Sam Gladman

Co Founder – On Target

Sam Gladman is a former RAAF fast-jet Mission Commander, instructor, and air crash investigator turned leadership and tech innovator. He now helps teams perform when the stakes are high — and the margin for error is small. 
  
Sam spent over fifteen years in the RAAF, serving as a mission commander on F/A-18 fighter jets and earning the RAAF Aircrew Association Award for excellence as a military instructor. His time investigating aircraft accidents gave him deep insight into how systems, culture, and behaviour shape outcomes in any high-pressure environment. 
  
Sam went on to found On Target, a leadership development company working with teams in tightly coupled industries like finance, elite sport, defence, and tech. Clients range from women-led startups like Insights Exchange, to major global institutions in property and investment (some of which can’t be named publicly, but you’d definitely recognise). 
  
He delivers keynotes and learning experiences that combine raw operational credibility with evidence-based tools drawn from human factors, behavioural science, and real-world decision-making models. His sessions are consistently described as “practical,” “powerful,” and “the best thing we’ve done as a team.” 
  
Sam also serves as Chief Operating Officer at Skyy Network, a tech platform helping organisations scale their operations through uncrewed systems. 
  
Across both ventures, Sam champions innovation through translation — bringing proven systems from one field into new environments to unlock performance and connection. 
  
He speaks regularly on: 
Leadership under pressure 
Psychological safety and trust in teams 
How to turn critical lessons from high-risk fields into innovation in business and tech 
  
Sam brings rigour, humility, and a dry sense of humour — and leaves audiences with the belief that high performance doesn’t mean high-stress or an absence of fun.