Stellar Work6 Apr 2025

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

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:

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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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