In this episode of SWANVoice, Giuditta Montesanti, a Programme Officer at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space, shares how influence, trust and initiative can create momentum beyond formal authority.

From coordinating more than 40 experts across different institutions and hierarchies, to contributing to major European space initiatives, Giuditta reveals how technical expertise, diplomacy and a shared sense of purpose can bring people together.

We also explore her "roller coaster" journey, as she calls it, from aerospace engineering and experimental work on plasma thrusters to European space programmes, the courage it takes to pursue uncertain opportunities, and why emotional intelligence is a valuable leadership strength.

An honest conversation about leading through influence, stepping beyond your job title and believing that everything is possible.

🎙️ Listen, discover and join the conversation.

Women in Space: Role Models for the Future.

Discover more about Space Women Alliance (SWAN): www.spacewomenalliance.org

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This powerful idea will be explored by Aurélie Domargård speaking with Alexandra Vaillant, Marketing Director at CySec and Director of CySat, a leading event focused on cybersecurity for the space industry.

Alexandra’s journey into space is anything but traditional: coming from a background in entrepreneurship and communications, she built her career at the intersection of marketing, events, and a fast-evolving technical ecosystem.

For the next 20 minutes, they will dive into what it really means to work in a highly technical sector without being a technical expert, while navigating imposter syndrome, learning the language of space and cybersecurity, and discovering the unique value of translating complex topics into meaningful, accessible narratives.

Going even further we will adress the role of communication in building global communities, from Europe to Asia, and how trust, visibility, and connection are essential to advancing the space ecosystem.

At its heart, this episode is a reminder that the space industry needs many kinds of talent, and that understanding people can be just as important as understanding technology.

🎙️ Listen, discover and join the conversation.

Women in Space: Role Models for the Future.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.