Janet Grondin on Mission-Driven Leadership, National Security, and Making High-Stakes Decisions

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In this episode of Mission: Cyber, host Emil Sayegh sits down with Janet Grondin, CEO of Stellar Solutions and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel. With a career spanning 26 years in the Air Force, national security space programs, and executive leadership, Janet brings a mission-driven perspective to leadership, decision-making, and protecting the systems our nation depends on.

Janet reflects on her journey from aeronautical engineer to Air Force Colonel to CEO, including her work supporting GPS, launch vehicles, and other critical space capabilities. She explains how her engineering background continues to shape the way she solves problems, why space is so deeply connected to national security and everyday life, and how leaders can make sound decisions even when they don't have all the information.

She also shares lessons from her transition from military to corporate leadership and her experience rising through the ranks at Stellar Solutions. From building a culture around trust and autonomy to leading teams through difficult moments, Janet explains why strong leadership requires listening, adaptability, and a willingness to make tough decisions while keeping the mission at the forefront.

The conversation also turns to cybersecurity and the Defense Industrial Base, where Janet shares why CEOs need to understand their organization's cybersecurity architecture, why leaders need to stay engaged in protecting sensitive information, and why defense contractors should continue pursuing CMMC readiness regardless of changing implementation timelines.

In this episode:

• How Janet's engineering and Air Force experience shaped her approach to leadership
• Why GPS and other space capabilities are critical to national security and everyday life
• What Janet learned transitioning from military to corporate leadership
• How to make high-stakes decisions without having 100% of the information
• Why trust, autonomy, and relationships are central to Stellar Solutions' culture
• What leadership requires when teams are under pressure
• Why CEOs need to stay engaged in cybersecurity and CMMC

Whether you're a CEO, cybersecurity leader, engineer, defense contractor, or someone navigating the next stage of your career, this conversation offers a firsthand perspective on mission-driven leadership, making high-stakes decisions, and what it takes to protect the mission.