I always liked sketching things and building with Legos as a child, but my interest in engineering was really solidified by a wonderful Physics teacher I had in High School. She helped me see that there was more I could do with those childhood interests and really helped guide me toward science and engineering as a career. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree. I’m also a certified and practicing Project Management Professional. I’ve been fortunate to hold positions in new product development, sustaining engineering, manufacturing and operations. My career has progressed from supporting projects to leading projects and then to leading people. That diverse background, the experiences I had, and the lessons learned in those varying roles continue to allow me to be successful today.
What first drew you to medtech? When did you first know you wanted to be in the industry?
Honestly, there was no specific draw to medtech for me. I knew I wanted to design and develop products but never gave it much thought beyond that. I felt the first role I held at BBMI was a good fit for my interests and skill sets and applied for it. I got the job and my interest in medtech simply grew from there.
What are some of the barriers women face in today’s medtech industry?
I think one of the two biggest barriers is pervasiveness. There simply aren’t as many women in medtech, especially in leadership positions, as there are men. In fact, until just a few years ago, the team I led was predominately male. That’s changed now, but it’s not the case with all the engineering teams in our company. The second barrier is work-life balance and, more specifically, the priorities and choices that come with that. Balancing the demands of a career with those of being a mother are challenging at times. It is possible to be successful in both endeavors though.
Describe your biggest leadership challenge. How did you conquer it or resolve it, or what was the outcome?
I handled a situation poorly with a departing employee when I was a new manager. This person worked on my team for about a year and a half and decided to leave for a role that was very different than the current one. That role was more exciting, paid more and required this employee to move away from friends and family. I went into transition and succession planning mode almost immediately upon receiving the resignation but that wasn’t what the person needed. That person simply wanted a “congratulations” and a “good luck” from me. I was so focused on the tasks and ensuring the team would be okay because it was the first time someone had quit my team that I failed to consider what the person needed. I learned that leading is about people as much as it is about tasks. A successful leader knows how to effectively develop and serve people while also ensuring the work is done effectively and efficiently.
What projects, past or present, have made you love what you do?
It’s been the projects that created something to fill a niche or that had a direct and/or immediate impact on the life of someone affected by a serious illness. I’ve been fortunate to be a part of products in so many different specialized areas within the medical industry that it’s really hard to narrow it down to just one or two. Some of the products/projects that stand out the most for me are ones that patched holes in people’s hearts, provided targeted treatment for people afflicted with various types of cancer, improved people’s ability to see, and that helped diagnose and treat health issues that specifically afflict women.
What projects are you most looking forward to?
I am focused now on removing Materials of High Concern from our products. There are chemicals and additives that have been used for years in all products, not just those within medtech, that we now know have a negative impact on people’s health. I’ve been working to find healthier and more sustainable alternatives to those materials and am very excited about what that means for our future products and the people that use them.
Talk about your leadership skills. What is the most important lesson you have learned that has guided you in your career?
I tailor my approach to the person. All people are different. What’s right for one is not right for all. How I may like to communicate or learn may be different from how one of my employees likes to communicate or learn. I take the time to understand each of the people on my team and then adapt my style to help them be as effective and comfortable as they can be. I believe in letting people be who they are and put a lot of emphasis on teambuilding. It’s very gratifying to see the camaraderie that develops.
In your opinion, what more can be done to promote the greater participation of young women in the medtech industry today?
I hope that seeing more positive role models and examples of women in high-ranking positions within the industry will show young women that it can be done. I think it’s also important to remove the antiquated thought that certain fields like engineering and technology are “men’s work.” I recall being the only woman in a class of twenty-seven students in one of my undergraduate mechanical engineering courses. It was a little uncomfortable at times and definitely frustrating, but it also drove me on because I didn’t want anyone to think that the only girl in the class couldn’t handle it. That sounds silly to even say, but it’s how I felt at the time. I suspect there are women now in similar situations that still feel that way. I hope someone helps those women understand it is okay to feel that way and gives them to confidence to push through.
Why is it important for companies to be more inclusive and have more women in charge?
Women bring different ideas and points of view because of the unique experiences we have. I think the same can be said for men and that’s the key point really. We each experience things differently and can see situations from distinct perspectives. That alone will help foster new ideas and approaches to solving problems. We’re all aware of the pitfalls of groupthink and that’s surely where things will end up if everyone is the same.