Recognised by the Luxembourg government for her role in pioneering satellite projects, co-founding SES (Société Européenne des Satellites), and architecting SES Global, Candace Johnson, at 72 years old, continues to inspire a new generation of space entrepreneurs.
Luxinnovation
To understand Candace Johnson's present, one must journey back to her formative years. At the age of five, Ms Johnson received a little Sputnik ornament to hang on the Christmas tree – a gift that sparked a lifelong fascination with satellites and space. "From that day on, I thought everything good came from space. And I still believe that," she confesses with a warm smile, holding up a replica of the very Sputnik she received.
To top it off, she was raised in a family well-versed in the space sector. Her father flew several combat missions during World War II, held key roles from the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe to the US Air Force headquarters, worked on the first satellites for the US Government, the Apollo mission and was Deputy Director of Telecommunications Policy, precursor to the Federal Communications Commission. “We had people like Wernher von Braun (German-American aerospace engineer) at our house," she laughs, casually dropping names that resonate with history. She remembers General Rice of RCA Americom, who would later become a key contact during the early days of SES, greeting her with, "Candy, honey. I used to bounce you on my knee," a charming anecdote illustrating the deeply personal connections forged in the early space community.
I think that with space exploration we will discover new materials, new medicines, new sources of energy which will improve our life on earth.
“Being exposed to all of these people and technologies at a very early age was very important from the beginning. I was learning about fibre optics on the battleground, mobile communications, computers. I didn't realise that not everybody had grown up like me, in a family that was devoted to technology for good, telecommunications, satellites and rockets,” she explains.
Her father, in a prescient visit to her fifth-grade class, painted a vivid picture of satellites enabling global communication, entertainment, education, and even, almost prophetically, wars in space and peace on earth. Though the latter remains elusive, his vision for satellite technology was strikingly accurate. As she grew older, she wondered, "Where is all of this stuff?" Realising the vast potential still untapped ignited her passion even further.
Surprisingly, Johnson's formal academic path diverged into the arts, specifically music. "Nobody in my family did music. Everybody did space technology," she chuckles. Despite excelling in piano and singing, her upbringing had already provided an unparalleled education in technology. "If your father is the head of military telecommunications in the 60s, then you know, you had access to everything. And I grew up with space; space and I grew up together."
Yet, she sees a profound synergy between her artistic background and her technological pursuits. "The essence of music, particularly if you're performing, and the essence of telecommunications, of space, is really to transmit intact the message." Whether it’s a Bach fugue or a satellite signal, the core principle is flawless transmission.
"I've never done technology for technology's sake. I've never done technology to get rich," she states plainly. Often forgoing personal financial gain due to her husband's diplomatic role, her driving force was always to rectify what she perceived as wrong. "If you see something that is wrong, and you think you can right it, then you must."
I've never done technology for technology's sake. I've never done technology to get rich.
She describes her career in space technology as a progression. First, she aimed for "universal access" through companies like SES for television, telecommunications, and internet. Then, she moved to transborder private telecommunications with Teleport Europe, followed by mobile telephony with Iridium, and broadband internet with Europe Online. Her focus then shifted to using space to "access the universe" for purposes like Earth observation, weather prediction, and space situational awareness. Today, she's working on "networks for the universe," including concepts like data centers on the Moon and space-based solar power.
The vision for SES took root in 1983, fuelled by "barrierless thinking." At the time, Luxembourg was facing three critical crises: steel, broadcasting, and monetary. Prime Minister Werner sought a fourth economic pillar,
The journey from concept to launch of SES was remarkably swift, a mere five years, even in this day and age of “New Space”, Johnson recalls. “By the way, I've only ever done “New Space”. I have never done a government project. Everything that I have done is market-oriented, privately financed, and to fulfil a demand. I was most privileged to work with Prime Minister Werner, Prime Minister Santer and the wonderful Luxembourg people, such as Paul Zimmer, Charles Dondelinger, Marcel Gross, Carlo Rock, etc. to be one of the founders of SES”, she says.
She shows a cherished photograph from 11 December 1988, in Kourou, French Guiana, captured the eve of the Astra-1A launch, Luxembourg's inaugural satellite. In the snapshot, amidst a predominantly male team, Johnson stands out, the only woman, yet a pivotal force. The launch had been delayed, adding some tension. Yet, beneath the fear, was the weight of responsibility. "I was one of the ones who had told the then Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Pierre Werner, and the government of Luxembourg that they could have a satellite system."
Prior to SES, Johnson had already demonstrated her entrepreneurial acumen, having exited Parkway Productions, a major music and cultural radio and television syndicate in the US.
The journey wasn’t always smooth. But looking back, she recalls her evergreen motto, “Never accept no for an answer, never give up and never go away, even when others want you to.” While today’s entrepreneurs are lauded as "disruptors," Johnson points out, "I mean, we disrupted everything." SES challenged government broadcasters, government telcos, and established industrial policies, particularly in aerospace. Luxembourg’s lack of legacy industries, ironically, became an advantage. "Luxembourg didn't have aerospace companies back then, and so we were open to being able to pick the best technology without having any industrial policy saying you must do this." This disruptive approach, predictably, ruffled feathers across Europe. "Now, of course, nobody in Europe was happy about this, nobody. But, you know, we didn't ever give up; there were so many times when everybody was against us."
