Dr. Kam Ghaffarian
Founder and Executive Chairman of X-energy, Intuitive Machines, Axiom Space and Quantum Space
I believe that the ultimate destiny for humanity is to become interstellar, so that's really my ultimate vision – to be able to travel to other stars outside our solar system. But, in order to make any of that happen, you need to take steps toward that.
Summary
In this episode of Leadership Matters, Alan Fleischmann sits down with Dr. Kam Ghaffarian, founder of IBX and co-founder of pioneering companies like Axiom Space, X-energy, Intuitive Machines, and Quantum Space.
Kam shares his remarkable journey—from immigrating alone to the U.S. at 17 with borrowed money, to building billion-dollar companies shaping the future of space exploration, clean energy, and human health. He opens up about his early fascination with the stars, the cultural challenges of adapting to a new country, and how a deep sense of purpose has guided every venture he's launched.
Kam’s reflects on his time building great cultures, fostering innovation, and creating companies that are not just profitable, but profoundly impactful. He also discusses the mission behind his nonprofits—the Emerging Light Foundation and the Limitless Space Institute—and the belief that business and philanthropy must work hand-in-hand to advance humanity.
Mentions & Resources
Guest Bio
Kam Ghaffarian is the visionary space and energy entrepreneur behind several companies dedicated to furthering human civilization, including Axiom Space. After co-founding Axiom Space in 2016 to unlock space’s potential for innovation through commercialization, he serves as Executive Chairman of the Board and a key strategic advisor on the development of the space economy.
Kam started his entrepreneurial career in 1994 by founding Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT), a government services company focusing on IT, engineering, science applications, and mission operations. SGT became NASA’s second-largest engineering services contractor, providing ISS operations and astronaut training support and generating annual revenues of over half a billion dollars, and was eventually acquired by KBR. He previously held numerous technical and management positions at Lockheed Martin, Ford Aerospace, and Loral, among others.
Driven by his mission to advance the state of humanity and human knowledge, Kam has created organizations transforming the space and energy sectors. In addition to co-founding Axiom Space, his other companies include, Intuitive Machines, a leader in deliver science technology NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, X-energy, which is developing nuclear power solutions for both terrestrial energy and space propulsion use, and IBX, an innovation and investment firm. Kam is also an active philanthropist and founder of a non-profit focused on scientific research and enabling interstellar travel. Kam holds several degrees including undergraduate degrees in computer science and electronics engineering, and an M.Sc. in information management.
Transcript
Transcript will be uploaded upon the episode’s premiere.