The talent market is constantly shifting.
We are here to help you navigate the trends, explore and implement best practices and have conversations on the direction of the NewSpace and Clean Tech industries.
From our exciting new podcast, AdAstra With, to our articles and resources, our hope is that we can always be providing insights to help our clients and candidates succeed.
AdAstra Talent Advisors and Space Capital Webinar: Evaluating Top Candidates for Space Startups
Check out the full webinar recording here! On October 9, 2024, AdAstra Talent Advisors hosted an insightful webinar with Space Capital, featuring Justus Kilian, Partner at Space Capital, alongside Brian and Seyka Mejeur from AdAstra. This event brought together founders and leaders in the space industry, sharing valuable strategies for tackling today’s hiring challenges and positioning startups for success. Market Recap: Funding Landscape…
What Have We Learned from the Starliner Case?
The developments with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft have been a journey of technical challenges, media narratives, and broader industry lessons. As NASA and Boeing work to bring more clarity to what transpired, one thing is clear: the way information was communicated plays a huge role in how events were perceived by the public. On September 13th,…
Why Is Hiring a Top-Tier Recruiter So Challenging?
Hiring? So important. Hiring the people responsible for hiring? So incredibly important. Selecting the right recruiter can make or break your team’s growth trajectory, particularly in a startup environment. An effective recruiter can significantly lift the burden on leadership by seamlessly bringing in top talent for critical roles. On the flip side, a poor hiring…
Legacy vs. Startup Talent
When you’re done with this article, head over to my LinkedIn and connect with me to keep getting more insightful content about the talent landscape of the NewSpace and Clean Tech industries. “When hiring for my startup, do I have to hire from other startups or can I also hire from legacy orgs? What considerations…
Making Better Podcast: Why Training and Recruiting Need to Work Together
Check out the full podcast episode here. At AdAstra, we understand the critical importance of seamless collaboration between talent acquisition and talent development. It’s a fundamental principle we’ve upheld since the inception of our company. We firmly believe in the two primary avenues for enhancing talent within an organization: acquisition and development. However, the disconnect…
A New Approach to Setting Goals in 2024 – Creating Powerful Habits
If you like the content from this article, I’m sure you’ll love the rest of the content I share on my LinkedIn. Make sure to connect with me and follow for more valuable content like this. I hear a lot of disenchantment with annual goal setting around this time of year. Typically, I hear people…
Looking for some Guidance…Navigation and Control Engineers?
Let’s keep the discussion going! If you like this article, head over to my LinkedIn share your thoughts with our community. Looking for some Guidance…Navigation and Control Engineers? You are not alone! Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) engineers are in very high demand across the space industry right now, particularly NewSpace. These engineers are a…
The Space Capital Podcast: Achieving the Impossible with Top Talent
Listen to The Space Capital Podcast here! •Episode Summary• In this episode of the Space Capital Podcast, host Chad Anderson introduces his colleague, Justus Kilian, a partner at Space Capital, who leads the conversation with special guests Brian and Seyka Mejeur, co-founders of AdAstra. AdAstra specializes in talent advisory for space and clean tech startups,…
Breaking the Chains of Mediocrity: Lessons from an MBA Student on Overcoming Mental Blocks to Pursue Your Passion
Let me know what you think on my LinkedIn post, and I’ll be happy to expand on this and other topics there! I have the great privilege of being a quarterly lecturer for an MBA program. I love this class specifically because I get to share knowledge on ideas I didn’t even have the right…
Space Capital Spotlight: featuring AdAstra’s very own, Brian Mejeur.
Space Capital Spotlight just released their most recent article and it’s a very special one! Brian Mejeur, Founder/CTO/COO of AdAstra Talent Advisors and former Propulsion Engineer at SpaceX, shares his career journey and valuable insights gained through years of experience in the NewSpace industry. Brian tells us about how growing up with an interest in…
Payload Podcast – The Space Talent Funnel, with Seyka and Brian Mejeur
Listen to the Payload Podcast Episode Here! EPISODE SUMMARY Today, the Pathfinder podcast brings on its first married cofounder duo. Seyka and Brian Mejeur run AdAstra, an executive and technical headhunting firm for NewSpace and Clean Tech startups. Pathfinder #0036 is brought to you by Kepler Communications, a company bringing the internet to space. EPISODE…
Unlocking Success: Key Hiring Metrics Every Startup Needs to Track (Part 3)
When you’re done reading this article let me know your thoughts and ideas on my LinkedIn post, so we can keep the conversation going. “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” – Yogi Berra Imagine this scenario: you are running a startup with a couple of business partners, and…
AdAstra With Ryan Carlisle; Co-Founder/CTO, Argo Space Corp.
