182 - 7 Powerful Ways to Find Amazing Mentors in Medical Devices and Pharma

Let's Combinate · 2 Apr 2025 · 18m

What this episode covers

Subhi Saadeh, host of Let's Combinate and Quality Professional at the Combination Products Coalition, outlines seven strategies for finding mentors in the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors. He argues against the 'self-made' myth, advocating for diverse mentorship types including teachers, sponsors, and peers, while emphasizing the importance of being 'mentor-able' through action and follow-through. Saadeh also highlights non-traditional mentorship sources, such as books and AI tools like ChatGPT, to navigate career challenges in combination products.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Global Medical Device Podcast · 1h 10m

    #349: Climbing the MedTech Career Ladder - How to Get to the Top

    Elena Kyria, CEO of Elemed, discusses career strategies for medical device professionals, outlining three distinct paths: leadership, expert, and generalist. She emphasizes the importance of defining personal success, leveraging strengths through tools like Working Genius, and mastering communication to bridge technical details with business value. Kyria also highlights the critical role of networking, personal branding on LinkedIn, and the realities of freelancing in the MedTech industry.

  • Global Medical Device Podcast · 44m

    #435: ICYMI (In Case You Missed It!) Becoming a Regulatory Affairs Professional

    Kavetha Ram, Regulatory Department Leader at Spectra Medical Devices and professor at Northeastern University, discusses the challenges new regulatory affairs professionals face, including overcoming imposter syndrome and building confidence. She emphasizes the importance of cross-functional collaboration through programs like the Bumblebee Innovation Nation and advises new hires to demonstrate a willingness to do the work rather than just oversee it. The conversation highlights how diverse backgrounds and asking 'dumb questions' drive innovation in MedTech.

  • Global Medical Device Podcast · 44m

    #354: Advice for MedTech Regulatory Affairs Professionals

    Kavetha Ram, Regulatory Department Leader at Spectra Medical Devices and professor at Northeastern University, advises new regulatory affairs professionals on navigating the MedTech industry. She emphasizes that confidence stems from understanding one's unique background and the value of diverse perspectives in cross-functional teams. Ram highlights the importance of bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world regulatory changes, such as the EU MDR, through active networking and continuous learning.

  • Being an Engineer · 45m

    S5E7 Matt Zachek | Medical Device Engineering Leaders 7

    Matt Zachek, Senior Director of R&D at Werfen, discusses his career path in medical device engineering, emphasizing the importance of technical foundations, grit, and managing ambiguity. He explains how balancing sustaining products with new R&D efforts requires a strategic portfolio approach, often following a 70-10-10-10 rule. Zachek highlights key industry trends, including the integration of AI tools like Google Gemini for research acceleration and the convergence of consumer electronics with regulated medical devices. He also stresses the value of early manufacturing involvement and in-situ empathy to navigate the complex regulatory landscape of hemostasis and acute care diagnostics.

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 12m

    336: Common Sense Is Not Common Sense

    Falana Benton, an Engineer in Residence at Facebook and co-founder of DivTechSpace, discusses the nuances of mentoring, distinguishing between mentoring, coaching, and sponsorship. She explains how her platform DivTechSpace supports BIPOC students through anonymous resume reviews and mock interviews to bridge access gaps in tech careers. Benton shares practical advice for mentors on setting expectations, avoiding the 'savior' mindset, and providing honest, constructive feedback without overwhelming mentees.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Let's Combinate. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.