CHRISTOPHER E. KUBASIK

Chair & CEO, L3Harris Technologies, Melbourne

Kubasik has spent more than 30 years in the aerospace and defense industry, becoming CEO in 2021. L3Harris Technologies develops and manufactures advanced defense and commercial technologies. It has roughly 50,000 employees working in defense-related technology and customers in more than 100 countries. Kubasik refers to L3Harris as a “trusted disruptor,” operating more like a nimble tech firm. The company announced it would cut staff by 5% this year to reduce redundancies and save costs. Kubasik and his wife Jane also work with second-year student athletes at their alma mater, the University of Maryland, through the Kubasik First Impact Program. It aims to help the students identify their strengths and passions and build career-ready skills. Business leaders, he tells them, must understand their employees’ motivations. “Change your mindset and realize that different people have different aspirations. Put them in a position where they can be successful.”