# Reade Harpham | Flat Org Structures, Communicating with Engineers & Philanthropic Design

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2023-01-13
- Length: 1h 02m
- Episode: 2
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-01-13-reade-harpham-flat-org-structures-communicating-with-engineers-philanthropic-des
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/reade-harpham-communicating-with-engineers/

## Summary

Reade Harpham, Senior Medical Device Specialist at Priority Designs, discusses his career journey from the nonprofit R&D giant Battelle to his current role at the employee-owned product development firm. He explains how communicating human factors insights using specific engineering constraints (like texture and spacing) earned him respect from engineering teams who previously dismissed 'touchy-feely' design research. Harpham details Priority Designs' flat, ESOP organizational structure, which fosters 'intrapreneurship' and allows for organic growth into new capabilities like sound design, while also addressing challenges like remote work and economic shifts.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-01-13-reade-harpham-flat-org-structures-communicating-with-engineers-philanthropic-des#t=1) Introduction: Reade Harpham and Priority Designs
- [4:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-01-13-reade-harpham-flat-org-structures-communicating-with-engineers-philanthropic-des#t=254) Communicating Human Factors to Engineers
- [14:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-01-13-reade-harpham-flat-org-structures-communicating-with-engineers-philanthropic-des#t=895) Career at Battelle and Philanthropic Design
- [30:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-01-13-reade-harpham-flat-org-structures-communicating-with-engineers-philanthropic-des#t=1824) Priority Designs' Flat ESOP Structure
- [45:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-01-13-reade-harpham-flat-org-structures-communicating-with-engineers-philanthropic-des#t=2706) Intrapreneurship and Organic Growth
- [55:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-01-13-reade-harpham-flat-org-structures-communicating-with-engineers-philanthropic-des#t=3335) Challenges: Remote Work and Market Dynamics

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Priority Designs (company)
- Battelle (company)
- Sleisenger Research (company)
- EM3 Fieldwork (company)
- Gates Foundation (company)
- Conquest Maps (company)
- One Lab (company)
- FDA (other)
- Star Wars (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Bringing Medical Devices into the Home](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2022-05-18-bringing-medical-devices-into-the-home) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [Design and Engineering Shouldn't Be Separate Islands | Pensar, Tactile, Mathscaper, Vector7 | Rob Leonard](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2026-07-27-design-and-engineering-shouldnt-be-separate-islands-pensar-tactile-mathscaper-ve) (TRADEOFFS)
- [Ep 1: The hard truth about building design team](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/build-2-create-hardware-founder-stories/2026-01-08-ep-1-the-hard-truth-about-building-design-team) (Build 2 Create: Hardware Founder Stories)
- [082: Smooth Product Flow from Visual Design to Engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-06-30-082-smooth-product-flow-from-visual-design-to-engineering) (Product Startup)
- [Lessons from an Industry Leader: Playing the Long Game of MedTech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2022-10-06-lessons-from-an-industry-leader-playing-the-long-game-of-medtech) (Global Medical Device Podcast)

## Citing this page

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