From Financial Services to Flight Paths

Some career moves are carefully calculated. Others simply click.

For our new Project Manager, Cedric Hoste, joining SkeyDrone was one of those rare moments where multiple forces aligned: industry momentum, personal affinity, and a desire to apply hard‑earned experience where it truly matters.

A sector with real momentum

“The drone industry is one of those sectors where you can genuinely feel the momentum,” Cedric explains. “Geopolitically, regulatorily, commercially… it’s a hot topic for real reasons.”

That sense of urgency was a major draw. Drone detection and airspace safety are no longer abstract future challenges; they’re happening now, with tangible implications for critical infrastructure, aviation, and public safety. Being close to those developments, and contributing meaningfully to them, was an important reason for Cedric to join SkeyDrone.

But there was more.

A personal connection to aviation

“I grew up near the airport,” Cedric says. “There’s an affinity there that’s hard to explain. It’s just wired in.”

When he discovered what SkeyDrone was building, technologies operating at the intersection of aviation, security, and innovation, something resonated. It wasn’t just intellectually interesting; it felt familiar on a deeper level.

And then came the professional challenge. After years in financial services, Cedric had built a strong foundation in disciplined thinking: frameworks, capital allocation, risk, growth. The question was where to take that expertise next.

“A high‑growth startup felt like exactly the right environment to stress‑test it,” he explains. “Not just apply it, but really stretch it.”

SkeyDrone brought all three elements together.

“That doesn’t happen often,” he says with a smile. “I had to surrender.”

A culture you feel, not read about

Ask Cedric what stands out most after joining, and the answer comes quickly.

“The people,” he says. “I know it sounds like a cliché, but it’s true. At SkeyDrone, the team is small but intentionally diverse: young talent alongside seasoned experts, introverts and extraverts, commercial and deeply technical profiles, all working literally in the same room. That physical proximity does something,” Cedric reflects. “There are no silos to hide behind. No teams operating in their own bubble. What makes it different is that openness isn’t a value written on a wall, it’s how the organization runs day to day. The connection built in that environment goes far beyond what any formal team‑building exercise could manufacture. It’s one of those things you only fully appreciate after working in a 2,000‑person organization,” he adds, “with twelve Slack channels and still no idea what the person three desks away is actually working on.”

Building not just products, but an organization

When it comes to impact, Cedric thinks on two levels.

Externally, the ambition is clear: help grow SkeyDrone into the European reference point for drone detection. Not just a strong player, but the standard others look to, by customers, partners, and the wider ecosystem.

Internally, the focus is on readiness.

“The technology moves incredibly fast,” he says. “New capabilities, new regulations, new threat vectors. In that environment, long‑term success isn’t just about having the best product today. It’s about building an organization that can scale, adapt, and consistently turn emerging technology into robust, best‑in‑class ways of working. That’s the kind of SkeyDrone I want to help build.”

Staying sharp by being present

Outside of work, staying sharp doesn’t mean doing more for Cedric, it means being intentional.

“I believe in presence,” he says. “Working hard and recharging aren’t opposites. They just happen in different modes.”

One ritual stands out: putting his son to bed. “For those fifteen minutes, the phone goes away. No notifications, no half‑thoughts about tomorrow. Just that moment. It may sound small, but those moments matter. They restore something essential.

Beyond that, it’s books and long walks with the dogs. No agenda. No output. Just the kind of slowness that makes speed sustainable. “Call it mindfulness if you need a label,” he says. “For me, it’s just how you make the fast work, long term.”

Welcome to the team

With a clear strategic mindset, a strong sense of purpose, and a grounded approach to leadership, our new Project Manager reinforces what SkeyDrone is building, not only in technology, but in culture.

And this is only the beginning.

Interested in more employee stories? Read the interview with Chloé here.