The Med-Tech Talent Lab

Mitch Robbins
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Welcome to the Med-Tech Talent Lab the #1 catalyst for advancing careers and building high performing teams. Sponsored by The Anthony Michael Group…helping companies secure in demand talent in Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Clinical, Engineering, R&D and Commercial areas for Medical Device, Digital Health, Diagnostics and other organizations across the US Life Sciences sector.

  1. Operational Excellence, Leadership & Building High-Performing Teams w/ George Murray-COO-Minnesota Wire

    1 day ago

    Operational Excellence, Leadership & Building High-Performing Teams w/ George Murray-COO-Minnesota Wire

    Manufacturing excellence isn't just about processes and metrics. It's about leadership, culture, and building teams that can perform under pressure. In this episode of The Med-Tech Talent Lab, Mitch Robbins sits down with George Murray, Chief Operating Officer of Minnesota Wire, to discuss what separates great manufacturing organizations from average ones, how leaders successfully navigate operational challenges, and why people, not processes, ultimately determine long-term success. Drawing on more than 30 years of leadership experience across medical devices, aerospace and defense, electronics manufacturing, semiconductors, and industrial automation, George shares practical lessons on operational execution, hiring, leadership development, military influence, and preparing manufacturing organizations for the future. Whether you're an operations executive, manufacturing leader, CEO, or aspiring leader, this conversation is packed with practical insights that extend far beyond the factory floor. In this episode, you'll learn: The first three areas George evaluates when assessing an underperforming manufacturing operationWhy operational excellence starts with people, processes, and meaningful metricsThe difference between managing people and leading peopleHow military leadership principles translate into business successWhat separates strategic manufacturing partners from commodity suppliersHow to build teams that thrive under pressure and embrace accountabilityThe hiring philosophy George uses to identify high-performing talentWhy "will" often matters more than skill when building exceptional teamsHow AI is reshaping manufacturing and why leaders should embrace the technologyLessons from leading global manufacturing organizations through periods of rapid change and adversityConnect with George Murray: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgemurray Learn more about Minnesota Wire: https://www.minnesotawire.com

    55 min
  2. Building a career in Market Access w/ Kimberly Konopa-VP & Consultant

    3 days ago

    Building a career in Market Access w/ Kimberly Konopa-VP & Consultant

    Building a Career in Market Access: Kimberly Konopa Market access has evolved into one of the most strategic functions in MedTech—and the most successful companies are bringing it into the commercialization process earlier than ever before. In this episode of The Med-Tech Talent Lab, Mitch Robbins sits down with market access executive Kimberly Konopa to discuss how the function has changed over the past three decades, why reimbursement strategy should begin long before product launch, and what separates high-performing market access leaders from the rest. Kimberly also shares her personal leadership journey from pharmaceutical sales to executive leadership, the lessons she learned managing large teams, and practical advice for professionals looking to build a successful career in market access. In this episode, you'll learn: Why market access should be involved early in product developmentThe reimbursement and commercialization challenges MedTech companies are facing todayHow executive teams should think about coding, coverage, payment, and evidence generationWhat differentiates VP-level leaders from director-level professionalsLeadership lessons Kimberly learned throughout her 30-year careerThe skills companies look for when hiring top market access talentAdvice for professionals interested in transitioning into market accessWhy mentorship, continuous learning, and curiosity accelerate career growth Connect with Kimberly Konopa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-konopa

    42 min
  3. How Karrington Chaney (AD Talent Acquisition) & RxSight are using Content to Win Talent

    24 Apr

    How Karrington Chaney (AD Talent Acquisition) & RxSight are using Content to Win Talent

    In this episode of The MedTech Talent Lab, Mitch sits down with Karrington Chaney, who leads talent acquisition for RxSight, the company behind the Light Adjustable Lens, the first and only lens that can be customized after cataract surgery. Karrington shares his career journey from working at Best Buy, to the agency recruiting world, to building an internal talent acquisition function inside a growing medical device company. The bigger focus of this conversation is where hiring is headed next. Karrington breaks down how he is helping modernize recruiting by blending talent acquisition, employer branding, internal communications, and content creation to attract candidates before jobs even open. Instead of relying on stale career pages and generic job posts, he explains why companies need to start telling real stories about leaders, employees, growth opportunities, and culture. Topics covered include: Why “people trust people, not titles”The shift from traditional employer branding to authentic storytellingHow content can build talent pipelines before a requisition opensUsing podcasts, video, LinkedIn, and YouTube to attract niche candidatesWhy candidates now research employers like buyers research productsHow internal communication and recruiting can work togetherLessons learned launching a content-driven hiring strategy inside a regulated public companyWhy the future of recruiting is part talent acquisition, part marketing, and part trust-buildingIf you're an Executive, hiring manager, or you lead hiring talent acquisition, HR, or recruiting in MedTech, this episode offers a real look at how forward-thinking companies will separate themselves in the years ahead. Karrington Chaney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karrington-chaney/ RxSight on the web: https://rxsight.com/

