# #442: MedTech Leadership: Vulnerability & The CEC Framework with Dr. Jenny Hoffmann

- Show: [Global Medical Device Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast)
- Published: 2026-01-19
- Length: 45m
- Episode: 442
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-01-19-442-medtech-leadership-vulnerability-the-cec-framework-with-dr-jenny-hoffmann
- Listen: https://podcast.greenlight.guru/episode/medtech-leadership-vulnerability-the-cec-framework-with-dr-jenny-hoffmann

## Summary

Dr. Jenny Hoffmann, CEO of Sure Footing Consulting and Executive Director at New England Medical Innovation Center (NEMICK), discusses her book 'Open Up' and the CEC framework (Curiosity, Empathy, Connection) for MedTech leadership. She argues that traditional 'perfect' leadership is unsustainable and that leaders must embrace vulnerability to build trust, improve team retention, and drive innovation in product development. Hoffmann shares personal stories, including her experience as an early IVF baby and life-threatening health complications, to illustrate how 'SOS moments' can be transformed into strengths through authentic storytelling and emotional intelligence.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-01-19-442-medtech-leadership-vulnerability-the-cec-framework-with-dr-jenny-hoffmann#t=0) Introduction: Dr. Jenny Hoffmann and 'Open Up'
- [4:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-01-19-442-medtech-leadership-vulnerability-the-cec-framework-with-dr-jenny-hoffmann#t=247) The Shift from Perfect to Vulnerable Leadership
- [4:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-01-19-442-medtech-leadership-vulnerability-the-cec-framework-with-dr-jenny-hoffmann#t=290) Personal Origins: IVF and Health Complications
- [9:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-01-19-442-medtech-leadership-vulnerability-the-cec-framework-with-dr-jenny-hoffmann#t=597) The ROI of Vulnerability in MedTech
- [13:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-01-19-442-medtech-leadership-vulnerability-the-cec-framework-with-dr-jenny-hoffmann#t=826) Defining SOS Moments and the CEC Framework
- [19:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-01-19-442-medtech-leadership-vulnerability-the-cec-framework-with-dr-jenny-hoffmann#t=1192) AI, Empathy, and Human Connection
- [25:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-01-19-442-medtech-leadership-vulnerability-the-cec-framework-with-dr-jenny-hoffmann#t=1532) Strategic Sharing vs. Oversharing
- [28:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-01-19-442-medtech-leadership-vulnerability-the-cec-framework-with-dr-jenny-hoffmann#t=1730) Storytelling for Engineers and Data-Driven Leaders
- [37:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-01-19-442-medtech-leadership-vulnerability-the-cec-framework-with-dr-jenny-hoffmann#t=2256) Coachability and Building Trust

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Greenlight Guru (company)
- Open Up: Step Into the Leader You Are Meant to Be (product)
- Sure Footing Consulting (company)
- New England Medical Innovation Center (company)
- NEMICK (company)
- FDA (other)
- MedTech Innovator (other)
- The Miracle Morning (product)
- The Culture Map (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Live From The HIBT Summit: Brené Brown](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-08-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-brene-brown) (How I Built This)
- [Erin Thorp | How to Lead Your Engineering Team with Empathy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-01-06-erin-thorp-how-to-lead-your-engineering-team-with-empathy) (Being an Engineer)
- [Live From The HIBT Summit: Cynt Marshall, Chieh Huang, and Sadie Lincoln on Leadership](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-06-24-live-from-the-hibt-summit-cynt-marshall-chieh-huang-and-sadie-lincoln-on-leaders) (How I Built This)
- [EMS@C-LEVEL Season #1 Episode #4 with Audrey McGuckin, Leadership Guru](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2020-09-02-ems-c-level-season-1-episode-4-with-audrey-mcguckin-leadership-guru) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [133 - A Year of Saying No, Advice & Good MedTech Consulting, Humility in Leadership, andToxicity in Teams with Devon C. Campbell](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2024-04-24-133-a-year-of-saying-no-advice-good-medtech-consulting-humility-in-leadership-an) (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/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-01-19-442-medtech-leadership-vulnerability-the-cec-framework-with-dr-jenny-hoffmann. 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 Global Medical Device Podcast.