MedTech Stories
By Vaishali
MedTech StoriesJun 07, 2021
Episode 10. Saumya Premachandra: On bringing your whole self to work every day
Our final episode for Season 1 features Saumya Premachandra, Director of Medical Education at Penumbra. Saumya started her career at Cook Medical as a sales rep and transitioned into product management and eventually medical education. Tune in to hear Saumya’s story on growth through self awareness and continuous learning all the while being a global baby - living in six countries, 10 cities, 20 homes throughout her life!
Resources:
Books -
- Code of Trust Robin Dreeke
- "Unlocking Us" Brené Brown
- The First 90 Days Michael D. Watkins
Links -
Leaders need “User Manuals” – and what I learned by writing mine
Episode 9. Vasey Hargreaves: On taking chances and knowing when to pull the ripcord
Episode Summary: Vasey Hargreaves is the Senior Director of Commercial Marketing at Aerin Medical. She has worked in the cardiovascular and ENT space as well as received her MBA from Haas. In this episode, Vasey walks us through her unique career path, explains the differences in working for a startup versus large company and shares her unique superpower of staying calm under pressure--in a work setting and while skydiving.
Detailed Show Notes:
6:36 - Teaching in China + posting on Craigslist: Vasey’s beginnings
9:28 - Never want to be bored: Vasey’s career paths
16:04 - Going bigger for the rigor: Finding a full-time job out of business school
28:13 - Changing the lens: Where she’s at now
34:22 - Wearing all the hats: Success in a startup
39:22 - Dr. Google: Patient marketing in the digital age
42:22 - Women in the C-Suite: Mentors and leaders
44:22 - Knowing when to pull the ripcord: Vasey’s superpower
48:55 - Think beyond the parameters: Her advice for young professionals
50:06 - Listen to your gut: Vasey’s role model
Episode 8. Pharaoh Schnieber: On Finding Your Leadership Style
Episode Summary: Pharoah Schnieber recently joined Cerepadics as the Vice President, International Regulatory & Global Compliance at Cerepadics. Previously she was the VP of Regulatory and R&D at PQ Bypass and although she’s very excited for her new role, she looks forward to watching PQ Bypass and Endologix continue their success from afar. Pharoah started her career as a reviewer at FDA and then transitioned into Industry. Tune in to hear Pharaoh’s story about growing up in a very tight knit Filipino family, bringing her background and culture into how she leads teams and how she has discovered and honed her leadership style.
Detailed Show Notes:
5:44 - Running towards something: Finding your calling
11: 37 - Loud leadership: Pharoah’s personal life
20:40 - “The Wolf:” Pharoah’s time as an FDA reviewer
26:08 - Tailoring for your audience: The switch to regulatory
30:34 - Straight, yet effective, shooter: Leadership styles (and socially acceptable styles)
42:01 - Brutal honesty: Pharaoh's “short list” of mentors
45:30 - “Go make friends:” They key to making mentors
53:58 - Catering leadership: Pharoah’s superpowers
55:55 - “Don’t forget the people:” Advice to young professionals
58:41 - Family sacrifices: Pharoah’s role models
Calls to action:
Follow MedTech Stories on LinkedIn
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
Rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
Music Credits - Scott Holmes Music
Episode 7. Jessica Richter: On getting comfortable, being uncomfortable.
Episode Summary: Jessica Richter is the Chief Operating Officer and Head of Business Development at Experien Group. Jess started her medtech career in Sales at CR Bard and then grew into sales leadership positions at Medtronic. She then joined Experian group to expand the firm’s business development activities and to direct strategic growth initiatives. Tune in to hear Jessica’s story on her impact in cases as a sales rep, her influence on increasing diversity in the MedTech industry and her passion for animal rescue!
Detailed Show Notes:
- 0:53 - “A career in communications:” How Jess got involved in MedTech
- 6:53 - Outside the comfort zone: Taking a big career leap
- 14:36 - Philanthropy and pets: Jessica's personal life
- 19:07 - Competition and contributions: A glimpse into sales
- 22:30 - Broadening the lens: Jessica's collaborative leadership style
- 28:25 - Ongoing education: Involvement in other organizations
- 32:46 - Taking risks (on yourself and others): Personal and professional accomplishments
- 38:16 - Increasing diversity within the industry: MedTech Women
- 48:56 - Evening out your pie chart: Managing risk
- 54:33 - Glass half-full: Jess’s resilience
- 56:20 - Put your hat in the ring: Jessica's advice to young professionals
Calls to action:
Follow MedTech Stories on LinkedIn
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
Rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
Music Credits - Scott Holmes Music
Episode 6. Shreya Mehta: On starting a MedTech company
Episode Summary: Shreya Mehta is the Cofounder and CTO of Zenflow - medical device company developing a minimally invasive treatment for urinary obstruction caused by enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Previously she worked as a lead reviewer at the FDA. Tune in to hear Shreya’s story on starting a company, her long distance cycling adventures from SF to Santa Monica and her thoughts on authentic leadership!
