By Kelly Hussey, Communications, Hudson, New Hampshire and Carolyn Wester, Communications

“True leaders inspire others to follow out of desire and not obligation, on their mutual journey to accomplish extraordinary goals." - Ricardo Gonzalez

A conversation with Ricardo Gonzalez:

We talked with Ricardo Gonzalez, product line director of C4ISRS’ Space Systems about the value of developing deep relationships, the power of self-actualization, and the critical role of risk-taking in achieving personal and professional success.

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What makes a great leader?

To me, leadership is the art of empowering your followers to dream big and become more. A great leader defines purpose, sets the direction, and then inspires, motivates, and fosters commitment. They build trust by consistently operating with integrity, compassion, and transparency — and by putting their people first. Equally important, they surround themselves with people who think differently than they do, and they listen with the intent to be influenced. True leaders inspire others to follow out of desire and not obligation, on their mutual journey to accomplish extraordinary goals.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?

The sheer power of taking risks. Specifically, it’s about realizing the incredible power that comes from each of us stepping out of our comfort zone into the unknown, and embracing that uncertainty in order to learn, grow, and achieve things that today may appear unreachable. Risk-taking fuels innovation, which is our core DNA at BAE Systems.

Everything that we do at BAE Systems is highly complex—much harder than we could solve as individuals. Our teams face challenges daily, we must constantly develop ourselves in order to operate on the leading edge of technology. This requires us to exercise measured risk-taking, which involves being bold—but never to the point of recklessness.

What advice do you have for employees who are just starting their careers with us?

Make a personal commitment to competence. In a nutshell, this is about each of us maximizing our own potential and helping those around us to do the same. It’s a commitment to taking a course of action that makes us all better.

A simple way to look at this is using the analogy of a three-legged stool, with each leg representing one important skillset: domain expertise, business acumen, and interpersonal skills. Mastering one of these areas is great, but the real power comes when you work at—and get better at—all three of them. If you’re like me, some of these areas do not come naturally. I’ve found that the best way to strengthen these skills is to create a development plan and constantly work at each pillar of the stool to maximize your potential and propel yourself forward. Beware of what I like to call, “autopilot,” which is the enemy of growth.

Can you describe a time when you were at a crossroads? How did that experience shape you?

In January 1992, I was living in a small town in Puerto Rico with my family. I’d been dating a beautiful girl for the past eight years, and had just earned my degree in electrical engineering.

At the time, I found that there were no opportunities that allowed me to pursue my calling in Puerto Rico. Without delving into details, I’ll summarize the three weeks that followed: I went from being single, in college, and living in sunny Puerto Rico with my family and friends; to getting married, working, and living in the “cold” Washington DC area. I should also point out that they speak Spanish in Puerto Rico and English in the United States. It was truly a pivotal moment in my life that has shaped me tremendously.

Years later, I’m happy to say that I’m still married to that beautiful girl, and we share two amazing daughters. Professionally, my career has taken me places that I never imagined. I’ve had incredible opportunities to support different space products and initiatives—oftentimes developing first-of-its kind capabilities for our nation—while watching my team grow personally and professionally. These are the things that truly get me excited to come to work every day.

As I share this story, I ask you to think about the following question: How much are you willing to risk in order to grow and maximize your potential and the potential of those around you? You may be surprised at your own answer.

What role did your immigration experience have/play in your personal and professional journey?

When I jumped from one culture to another, I learned so much more about diversity of thought and experience, and the many different dimensions of my colleagues. It was an incredible experience to go beyond my country of origin and experience how rich and varied everyone’s stories are – there is tremendous cultural diversity all around us.

Throughout my career, and now even more so as a leader, I take the time to listen to others, put people first, and appreciate the different dimensions of diversity. Fostering an inclusive working environment has helped make me the leader I am today. It’s more than our words; it’s our actions and behaviors that truly matter. Diversity is fantastic, but there must also be inclusion. Owning our actions, talking about our strengths and challenges, and embracing our differences, enable us to be successful.

Thank you for allowing me to share my story, grow, and give back just as the many folks who helped me along my journey did for me. I encourage everyone reading this to maximize your potential, lift each other up, and remain committed to a people first philosophy so we can all do our very best work.

Interested in developing your skills and achieving your career goals?

Explore a career in engineering or technology at BAE Systems, Inc.