    34 min
  4. Navigating Career Transitions in a Tough Market w/ Alina Lisanke-Director of Talent Acquisition-Lexington Medical

    26 Jan

    Navigating Career Transitions in a Tough Market w/ Alina Lisanke-Director of Talent Acquisition-Lexington Medical

    In this episode of The Med-Tech Talent Lab, host Mitch Robbins sits down with Alina Lisanke, Director of Talent Acquisition at Lexington Medical, for an honest conversation about leadership, career transitions, and navigating a challenging hiring market. Alina shares her journey from agency recruiting to leading talent acquisition functions in MedTech, along with the pivotal moments that shaped her career. Most notably, she opens up about her time in transition during a difficult market when senior TA roles were limited, competition was intense, and finding the right next step required patience, resilience, and intention. Rather than rushing into the wrong role, Alina talks about taking contract and individual contributor work to stay sharp, leaning on community for support, and using the time to reassess what kind of role and environment truly fit her strengths. That clarity ultimately led her to Lexington Medical, where she is now building and scaling the TA function during a period of growth. The conversation also explores: The shift of talent acquisition from order-taking to strategic partnershipWhat changes when recruiters move into people leadership rolesHow to balance trust, delegation, and accountability as a TA leaderWhere AI adds real value in hiring, and where human judgment still matters mostWhy strong systems and process create freedom, not frictionThis episode is especially relevant for talent acquisition leaders who are navigating career uncertainty, considering a transition, or feeling stuck in today’s market. Alina’s story is a reminder that career detours are not setbacks, but filters that can lead to the right opportunity.

    42 min
  5. The Uncomfortable Moves That Create MedTech Executives w/ Jahnavi Lokre, COO-Diality

    16 Jan

    The Uncomfortable Moves That Create MedTech Executives w/ Jahnavi Lokre, COO-Diality

    In this episode of The Med-Tech Talent Lab, host Mitch Robbins sits down with Jahnavi Lokre, Chief Operating Officer at Diality, a Series B medical device company focused on transforming kidney care. Jahnavi shares her 25+ year journey from growing up in India in a science-driven household to building a career across software engineering, regulated industries, and executive leadership in MedTech. With experience spanning transportation systems, contract manufacturing, and product ownership at both large organizations and startups, she offers a rare, cross-industry perspective on what it truly takes to build and scale high-performing teams. Listeners will gain practical insight into: How transferable skills from highly regulated industries can unlock MedTech leadership opportunitiesWhy stepping up before you feel “ready” is often the catalyst for executive growthThe mindset shifts required to move from engineering into senior leadershipHiring lessons learned the hard way, including when to act quickly on a mis-hireHow strong leaders balance trust, accountability, and executionWhy bold thinking, persistence, and values-driven leadership matter in fast-moving startupsJahnavi also discusses Diality’s mission to improve outcomes and reduce costs in dialysis care, the realities of innovating in an under-evolved market, and what excites her most about the future of kidney disease treatment. This episode is packed with candid leadership lessons, career-defining insights, and actionable advice for engineers, operators, and aspiring executives looking to grow their impact in MedTech and beyond.

    41 min
  6. Inside the “Made Here” Orthopedic Manufacturing Ecosystem w/ Travis Christman-Priority Medical

    21/11/2025

    Inside the “Made Here” Orthopedic Manufacturing Ecosystem w/ Travis Christman-Priority Medical

