7 things LEAP speakers have taught us about space

If you look at Earth from orbit, you see all of it at once – the blue, the white, the curve of the atmosphere holding everything we’ve ever known.

And astronauts say that view changes them. They come back with a new sense of clarity; they understand how fragile our planet is, and they’ve realised that everything in our world is connected. 

At LEAP, our speakers have shown us time and time again that the same shift in perspective can happen here on the ground. You don’t have to leave Earth to learn from space.

Here are seven lessons we’ve gathered from people who’ve built satellites, connected roads, floated in orbit, and designed kitchens for Mars.

1. Perspective changes priorities

“Our whole capsule is flooded with light as the forward hatch opens and reveals Earth. And for me, capturing this moment of awe and wonder and beauty that we felt in that moment…and when I think about my time in space…it’s the moment of Earth light. Feeling the Earth’s light upon my face was transformative.”

– Dr. Sian Proctor (Geoscientist, Astronaut, Artist, Space2inspire)

Astronauts call this the overview effect: a mental shift that happens when you see Earth from space. For Dr. Proctor, that moment of Earth light was as transformative as it was beautiful. 

On the ground, it translates into a reminder that we all need to take time to zoom out. When we look at the full picture of what we’re building (who it affects, what it costs, what it could change) our priorities shift naturally towards what truly matters.

2. The gate to space is open

“I was inspired to establish Orbital because I discovered that the revolution in the space sector that had up until recently been the purview of large organisations, was now opening an entire new world to small companies and entrepreneurs. You could now become part of the fascinating adventure that is space.”

 – Francesco Bongiovanni (CEO, Orbital Solutions)

Once upon a time, space was only for governments and giants. Not anymore. Startups like Orbital Solutions are building satellites small enough and smart enough to put new players into orbit – and to let students, researchers, and local innovators take part in a global industry.

We’re at an exciting point in the development of the space industry – because when the cost of entry drops, creativity soars. 

3. Connectivity is as vital as oxygen

“I’ll tell you what I am convinced of: Connectivity is as important as electricity or water.

 – Damien Garot (Co-Founder and CEO, Stellar)

Humanity’s drive to go further in space used to be mostly about exploration and discovery. Now, it’s also about connection. Stellar is using satellite and mobile tech to bring seamless internet to vehicles and passengers on roads around the world.

Garot’s team has built software that automatically switches between networks to keep you online anywhere. And behind that innovation is a belief that access to the internet is no longer optional, and shouldn’t be limited to people in well-served areas of the world; it should be available everywhere. 

4. Inclusive leadership keeps missions alive

“There’s a new way of leading…inclusive and complementary. That’s why we are all here. That’s why we see the diversity in this room. It’s about being inclusive on this journey of Starship and beyond.”

– Dr. Sian Proctor (Geoscientist, Astronaut, Artist, Space2inspire)

Space travel demands perfect teamwork. Every person on a mission has to feel valued, supported, and trusted – because lives depend on it.

Proctor’s lesson is about radical inclusivity: bring that same ethos to Earth. Tech isn’t a solo act; it’s a shared mission. And inclusion isn’t a corporate virtue – it’s a survival strategy.

5. Gentle can still be groundbreaking

“Explorers will embark on a six-hour journey in the world’s first Space Lounge – complete with Wi-Fi, a lavatory that we are calling the Space Spa, and the largest windows ever flown to space.”

– Jane Poynter (Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Space Perspective)

At Space Perspective, Poynter and her team are making space travel both luxurious and sustainable – working to take passengers to the edge of space in a pressurised capsule lifted by a balloon, not a rocket.

It’s slow, serene, and carbon-neutral. And in an industry obsessed with thrust and velocity, it reminds us that progress doesn’t always mean speed. 

6. Creativity cross-trains innovation

“Writing symphonic classical music is a process that is not philosophically too different from building a satellite. You need a bold idea, musical or spatial, and then thorough implementation.”

– Francesco Bongiovanni (CEO, Orbital Solutions)

Bongiovanni is both a CEO and a composer. For him, engineering and music share a rhythm: structure and imagination working in harmony.

We think it’s a beautiful analogy. Great technology, like great art, needs inspiration and discipline at the same time. 

7. Design fiction leads to design function

“When you don’t think about the future, you tend to answer the same questions with the same solutions.”

– Phnam Bagley (Space Architect, Nonfiction Design)

As a Space Architect, Bagley designs habitats and technologies for other planets – and applies that thinking back here on Earth. Her studio, Nonfiction, has worked on everything from brain implant systems for depression to space kitchens for Mars.

Her philosophy is a challenge to everyone in tech: to think ahead, be bold, and always stay playful. 

What space teaches us about the planet we live on 

When our space-focused speakers look up, they’re not trying to escape Earth. They’re using their experiments and developments and explorations in space to understand our own planet more deeply. And the ideas they bring back belong everywhere, in everything we build – especially in tech. 

If you want to discover the latest space tech innovations and meet some of the innovators leading our journey into new worlds, get your pass now to attend LEAP 2026.