Hardware Podcasts

196 - How to Win Your First 90 Days in Pharma and MedTech

Let's Combinate · 9 Jul 2025 · 9m

What this episode covers

Subhi Saadeh, a Quality Professional with experience at major Pharma and Medical Device companies, outlines eight lessons for new hires in life sciences. She emphasizes understanding the broader impact of junior roles, adopting a professional mindset, and avoiding the 'silent trap' by asking questions. Saadeh advises finding mentors, treating feedback as fuel, mastering internal systems, and taking full responsibility for one's own career growth.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Also
The War of Art, Managing Oneself

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • 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.

    Careers & educationHiring & workforce
    7 chapters

  • Global Medical Device Podcast · 26m

    #452: Switching Careers to MedTech: A Practical Guide for Engineers and Professionals

    Etienne Nichols, a former aerospace engineer turned MedTech professional, explains how engineers and quality professionals from automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing can transition into the medical device industry. He outlines three primary entry points—Quality, Regulatory Affairs, and Product Development—and emphasizes that while technical skills like root cause analysis and project management transfer well, the mindset must shift from 'move fast and break things' to rigorous documentation and risk management. Nichols provides a five-step roadmap for career switchers, including learning regulatory language, obtaining targeted certifications, and networking with intention, before concluding that long-term career growth requires mastering the 'layer above competence': communication, visibility, and storytelling.

    Careers & educationQuality & yield
    1 chapters

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 22m

    529: The Narwhal Looked Amazing

    Chris Svec, Director of Embedded Software Engineering at Insulet, discusses strategies for onboarding and developing new college graduates in engineering teams. He emphasizes that admitting ignorance publicly is a superpower and warns against new hires 'going dark' when they feel too intimidated to ask questions. The conversation covers practical tactics like assigning buddies, conducting daily check-ins, and using pair programming to build resilience and technical judgment. Svec also advises managers to foster a culture where curiosity is rewarded and mistakes are treated as learning opportunities rather than failures.

    Hiring & workforceLeadership, teams & culture
    9 chapters

  • 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.

    Careers & educationLeadership, teams & culture
    7 chapters

  • Global Medical Device Podcast · 53m

    #421: Mastering MedTech Influence: The Power of Communication in Quality

    Lesley Worthington, an executive coach with a background in psychology, law, and quality/regulatory affairs, discusses how quality professionals can build influence and a culture of quality through better communication. She argues that technical correctness often fails to drive buy-in because it ignores the listener's need to feel understood, advocating for active listening, paraphrasing, and plain language over jargon. Worthington highlights the limitations of traditional corporate training, which focuses on information rather than habit change, and suggests that personalized coaching or reflective writing (like 'morning pages') helps professionals overcome burnout and imposter syndrome by clarifying their thinking and building psychological safety.

    Leadership, teams & cultureCareers & education
    8 chapters

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.