What is the Next Big Domain in Space? AdAstra With brings the insights of top NewSpace and Clean Tech industry leaders and game changers to the masses with authentic conversation and discussions on hot industry topics! Our hosts Seyka and Brian Mejeur, the founders of AdAstra Talent Advisors, sit down with Ryan Carlisle, the Co-Founder…
Unlocking Success: Key Hiring Metrics Every Startup Needs to Track (Part 2)
Find Metrics 1 – 5 in my previous article, or go to my LinkedIn, and leave me a comment with your thoughts on the matter! “What’s measured improves” – Peter Drucker Imagine this scenario: you are running a startup with a couple of business partners, and you realize that to grow and succeed, you…
Liftoff to Startup: A Story of a SpaceX Engineer Turned Entrepreneur
Our Founder and COO, Brian Mejeur was a guest on the Engineering Career Coach Podcast! In this video, Brian Mejeur, the founder of AdAstra and former SpaceX engineer shares his insights on transitioning from engineer to entrepreneur, networking, taking risks, and building a successful team. You can view the show notes for this video here…
AdAstra With Josh Giegel, Entrepreneur – Future of Sustainability and Where NewSpace Fits In
AdAstra With brings the insights of top NewSpace and Clean Tech industry leaders and game changers to the masses with authentic conversation and discussions on hot industry topics! Our hosts Seyka and Brian Mejeur, the founders of AdAstra Talent Advisors, sit down with Josh Giegel, current Technologist and Entrepreneur, former CEO and Co-founder of Virgin…
Unlocking Success: Key Hiring Metrics Every Startup Needs to Track (Part 1)
We can keep driving this conversation forward, just drop a comment and share your opinions and experiences with me. “What’s measured improves” – Peter Drucker Imagine this scenario: you are running a startup with a couple of business partners, and you realize that to grow and succeed, you will need more talent on your team.…
AdAstra With Glenn Case, Founder and CTO, Hermeus Corporation – The Case for Hypersonics
AdAstra With brings the insights of top NewSpace and Clean Tech industry leaders and game changers to the masses with authentic conversation and discussions on hot industry topics! Our hosts Seyka and Brian Mejeur, the founders of AdAstra Talent Advisors, sit down with Glenn Case, Founder and CTO of Hermeus. LISTEN HERE: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5q9pKa6ETOQvdz0gpLcxlu WATCH HERE: https://youtu.be/PdhXlCyimMo https://youtu.be/PdhXlCyimMo Glenn Case…
AdAstra With Scott Macklin, Director of Engineering, Gravitics – Where Humanity Should Focus their Efforts on Building an Off-Earth Colony
AdAstra With brings the insights of top NewSpace and Clean Tech industry leaders and game changers to the masses with authentic conversation and discussions on hot industry topics! Our hosts Seyka and Brian Mejeur, the founders of AdAstra Talent Advisors, sit down with Scott Macklin, Director of Engineering at Gravitics. LISTEN HERE – https://open.spotify.com/episode/0qXcKJf74ECYDWssUL0LH7 WATCH HERE – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou1Nv4tvi3U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou1Nv4tvi3U Scott…
SpaceDotBiz Interview – The Do’s and Dont’s of Space Startup Recruiting
Our CEO, Seyka Mejeur was featured in the SpaceDotBiz Newsletter! Read the full article here! “Today’s newsletter is probably the most practically useful I’ve sent yet. I interviewed Seyka Mejeur, founder and CEO of the space recruiting firm AdAstra. She has helped find and recruit top talent for some of the highest-performing companies in the…
AdAstra With Janeya Griffin, Equity Space Alliance – Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in NewSpace
AdAstra With brings the insights of top NewSpace and Clean Tech industry leaders and game changers to the masses with authentic conversation and discussions on hot industry topics! Our hosts Seyka and Brian Mejeur, the founders of AdAstra Talent Advisors, sit down with Janeya Griffin, Founder and CEO of Equity Space Alliance. LISTEN HERE: https://open.spotify.com/episode/17sCArXUCA9zmZXHhT89A6 WATCH HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl8rrWIJSkU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl8rrWIJSkU Janeya is…
AdAstra With Hans Koenigsmann, SpaceX Founding Member – Balancing Risk While Pushing Boundaries
AdAstra With brings the insights of top NewSpace and Clean Tech industry leaders and game changers to the masses with authentic conversation and discussions on hot industry topics! Our hosts Seyka and Brian Mejeur, the founders of AdAstra Talent Advisors, sit down with Hans Koenigsmann, SpaceX Founding Team and current Space Industry Advisor. LISTEN HERE: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6nCEHWseUBugAjbi8iSyWQ?si=8a9c4f4d22a3481d WATCH HERE: https://youtu.be/mibMS_lF_0A Hans…
Mastering the Art of Negotiation: Tips and Strategies for Success
As a business owner and operator I engage in negotiations regularly. Two primary areas of negotiation arise frequently. The first is a situation in which I am working with a candidate and a client, looking for the best way to make a job offer work for both parties. The second is working out contract details…
Mentorship Programs Reveal Big Wins for Companies (People Ops Pros Listen Up)
I recently posted an article on the benefits of mentorship for mentors and mentees. I highly recommend finding an excellent mentor and/or mentee for your career development. And the benefits don’t stop at the individual; companies are well advised to encourage mentorship, or even set up a mentorship program. Company Benefits of Mentorship + According…
