Join Head of Mission Operations Paolo Ferri as he takes us through major events in his career at ESA, solving the unexpected problems that are part of any space endeavour. Paolo describes three missions that suffered unexpected and potentially fatal flaws: Smart-1, Cluster and Exosat, and how on-the-ground knowledge, innovation and ingenuity prevented their untimely demise, allowing the science to go on. Recounting his personal experiences, he illustrates the importance of effective communication, as well as leadership, coaching and learning – and lesson learned while working under pressure. For the full set of Paolo’s master class, see our Videos on Demand.