# S1E10 From Engineering Startups to Established Corporations | Patrick Stephens

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2020-05-29
- Length: 41m
- Episode: 10
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-29-s1e10-from-engineering-startups-to-established-corporations-patrick-stephens

## Summary

Patrick Stephens, VP of R&D at Shockwave Medical, discusses his 25-year career spanning startups like Gore and TriVascular to established corporations like Boston Scientific and Medtronic. He details the development of Shockwave’s acoustic balloon catheter for treating calcified arteries, highlighting the 10-15 year journey from conception to market and the specific engineering challenges of handling concentric, eccentric, and nodular calcium. Stephens also shares management strategies for balancing team autonomy with objectives, emphasizing the importance of hiring smart individuals and fostering a collaborative culture.

## Chapters

- [0:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-29-s1e10-from-engineering-startups-to-established-corporations-patrick-stephens#t=13) Introduction: Patrick Stephens and Career Overview
- [1:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-29-s1e10-from-engineering-startups-to-established-corporations-patrick-stephens#t=68) Choosing Engineering: Critical Thinking and Tangible Results
- [3:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-29-s1e10-from-engineering-startups-to-established-corporations-patrick-stephens#t=236) Startups vs. Corporations: Energy, Urgency, and the 'Ferrari' Sweet Spot
- [7:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-29-s1e10-from-engineering-startups-to-established-corporations-patrick-stephens#t=422) Engineering Management: Individual Contributors vs. Leaders
- [14:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-29-s1e10-from-engineering-startups-to-established-corporations-patrick-stephens#t=893) R&D Tools: The Evolution of Stent Loading and Iris Crimpers
- [17:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-29-s1e10-from-engineering-startups-to-established-corporations-patrick-stephens#t=1038) Shockwave Medical: 15-Year Journey and Acoustic Technology
- [25:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-29-s1e10-from-engineering-startups-to-established-corporations-patrick-stephens#t=1532) Clinical Challenges: Treating Concentric, Eccentric, and Nodular Calcium
- [28:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-29-s1e10-from-engineering-startups-to-established-corporations-patrick-stephens#t=1706) Managerial Challenges: Motivation, Retention, and Hiring Smart People
- [33:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-29-s1e10-from-engineering-startups-to-established-corporations-patrick-stephens#t=2033) Career Lessons: Photodynamic Therapy and Knowing Your Limits

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up, established companies, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Shockwave Medical (company)
- Gore (company)
- Boston Scientific (company)
- Medtronic (company)
- TriVascular (company)
- Endo Logics (company)
- Stent graft (product)
- Balloon catheter (product)
- Iris crimper (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [126 - Combination Products Collaboration, Turnover on MedTech/Pharma Project Teams, and Lessons from working with Intel's CEO with Mat Stratton, Founder of Coalition Ltd](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2024-03-06-126-combination-products-collaboration-turnover-on-medtech-pharma-project-teams) (Let's Combinate)
- [009 - “Cutting Through the Noise” with Charles Ventura](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2021-12-01-009-cutting-through-the-noise-with-charles-ventura) (Let's Combinate)
- [005 - “Compassionate Product Development” with Cameron Jones](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2021-11-03-005-compassionate-product-development-with-cameron-jones) (Let's Combinate)
- [#455: MedTech Founder 101: Shifting from Corporate to Startup with John Schindler](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-04-13-455-medtech-founder-101-shifting-from-corporate-to-startup-with-john-schindler) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [023 - "The Best is Yet to Come" with David Albert](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-03-09-023-the-best-is-yet-to-come-with-david-albert) (Let's Combinate)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-29-s1e10-from-engineering-startups-to-established-corporations-patrick-stephens. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Being an Engineer.