Detailed Show Notes:
3:41 - Engineer at heart: Why MedTech
5:51 - Looking “under the hood:” Shreya’s experience at the FDA
12:06 - New perspectives & new stakeholders: Her move to biodesign
16:52 - Finding the unmet need: The creation of Zenflow
23:55 - Moving past the bumps on the road: Shreya’s highs and lows
31:28 - Capitalizing your strengths: How to choose a cofounder
35:50 - Trust & transparency in a team: Shaping a self-motivated team
42:20 - From a device to a product: Zenflow’s next steps
48:32 - “I don’t carry all the knowledge:” Using humility in decision-making
52:09 - If you don’t know, you can’t change it: Steps to fight bias
58:17 - Authentic leadership: Shreya’s superpower
1:03:07 - “Do it, if you have the means:” Shreya’s advice to entrepreneurs
Calls to action:
Follow MedTech Stories on LinkedIn
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
Rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
Music Credits - Scott Holmes Music
Episode 5. Tracie Carroll: On her passion for education and managing risk as a JD and MBA
Episode 4. Kate Rumrill: On her path from CRA to CEO
Episode summary: Starting out in toxicology and moving to clinical research, Kate Rumrill never necessarily planned to be a CEO. With the help of strong “sound boards” and asking the right questions, her MedTech career landed her as the President and CEO of Ablative Solutions.
Highlights from the episode:
2:24 - “I never aspired to be a CEO:” Kate’s story
6:28 - The research bug: How Kate transitioned to clinical research
10:56 - Going small to go big: Moving from pharma to device
17:55 - The product and the people: The decision to be CEO
26:24 - Support systems: The difference between mentors and sponsors
34:40 - Not being afraid: Making decisions without 100% of the information
38:15 - Seeing around corners: Kate’s leadership superpowers
40:00 - No magical plan: Kate’s advice on career
42:57 - Confident but humble: Kate’s role model
Resources:
https://hbr.org/2018/01/the-fastest-path-to-the-ceo-job-according-to-a-10-year-study (12:14, 46:53)
Calls to action:
Follow MedTech Stories on LinkedIn
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
Rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
Episode 3. Neeta Sharma: On big career risks and always being ready to raise your hand
Neeta Sharma, MS, is the vice president of global regulatory affairs at Dexcom. She oversees all regulatory affairs activities for Dexcom’s continuous glucose sensing technology. She has over 15 years of strategic and executive regulatory leadership experience at leading medical device companies, including DJO, Philips, Edward Lifesciences, and Medtronic, and across multiple fields, such as diabetes management and cardiovascular and orthopedic devices. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a dual master’s degree in biomedical engineering and regulatory sciences.
Show Notes:
2:30 - Background: Why Biomedical engineering?
6:21 - Challenges and changes: Neeta talks on career hurdles and growth
15:34 - Breadth and depth: How Neeta gives projects her all
18:51 - “Always be ready to raise your hand:” Going the extra mile in your career
22:56 - Championing CGM: Neeta’s professional accomplishments
27:03 - Running a marathon: Prioritizing work-life balance
30:13 - “No management position scares me:” Neeta’s biggest career risks
37:14 - How can I help: Bringing mentorship to the workplace
41:48 - Decision-making: Neeta’s 3 biggest tips
47:47 - Risk-taking: Neeta’s leadership superpower
50:29 - Take the role: Neeta’s advice on not living with regret
51:29 - “Not one person:” Neeta’s biggest role models
Music Credits - Scott Holmes Music
Episode 2. Manasi Marathe: On how to get “straight from point A to C"
Episode 1. Jacquie Keller: On taking the leap!
Jacquie brings a unique background and has worked in healthcare for over 20 years, starting out by building clinical research departments at Johns Hopkins and Boston University before moving into MedTech. She and I met at Volcano where she led KOL engagement and innovation efforts and she’s now the VP of Marketing at Clearpoint Neuro. In this episode she teaches us to trust our gut and jump into new opportunities with both feet - listen in to see how she’s done it multiple times in her career!
Music Credits - Scott Holmes Music
MedTech Stories Trailer
We often admire successful leaders in the MedTech industry without really hearing their stories of successes or the challenges along the way. In the MedTech stories Podcast, we interview inspirational leaders in all functional areas in MedTech. We dive deep into their career and personal journeys while sharing practical solutions for many of the challenges we all face on our pathways to success.
Music Credits - Scott Holmes Music
Graphics Credits - Trisha Swindell