Scaling the Satellite Frontier: Insights from Matthew J Desch, CEO of Iridium

Written by Nehal Mohamed

For CEOs looking to scale up their organisations, Matt Desch ’s story provides valuable insights into how one can maintain vision, empower teams, and navigate the unique challenges that come with company growth:

In the fast-evolving world of satellite communications, Iridium has established itself as a global leader, providing reliable and far-reaching services across the globe.

From its ambitious beginnings to overcoming near collapse, the company has experienced a remarkable transformation, playing a key role in connecting people and devices in some of the most remote areas on Earth.

In a recent episode of Scaleup Valley’s podcast, Mike Dias , CEO of Scaleup Valley, sat down with Matt Desch , the CEO of Iridium, to:

• Dive deep into his journey as a leader,

• And how they have continuously scaled their business in a rapidly changing market.?
• With over a decade at the helm, Matthew shared invaluable insights on leadership, navigating challenges, and building a resilient team culture

How Iridum Came to Life

“Iridium’s success is built on constant innovation. We’ve continued to invest in our technology to stay ahead, especially in the IoT and satellite communications space.”

Iridium, an industry mogul in the industry of satellite communications worldwide, has been the front-runner in various industries, from aviation to defense.

Under Desch’s leadership, the company scaled from being a private entity to a publicly listed one.?

He highlighted the need to have a mindset shift particularly around leadership, responsibility, and team dynamics, if you wish to scale your business.

Transitioning from Private to Public: A Leadership Challenge

When discussing the transition from a private company to a listed one, Desch emphasized that “80-90% of a CEO's responsibilities remain the same”, but the public nature of the role requires:

• Greater transparency and a shift in communication style.

• ?A CEO must be more cautious about what they share publicly (understanding that everything said or done is scrutinised by investors and the market).

There’s no change in the wind when it comes to the role of a leader and a visionary.?

Though Desch points out how a CEO of a public company still needs to learn how to temper instincts to ensure that no misleading information is shared, (particularly regarding company performance or projections).?

He took his own advice when he had to make significant adjustments by relying on a strong advisory team to manage communications.?

Empowering Leadership: Letting Go and Building Trust

"I’ve learned that as a CEO, resilience and adaptability are key. You have to expect challenges and be prepared to pivot when necessary."

One of the most valuable leadership lessons Desch shared was the importance of “letting go”? as the company scales.?

When Iridium was smaller, Desch was able to be deeply involved in every aspect of the business. However, as the company grew, it became essential to trust others to lead various parts of the organization.

The Importance of Self-awareness and Empathy for Leaders

"Culture is not something you build overnight. It’s about fostering an environment where people feel empowered to innovate and take risks."

He noted that?“self-awareness and empathy”?are critical traits in a leader who is scaling a company.?

CEOs need to empower their teams to:

• not only manage day-to-day operations but to embody and advance the vision of the company in their own ways.

Desch shared that this transition can be difficult, especially for entrepreneurial CEOs who are used to having control over all aspects of the business.?

But in order to scale successfully:

• Leaders must build a robust team that can operate independently while maintaining alignment with the company’s core values and mission.

Managing Stress: The Hidden Burden of Leadership

As Iridium grew, so did the pressure. Desch highlighted the? “importance of stress management”? for CEOs and founders, particularly those leading public companies.?

He shared that CEOs bear a unique burden:

• The responsibility for their team, customers, and shareholders often weighs more heavily on them than anyone else in the organisation.?

Desch shared his personal method for managing stress by:?

• Trying to stay connected to his work.

• ?But at the same time finding moments to focus on other passions.?

As a lifelong aviator, he turns to flying helicopters as a way to disconnect and manage stress. For him, flying provides an intense focus that allows him to step away from the pressures of running a company, even if only for a short while.

Building a Balanced Life: Passion and Purpose

Desch offered a refreshing perspective on “work-life balance”, suggesting that true balance isn’t about escaping work but finding alignment between what you love to do and how you spend your time.?

For Desch, this balance comes from:

• Loving what he does at Iridium,

• ?Finding purpose in the work.?

His advice to other leaders??

“Don’t look for balance as a way to escape work” instead, create a life where both work and personal pursuits align with your passions.

He also emphasized the importance of having a strong support system, both at work and at home, that helps alleviate the stress of leadership.?

This includes:

• Surrounding yourself with people who care about you and are willing to give you honest feedback, whether it’s to help you grow as a leader or to remind you to take care of yourself.

The Path Ahead: Advice for Aspiring Leaders

"In a fast-changing industry like ours, you need to balance short-term performance with long-term vision. That’s been a critical part of scaling Iridium."

When asked what advice he would give to his younger self or those aspiring to leadership roles:

Desch emphasized the need for “confidence and the ability to fake it until you make it.”

• Scaling a company,?

• Transitioning to public markets,?

• or growing into a leadership role?

All require a certain level of self-belief—even when facing uncertainty.

He noted that people follow leaders who can inspire confidence, even in challenging times.

Desch’s final thoughts in the interview were a reminder that:

“growth is a continuous process”.?

Leaders must remain:

• open-minded,?

• be willing to learn from their teams,?

• and continuously evolve to meet new challenges.?

Those who can adapt and embrace the process of scaling will be well-positioned to succeed.

Final Thoughts

Matthew J. Desch’s leadership journey at Iridium offers invaluable lessons for CEOs and leaders looking to scale their businesses.?

Whether transitioning from private to public, empowering your team, or managing the stress of leadership, Desch’s experience underscores the importance of:

• Adaptability,?

• Trust,?

• And self-awareness in successful scaling.

For CEOs who are navigating the complexities of growth, these insights serve as a powerful reminder that while the challenges of leadership may evolve, the core principles of vision, transparency, and empowerment remain the same.

The Top 5 Takeaways

1. Transitioning to public markets requires caution and strong advisory teams.

2. Scaling a company means letting go of control and trusting your team.

3. Managing stress is crucial for effective leadership—find healthy outlets.

4. True work-life balance comes from aligning work with passion.

5. Confidence and continuous growth are essential for scaling leadership.

Make sure to watch the episode at Scaleup Valley Podcast to learn more about ?Desch’s story of scaling up Iridium and life lessons learnt along the way!