Building CubeSpace: Challenges, Leadership and European Expansion - Ep 61 - Mike-Alec Kearney, CubeSpace ADCS

Join Millie Hall and Tom Wilding for an in-depth conversation with Mike-Alec Kearney, CEO and Co-Founder of CubeSpace, as he shares the story of building a globally recognised satellite subsystems company from university research.

With more than a decade of flight heritage, CubeSpace has delivered over 4,600 standalone products and more than 470 mission-tailored systems to more than 290 customers across 30 countries. Its specialist focus on attitude determination and control systems has made CubeSpace a leader in the new space market.

In this episode, Mike-Alec discusses three critical themes: his founding journey from accidental space engineer to obsessive problem-solver; CubeSpace’s strategic approach to vertical integration and why specialisation wins; and the company’s people-first culture shaped through servant leadership and vulnerability.

Discover why organisations that tried doing everything themselves returned as customers, and how a decade of bootstrapping kept CubeSpace centred on customer needs. Mike-Alec offers candid insights on sustainable culture, operating without investor pressure, and the shift that happens when leaders show vulnerability.

Key Topics

• Accidental path into space entrepreneurship
• Why vertical integration is not always best
• Specialisation beats doing everything yourself
• Bootstrapped growth keeps customer focus sharp
• Servant leadership creates sustainable teamwork
• Vulnerability transforms defensive conversations into collaboration
• Culture requires intentional systems and daily practice

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:20 Mike-Alec’s Journey into the Space Industry
04:35 Challenges and Growth at CubeSpace
13:19 Leadership and Industry Insights
23:30 Specialised Control Systems and Customisability
25:39 Customer Support and Simulation Programs
30:29 European Expansion and Strategic Goals
33:42 Talent Management and Company Culture

About Our Guest

Mike-Alec Kearney is the CEO and Co-Founder of CubeSpace, a leading provider of attitude determination and control systems for small satellites. Founded straight out of university, the company has grown into a multimillion pound, globally recognised supplier through bootstrapped, customer-led development. CubeSpace serves government agencies, high-tech R&D organisations, and commercial constellation operators worldwide.

Website: www.cubespace.co.za

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