In our first episode of Forward Focus: The Future of SES, Carmel Ortiz discusses SES’s bold investment in the next-generation MEO constellation – the neosphere.

With over 30 years of engineering leadership experience, she explores how the merger with Intelsat creates unique opportunities, how partnerships like K2 Space accelerate innovation, and why medium Earth orbit offers the perfect balance of capability and sustainability. This episode reveals the strategic vision behind SES’s network transformation.

Key Topics Covered

• The neosphere vision: Building a network, not just a constellation, that continuously evolves
• Strategic partnerships: How K2 Space brings a fresh mindset and methodology to accelerate innovation
• MEO advantages: Tens of satellites vs tens of thousands, with better sustainability profile
• Innovation culture: Giving teams freedom to create, debate, and try bold ideas
• Talent strategy: Balancing deep experience with growth mindset and audacious thinking

Memorable Quotes

“We need to figure out how to not just survive, but also thrive. We really need to transform.”

“Just being in K2’s environment and seeing how they deal with things, how they make decisions, how they push the envelope and don’t accept the status quo – it really helps us change how we think about things.”

“It’s not just about connectivity anymore. Whether it’s built on LEO, MEO, GEO, or terrestrial network, RF or optical comms – those are all just elements to building this neosphere network.”

About the Guest

Carmel Ortiz is Senior Vice President of MEO Constellation Programs at SES, bringing over 30 years of engineering leadership across telecommunications, satellite, and digital media. She’s spearheading SES’s next-generation constellation strategy following the historic merger with Intelsat.

Carmel is known for her strategic vision, customer-centric approach, and passion for building high-performing teams. She’s a dog lover who has raised seven pugs throughout her marriage, and enjoys Springsteen – especially ‘Rosalita.’