderstrom 02:06 Tom's Journey from NASA to AWS 03:50 Lessons from NASA: Focus on the Mission 06:52 Amazon's Leadership Principles and Decision-Making 11:06 Transformations Across Industries 12:22 Approaching Client Transformations 14:24 Experimentation in Transformation 17:47 Return on Attention vs. Return on Investment 21:16 Bridging the Gap Between IT and Business 26:46 Bridging IT and Business 32:20 Trends in AI and Technology 40:35 Navigating Business Challenges 48:00 Advice for Leaders and Managers 52:02 Introduction to Consultancy and AI Insights

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#30 Tom Soderstrom Tech Transformation Learnings from NASA JPL and AWS

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This episode was published on April 6, 2025.

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