    In this episode, Mitch sits down with Travis Christman, a respected operations, regulatory, and quality leader in the orthopedic manufacturing world. Travis has spent his career across Zimmer, Medartis, Nextremity, and now Priority Medical, an end-to-end engineering services organization operating from the orthopedic capital of the world — Warsaw, Indiana. Travis shares details on a major industry event launching December 18th: The “Made Here” Manufacturing Showcase — a first-of-its-kind, hands-on demonstration of the full orthopedic supply chain ecosystem that exists in northern Indiana. You'll hear: Why Warsaw remains the global epicenter of orthopedic innovationWhat OEMs don’t see — but need to know — about today’s supply chain pressuresHow contract manufacturers can accelerate lead times, nearshoring, and production readinessWhere the biggest growth trends are emerging (AI, robotics, navigation, additive, pre-op planning, and more)How Priority Medical is serving as a connector across surgeons, OEMs, contract manufacturers, and local talentThis is a must-listen if you’re involved in: orthopedic product development, contract manufacturing, supply chain, engineering services, regulatory/quality, or OEM commercialization planning. Guest Bio — Who is Travis Christman? Operations & Quality Leader at Priority MedicalFormer leader at Zimmer, Medartis, and Nextremity SolutionsU.S. Army National Guard Captain (10+ years of service)Board member at KEDCO (Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation)Deep expertise in engineering services, supply chain partnerships, regulatory/quality systems, and commercialization for orthopedic productsWhat We Cover The vision behind the Made Here Manufacturing ShowcaseWhy OEMs are struggling with today’s longer lead timesHow Warsaw’s supply chain ecosystem drives speed, cost, and qualityNearshoring trends and why U.S. manufacturing is surgingThe rise of robotics, navigation, pre-op planning, and AI in orthopedicsWhat contract manufacturers must do to stay competitiveThe new economy emerging around CDMOs and orthopedic innovation hubsHow Priority Medical is helping OEMs innovate faster and more efficiently

    18 min
  7. From Faxed Resumes to AI-How Recruiting Really Works w/ Jim Belmonte-Sr Talent Acquisition Manager-Cirtec Medical

    10/09/2025

    From Faxed Resumes to AI-How Recruiting Really Works w/ Jim Belmonte-Sr Talent Acquisition Manager-Cirtec Medical

    In this episode of The Med-Tech Talent Lab, host Mitch Robbins sits down with Jim Belmonte, Senior Talent Acquisition Manager at Cirtec Medical, who brings more than 25 years of experience in recruiting and TA leadership. Jim shares his journey from agency recruiter to leading internal talent acquisition teams at organizations like Cardiovascular Systems (later acquired by Abbott) and now in the fast-paced world of contract manufacturing. Together, Mitch and Jim explore: ✅ How chance encounters and curiosity can launch lifelong careers in recruiting ✅ The evolution of talent acquisition from faxed resumes to AI-driven tools—and why the fundamentals haven’t changed ✅ The impact (and pitfalls) of candidates relying too heavily on AI for resumes, cover letters, and even interviews ✅ Why authentic human connection and probing conversations still set great recruiters apart ✅ The importance of intake meetings, setting expectations with hiring managers, and creating safe space for recruiters to push back ✅ What junior recruiters should develop if they aspire to lead TA teams ✅ How talent acquisition shapes company culture more than most realize Jim also gives an inside look at why he’s energized by the contract manufacturing space and the exciting opportunities at Cirtec Medical, where innovation and growth are constant. Whether you’re a recruiter, TA leader, hiring manager, or candidate navigating today’s job market, this conversation offers sharp insights into the realities, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of talent acquisition. Jim Belmonte on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimbelmonte/ Cirtec Medical on the web: https://www.cirtecmed.com/

    43 min
  8. Building w/ Heart-Caleb Polley, Founder & CEO-Cubby Beds

    22/07/2025

    Building w/ Heart-Caleb Polley, Founder & CEO-Cubby Beds

    In this episode of The Med-Tech Talent Lab, I sat down with Caleb Polley, founder & CEO of Cubby Beds, to talk about how he's bringing empathy and engineering together to create safer, smarter sleep solutions for kids with special needs. We covered: The personal journey that sparked the Cubby Beds missionHow to build products that truly serve underrepresented populationsBalancing speed, scale, and regulatory rigor as a MedTech startupWhat it means to lead with empathy and how it shapes hiring and cultureKey lessons for any founder building mission-first, market-ready solutionsIf you're a founder, product leader, or operator in MedTech (or beyond) looking for perspective on how to build with both precision and purpose Caleb delivers the blueprint. Caleb Polley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebpolley/ Cubby Beds on the web: https://cubbybeds.com/

    47 min
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About

Welcome to the Med-Tech Talent Lab the #1 catalyst for advancing careers and building high performing teams. Sponsored by The Anthony Michael Group…helping companies secure in demand talent in Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Clinical, Engineering, R&D and Commercial areas for Medical Device, Digital Health, Diagnostics and other organizations across the US Life Sciences sector.

Information

  • Creator
    Mitch Robbins
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    137
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Anthony Michael Group 2021
  • Show Website
    The Med-Tech Talent Lab