Q4 2022 & Q1 2023 Labor Market Changes
How will the recent labor market changes impact the NewSpace startup labor market for Q4 2022 and Q1 2023? We’ve seen massive companies lay off record breaking numbers of people. Some noteworthy mentions are: Amazon layoffs: 1% of workforce laid off beginning (November 2022) Meta layoffs: 13% of workforce laid off (November, 2022) Their biggest…
Top 10 Interview Best Practices for Candidates
You may have seen my article Biggest Mistakes Candidates Make in Interviews, today I wanted to look at it from another angle – the best practices for candidates in interviews. In my career in talent acquisition, and now leading AdAstra Talent Advisors a NewSpace and cleantech headhunting firm, I’ve seen exceptional interviewees, and interviewees who could…
AdAstra With Thomas Cobbs, Datum Source – Supply Chain Challenges in NewSpace
AdAstra With is a new show that brings the thoughts and ideals of top NewSpace and Clean Tech industry leaders and game changers to the masses with authentic conversation and discussions on hot industry topics! Our hosts Seyka and Brian Mejeur, the founders of AdAstra Talent Advisors, sit down with Thomas Cobbs, Co-founder and COO of Datum. LISTEN HERE: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2yX39U2FDXB4D8pxYpnUKk WATCH…
Mentorship Big Wins for Company KPIs (People Ops Professionals Listen Up)
I recently posted an article on the benefits of mentorship for mentors and mentees. I highly recommend finding an excellent mentor and/or mentee for your career development. And the benefits don’t stop at the individual; companies are well advised to encourage mentorship, or even set up a mentorship program. This article covers benefits and how to…
How to Get An Amazing Mentor (and why it matters)
When you’re done with this article, give me a follow and let’s start a conversation! What is a mentor? Let’s define a mentor as someone who is at least one level above you, is not your direct manager, exhibits performance and life behaviors that you would like to adopt, has experience in areas that…
AdAstra With Chris Thompson, Phantom Space – Horizontal vs. Vertical Integration
AdAstra With is a new show that brings the thoughts and ideals of top NewSpace and Clean Tech industry leaders and game changers to the masses with authentic conversation and discussions on hot industry topics! Our hosts Seyka and Brian Mejeur, the founders of AdAstra Talent Advisors, sit down with Chris Thompson, CTO of Phantom Space. LISTEN HERE: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6WJZfaBwkM5gkhFvTH3nCj WATCH HERE:…
AdAstra With Delian Asparouhov, Cofounder of Varda Space and Principal at Founders Fund – VC Funding Insights
In this episode of AdAstra With, our hosts Seyka and Brian Mejeur, the founders of AdAstra Talent Advisors, sit down with Delian Asparouhov, Cofounder of Varda Space and Principal at Founders Fund LISTEN HERE: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Tb7cbklb0vyCHliAmklx7 WATCH HERE: https://youtu.be/UGEalYjOkpM https://youtu.be/UGEalYjOkpM Delian was an MIT dropout at the age of 19 and went on start Nightingale, a healthcare software company, which he…
10 Biggest Mistakes Interviewers Make
If you would like to join me in sharing ideas and insights similar to the ones in this article give me a follow on LinkedIn and let me know your thoughts. Do you ever wonder how your interviewing skills compare to others? Are you presenting the most attractive aspects of your open roles and…
Biggest Mistakes Candidates Make in Interviews
After giving this a read, check out my other article on the 10 biggest mistakes interviewers make. 10 Biggest Mistakes Interviewers Make I have interviewed around 6000 people in my 7 years of interviewing. I’ve interviewed highly technical people with niche specialties, and I’ve interviewed leaders and executives. Sometimes I am ready to stop the…
How to Become Incredibly Passionate About Your Work
When you’re with this read, feel welcome to check out my other articles and share your thoughts with me! “Follow your passion and you’ll never work a day in your life.” I disagree. In reality, the things that we are naturally drawn to have functions around them that feel a whole lot more like…
From Engineer to Entrepreneur – Part 2
If you haven’t already read Part 1 of this article, go check it out! Transitioning from being an engineer to an entrepreneur building a business in talent acquisition has been incredible. Because I worked in the trenches at SpaceX and elsewhere, I know firsthand what it takes to get work done in the NewSpace industry.…
Top 3 Do’s and Don’ts of Starting a Business
Starting a business is a thrilling experience with many different elements to keep track of. While different businesses require diverse strategies and startup methods, there are some elements that are true for every founder at the beginning. Do’s Do Make a Plan Outline your timeline and strategic success markers for the first one, three, six…
From Engineer to Entrepreneur – Part 1
Check out this article on my LinkedIn and let me know what you think! For many aspiring engineers, there’s a linear path laid out before them. Education => internships => full-time engineering job. But many don’t discuss what happens after that first “real” engineering job. Do I continue working at the same company in…
Networking for Engineers
I keep my LinkedIn up to date with articles and posts similar to this one. Give me a follow and join in on these great conversation! When it comes to the professional world, the word networking appears time and time again. To me, networking simply means taking an effort to professionally or socially interact…