S2E03 Engineering Empathy, Identifying Needs, & Developing Strong Work Ethic | Blayne Roeder
Blaine Rader, who holds three engineering degrees from Purdue and has held senior director roles at Med Institute and Cook Group, discusses his journey from a farm upbringing to leading R&D for aortic stent grafts. He emphasizes the importance of engineering empathy, spending significant time defining unmet clinical needs, and the value of working directly with physicians to understand surgical procedures. Rader also shares advice on career development, highlighting the need for a strong work ethic, mentorship, and the willingness to fail fast in product development.