‘Room to Find Yourself’: The Incubator-Like Culture of EchoStar Creates Long, Dynamic Careers

In an era characterized by rapid technological advancements, shifting economic landscapes and evolving workplace dynamics, the notion of a long, stable career may seem increasingly elusive. However, many individuals are not only surviving but thriving while building long-lasting and fulfilling careers — three leaders across different business lines at EchoStar — which recently merged with DISH — illustrate that this is still possible.

At EchoStar, the key to these long and fruitful journeys lies in dynamic roles, opportunities for growth and a company culture that fosters development and innovation.

Dan Rasmussen, SVP and general manager for the enterprise division at Hughes, an EchoStar company, joined the organization as a new college graduate, expecting to stay for three to five years. That was 28 years ago.

“The constant ability to grow in terms of knowledge and responsibility has kept me here. Hughes maintains a small company culture, which allows for identifying and filling needs across various roles,” Rasmussen explained. 

“The constant ability to grow in terms of knowledge and responsibility has kept me here.”

Along with that small company culture is a broad range of responsibilities for Rasmussen, which has kept him engaged throughout his career with opportunities to advance.

“We do cybersecurity, digital signage and all types of connectivity, including in-flight WiFi on airlines like Delta Airlines,” he explained. “Secure, global connectivity is what our team does.”

Katie Flynn, VP of marketing for Boost Mobile, another EchoStar company, underscored the value of varied experiences in career growth and highlighted EchoStar’s commitment to enabling employees to move across different departments, gaining diverse skills and knowledge.

“I started in marketing at DISH over 11 years ago, supporting the satellite TV brand. I’ve done various jobs in marketing and even led a recruiting team in HR. Now, I’m on the retail wireless side, supporting the Boost Mobile brand,” she said.

Adaptability is a cornerstone of career longevity, and at EchoStar, the ability to pivot in response to changing circumstances and technological disruptions has enabled leaders like Flynn to explore new possibilities in her career.

By viewing challenges as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles, she has developed a mindset that embraces change and uncertainty, allowing her to navigate transitions smoothly and maintain her career trajectory while applying the same innovative and adaptable principles to her work, as Boost Mobile shifts from its identity as a prepaid carrier to one that unites pre- and postpaid options under a single brand umbrella.

“We’re transforming the Boost Mobile brand to compete against the big three carriers. One example is that Boost Mobile is the only place you can get an iPhone 15 with a carrier on Amazon today,” Flynn said. “We’re pioneering how to buy a subscription on Amazon, which poses numerous challenges but also great opportunities.”

Adaptability has also played a crucial role in the success of SVP of Product and Operations for Video Services Seth Van Sickel and his team. Their ability to effectively integrate EchoStar’s suite of video brands highlights their expertise and flexibility.

“We’ve brought together DISH and Sling into a single organization,” he said. “This allows us to leverage the best of each brand, providing incremental customer value and ensuring we remain competitive in the dynamic video market.”

Van Sickel, Flynn and Rasmussen each joined the EchoStar organization as individual contributors before growing into leadership roles over time, and the company’s culture of collaboration and continuous learning is another factor contributing to dynamic careers within a single organization.

“We are primarily in person, which fosters natural collaboration,” Flynn said. “Cross-pollination happens when you run into people in the hallway or grab lunch together. We have a diverse and aligned team because we hire for culture with a focus on curiosity, pride, adventure and winning.”
 

Van Sickel, too, appreciates the collaborative environment.

“I feel fortunate to work alongside the majority of my team from a single campus. This setup allows for spontaneous questions and conversations, enhancing our focus on the customer and motivating us all to do better,” he said.

“I feel fortunate to work alongside the majority of my team on a single campus. This setup allows for spontaneous questions and conversations, enhancing our focus on the customer and motivating us all to do better.”

This strong focus on collaboration extends to ensuring excellent experiences for consumers, as well. 

“We work daily with our technology teams to resolve pain points and create experiences that delight our customers,” Van Sickel added. “Whether it’s product management, design or operations, our team is obsessed with the customer experience.”

For Flynn, the revitalization of Boost Mobile’s unified brand emphasizes the customer-first approach. “There’s a huge opportunity to disrupt wireless right now. No one loves their carrier, so we’re focusing on developing the best customer experience,” she said.

Rasmussen also highlighted this focus, though Hughes focuses on a business-level client rather than individual consumers.

“Since we’re very focused on enterprises, we keep good contact with customer satisfaction levels,” he said. “The customer has to be the top priority, and the experience we deliver through professional services and solutions is crucial.”

One of the most critical factors in building a fulfilling career today is the commitment to lifelong learning. With technology and industry standards continually evolving, staying current is essential. Professionals who invest in continuous education, whether through formal degrees, certifications, or self-directed learning, remain relevant and competitive. They adapt to new tools, methodologies and market demands, ensuring their skills remain sharp and in demand.

While technical skills are crucial, soft skills such as communication, teamwork and emotional intelligence also play a significant role in career longevity. These skills foster positive workplace relationships, enhance leadership abilities and improve overall job performance. Professionals who excel in soft skills are often better equipped to handle the interpersonal aspects of their roles, making them indispensable team members and leaders.

“We feel like our best days are ahead,” Flynn said. “Working for Boost Mobile within EchoStar is like being part of a startup within a big company. We’re excited about disrupting wireless and bringing a new experience to market.”

“Working for Boost Mobile within EchoStar is like being part of a startup within a big company.”

Rasmussen emphasized the growth potential that stems from this incubator-like culture and the sense of purpose and passion that can drive a long and fulfilling career.

“EchoStar has a broad and great set of customer-facing brands. That’s a great portfolio, but even more impressive is the functional teams inside each of those brands — engineering, hardware, software, operations — which give employees ways to grow and find their value,” he said. “Careers like Katie’s show that EchoStar offers room to find yourself and the roles that work for you at each stage of your career. The culture here has always been to have employees find ways to make the business better and grow in their development along the way.”

Van Sickel has seen the same on his journey.

“Working in our industry is fast-paced and highly competitive. Tackling these challenges alongside an incredible team makes for an exciting career.”

“Working in our industry is fast-paced and highly competitive. Tackling these challenges alongside an incredible team makes for an exciting career.”