Johnson remembers approaching European aerospace giants for satellite procurement. At one of the companies, the Director General dismissed her outright: "Miss Johnson, we sell satellites, and we build satellites for large governments. We do not build or sell satellites to private companies from a little country like Luxembourg. But this just doesn't faze me, you know." SES turned to RCA Americom in the US, purchasing two satellites "off the shelf".
A strategic marketing survey targeted emerging private media players – Murdoch, Kirsch, Berlusconi, and Canal Plus – all eager to break free from restrictive national satellite systems. These systems, at the time burdened by industrial policy and nationalistic agendas, were both expensive and limited. "Each of them was about $2 billion at the time… and there were only four transponders, four channels." SES offered a radical alternative: 16 channels for roughly $150 million per satellite. "Do the math," she quips, highlighting the cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, SES innovated by placing multiple satellites in the same orbital position, vastly expanding channel capacity. "We actually did put seven satellites, in the same orbit position and it was thanks to Luxembourg engineers like Joseph Gonner, one of SES’s first employees, that we were able to do it.”
In 2001, Ms Johnson transitioned from serial entrepreneur to investor, a natural evolution given her track record and insights, and in 2002, an angel investor.
Reflecting on the rapid evolution of the space sector, Johnson expresses a blend of happiness and a sense of déjà vu. "This is the golden era of space, but for me, it always was." 12 years ago she created OWNSAT, (Oceania Women’s Network Satellite) to become one of the first investors in Kacific where she also was one of the first board members. True to her goal of providing universal access, the satellite system provides resilient broadband internet to villages, schools, and hospitals to 25 island nations across the Pacific.
“I am very proud to currently be the Chair of the Advisory Board and Partner at Seraphim Space, the world’s largest Space Tech Venture Fund – We have done some great investments such as ICEYE (Finland and Luxembourg), AST Mobile (USA), AstroScale (Japan), Pixxel (India), Spire (Luxembourg and the USA), etc.
Entrepreneurs, they always see the future and they wonder why everybody else doesn't see it.
At the same time, Johnson’s angel investment portfolio showcases a focus on purpose-driven ventures, often led by women. She proudly points to The Exploration Company, founded by Hélène Huby, building Europe's first spaceship, and Interstellar Lab, led by Barbara Belvisi, creating biopods for sustainable living on Earth and in space. Identifying these promising start-ups, for Johnson, hinges on key principles honed over decades. She dedicates Saturday mornings to mentoring sessions, a practice spanning over a decade, now attracting entrepreneurs from around the globe, including referrals from the European Space Agency.
Johnson observes a common thread among entrepreneurs: "Entrepreneurs, they always see the future and they wonder why everybody else doesn't see it." Vision, she emphasises, is paramount. For SES, it wasn't just about satellite television; it was about "bringing freedom of choice". For Iridium, it was "truly bringing universal access". The impact of these visions resonated deeply, from Eastern Europeans gaining access to Western media after the fall of the Berlin Wall, to Iridium being the sole communication system functional during disasters like the Indonesian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. "And it's when you have this vision, and you work hard to have it realised, and then for one day, you're happy, but then the next day you have to start all over again."
“As an entrepreneur, you can never rest on your laurels,” notes Johnson. “When SES Astra became No. 1 in Europe, I became very afraid that someone would try to take us over – which actually happened and I was able to keep it independent, together with Mr. Santer,” she recalls. “This is why I architected SES Global and instigated buying GE Americom to become the world’s largest satellite system in 2001.”
Looking toward the future, she says: “I am excited about my next personal phase of enabling “networks for the universe.” “I think that with space exploration we will discover new materials, new medicines, new sources of energy which will improve our life on earth”. “Luxembourg can be very proud of itself for having launched the “Space Resources Initiative” and indeed not resting on its laurels after its success with SES,” she notes with satisfaction. “Companies like ICEYE, Spire, I Space, and NorthStar are leading the way for New Space in Luxembourg as well.”
"I always tell all entrepreneurs to think big. For me, it’s really about these three things: does the entrepreneur have a big vision? Do they have the capability to achieve it? And do they have values? I am absolutely nuts about values. I think this is the most important thing of all." Personal responsibility and a desire to "make the world better" are equally non-negotiable criteria, according to Johnson.
Addressing the evolution of women in tech and aerospace, Johnson acknowledges progress but sees persistent challenges, often rooted in societal structures. "Increasingly, certainly in mid-management, I do see women in the tech industry, in the space industry." She actively championed initiatives like "global board ready women," contributing to the EU law mandating 40% female representation on corporate boards.
Increasingly, certainly in mid-management, I do see women in the tech industry, in the space industry.
"Thanks to Viviane Reding who initiated the law while she was Vice President of the European Commission, every publicly listed company in Europe has to have 40% women on boards. That is great." Today, the work goes on to elevate women to C-suite positions, “but already this is progressing if you look at the number of female CEO’s heading up the large satellite and telecommunications companies at Eutelsat, SpaceX, TeleNor, BT, Orange, etc.”
At this moment, she says she is also fighting against what she perceives as a “colonisation of space” by some of the billionaires who may take away access to spectrum orbital positions, and the market for entrepreneurs and emerging space-faring nations. “I will be giving a workshop at the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney later this year to issue a call to action to combat this growing concern”. Johnson concludes with the remark, “There is still so much to do.”
