What does it mean to let your values and principles guide you through the challenging times, including the black swan events? Just what is a black swan event anyway? Will you know what it is if you encounter it?
In today\u2019s episode of the Global Medical Device Podcast, we have a wide-ranging conversation with Mike Baca about the lessons we can learn from him as an industry leader and about the long game involved in a MedTech career. Mike is currently the president of White Rook Consulting, and he has more than 38 years of experience as a quality professional working with medical devices, including classes I, II, and III. He worked in a variety of quality roles for Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, and Stryker before starting his own independent consulting firm.
Today\u2019s conversation covers a lot of ground, including the three phases of Mike\u2019s career, how understanding VULCA can help you handle a black swan event, and how adopting a set of principles and values will guide you through challenging times. We also discussed \u201cbadge on the table\u201d situations, speaking the language of other departments, and working through and getting rid of imposter syndrome.
\u201cIt\u2019s my responsibility to do everything I can to make sure that everything I\u2019m responsible for is done the best that it can be so that outcome is going to be favorable to that ultimate patient who is going to have the device used on them.\u201d
\u201cIf you see something that needs to be fixed, something that can be improved, seek that out.\u201d
\u201cAs a leader, you should consider adopting a set of absolute principles that define how you will lead and how you will be.\u201d
\u201cIf you\u2019re going to delegate something, you need to be willing to stand behind, but when you delegate, you need to delegate at a level that failure will not be fatal to the business or that individual. Because guess what? Sometimes they\u2019re going to fail.\u201d