Everybody seeks advice and opinions from others from time to time, even those in the medical device industry. What are the pros and cons when it comes to hiring industry advisors? Today’s guest is Isabella Schmitt, regulatory affairs consultant at Proxima Clinical Research. Listen to this episode as Jon Speer and Isabella discuss good and bad practices when identifying and selecting advisors for your early stage or established medical device company. Some of the highlights of the show include: - Who are advisors? Consultants, board members, thought leaders, accelerators, and others that offer opinions on the course and direction of your company. - Who can you trust? Avoid advisors that are posturing, egotistical, always have to be right, and don’t listen to other opinions. A level of humility can gain your trust. - Startup vs. Established Company: Consider pass/fail criteria for advisors based on strategic approach, assessed risks, experience, cost, and connections. - Regulatory Affairs/Quality Assurance: If you ask three different advisors the same question and get three different answers, which do you choose? It depends. - Due Diligence: Review résumés of advisors with similar values from different perspectives. Determine if they can build a healthy, helpful, and appropriate relationship with you, your company, and products. - Be Careful: Choose advisors that guide and pivot you through challenges, obstacles, hurdles, and pitfalls—not create them for you and your company.