What does it take to pivot your life toward something bigger—something infinite?
In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan sit down with Bryce Kennedy—Executive Director of Space Valley Foundation and Senior Officer at the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union—to explore a journey that defies linear career paths and redefines what leadership looks like in the age of space.
This isn’t just a conversation about satellites or space policy.
It’s a story about wonder, experimentation, and the courage to follow what feels true—even when it doesn’t make sense on paper.
The Moment That Changed Everything
For Bryce, the turning point didn’t happen in a boardroom or during a strategic planning session.
It happened during the pandemic.
After 15 years of “rat race” life in New York City, everything suddenly stopped. In that stillness, Bryce and his wife retreated upstate—where he encountered something unexpected: a massive NASA flowchart from 1983 outlining a plan to make humanity an interplanetary species.
That moment unlocked something long dormant.
“It allowed the little boy in me—the one who loved sci-fi and space—to see that this wasn’t just imagination. It was possible.”
Sometimes, all it takes is one moment of recognition—one signal that what you’ve always felt might actually be real.
The Power of Nonlinear Paths
Bryce’s journey to space wasn’t direct.
It was anything but.
- Lawyer on Wall Street
- Department of Justice
- Feng Shui practitioner
- Actor (yes, really)
- Consultant at Boston Consulting Group
By his own account, 90% of it felt like failure.
But in hindsight, it wasn’t failure—it was experimentation.
“If someone had told me that a 10% success rate with 90% failure was actually great, it would’ve changed everything.”
Each experience built a skill:
- Resilience
- Adaptability
- Emotional intelligence
- Creative thinking
And eventually, those seemingly unrelated threads converged.
Finding the Thread: Hope
When Bryce reflects on his journey, one word connects it all:
Hope.
Through every pivot, every setback, every reinvention—hope was the constant.
“If it weren’t for hope in those 90% failures, I don’t know where I’d be.”
And when he finally entered the space sector, he realized something profound:
Space isn’t just about technology.
It’s about what it represents.
Why “Wonder” Matters More Than Strategy
In his work with global leaders, NASA, and international organizations, Bryce expected conversations about regulation, infrastructure, and innovation.
Those topics came up—but they weren’t what stuck.
Again and again, leaders circled back to something deeper:
Wonder.
Stories about childhood curiosity.
Looking up at the stars.
Moments that sparked imagination.
“95% of the time, people came back to wonder.”
And that insight changed everything.
Instead of leading with technical strategy, Bryce leaned into wonder as the universal entry point.
Because wonder:
- Transcends borders
- Requires no credentials
- Connects every human being
Leadership in an Infinite Frontier
Today, Bryce’s work with the Space Valley Foundation and the UN’s Space for Good initiative is grounded in a bold idea:
Space is the first truly infinite domain humanity will enter.
And that raises critical questions:
- Who gets access?
- Who participates?
- Who benefits?
His mission is clear:
Ensure that everyone—not just a select few—can shape the future of space.
The Real Lesson: Alignment Over Control
Perhaps the most powerful takeaway from this conversation isn’t about space at all.
It’s about alignment.
For years, Bryce tried to shape outcomes—pushing toward goals that felt slightly off.
But when he aligned fully with what mattered—when he stopped being “3% off” and moved to 100%—everything accelerated.
“When you align with something deeply authentic, things start moving in ways you can’t predict.”
A Question for You
What is your version of “wonder”?
Not the practical answer.
Not the strategic one.
The real one—the one that lives beneath the surface.
Because as this conversation reminds us:
The most powerful leadership journeys don’t start with a plan.
They start with a feeling.
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