Leadr. - A Tribe Agency Podcast

Leadr. - A Tribe Agency Podcast
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Welcome to Leadr. Podcast, the ultimate destination for medtech insights, leadership inspiration, and the latest innovations in our industry. Our guest lineup features trailblazers, disruptors, and innovators shaping the future of medtech. From bestselling authors to incredible medtech leaders, our guests will inspire, educate, and challenge your perspectives. This podcast is for medtech professionals seeking inspiration, leaders or medtech CEOs hungry for knowledge, Leadr. Podcast is your trusted companion. Hosted by Stephanie Pliha, Founder of Tribe Agency and Medtech Industry Veteran.

  1. 11/13/2025

    Beyond Cadavers: Synthetic Tissue Is Changing Surgical Training Forever with CEO Adam Clark | Ep. 27

    On this episode, host Steph Pliha sits down with Adam Clark, CEO of IMRA Surgical. A surgical training company advancing hyper realistic synthetic tissue and progression-based learning to replace animals and cadavers.Adam shares his journey from the military to J&J, Medtronic, and Intuitive, why VR plus synthetics beats single-episode learning in cadaver labs, and how global adoption of robotic surgery is accelerating in the UK, Japan, India, and beyond. You’ll hear the 'Sim to Synthetics' model, how reusable torsos with single-use hydrogel cartridges work, and why building an A-player culture matters in medtech startups. If you care about surgical outcomes, ethics, and training to proficiency, this one’s for you. 00:00 Intro to Adam Clark01:12 From Military to Medtech Leadership06:16 The DaVinci Aha Moment and Intuitive Year07:24 Moving to Australia and Founding Mission08:49 Replacing Animals and Cadavers with Synthetics12:18 Progression-Based Learning and Proficiency Models15:27 Sim to Synthetics Framework Explained17:18 Cost, Travel, and Efficiency Benefits for Hospitals19:53 Reusable Torsos and Hydrogel Cartridges20:59 Team, R&D, and Clinical Validation Roadmap29:45 Global Shift to Robotic Surgery in 10 Years (UK)32:00 Startup Realities, Fundraising, and Hiring A-Players37:15 Pathways, Promotions, and Culture Building41:58 Books, Mentors, and Leadership Mindset48:26 Outro and CTA Learn More about Guest Speaker - Adam Clark and IMRA Surgical:website: imrasurgical.comlinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-clark-3312714 🎁 FREE RESOURCES TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS: ✨Brand Brief Template: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/brandbrief ✨Entrepreneur Checklist:https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/30daye-checklist ✨Automated Marketing:https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/automatedmarketing ✨15 Strategic Investor Slides: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/getfunded 🚀 LAUNCH AND BRAND YOUR BUSINESS WITH ME! 30 Day Entrepreneur Course:  https://30dayentrepreneur.tribeagency.org/ Brand Masterclass: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/brandmasterclass 🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO LEADR. PODCAST: Latest interviews with innovators and industry leaders:  https://tribeagency.org/leadr-podcast CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL: 📱Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/tribeagency1/ 📱Twitter/X: http://x.com/TribeAgency1 📱LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephpliha/ 📱YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@makeyourbrandaverb ABOUT ME: I'm Steph Pliha, Founder & Principal of Tribe Agency with 20+ years in leadership. After building multiple 7-figure businesses, I now help entrepreneurs transform their brands from nouns to verbs. My Make your Brand a Verb™ Framework has helped countless businesses dominate their markets through strategic positioning and marketing that delivers real results.📱LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephpliha/ BUSINESS INQUIRIES: hello@tribeagency.org #MakeYourBrandAVerb #BrandStrategy #StartupMarketing #SmallBusiness #Branding #MedtechMarketing #BusinessTips #LeadrPodcast #Medtech #Startups

    49 min

  2. 11/06/2025

    Managing Heart Failure with CEO Mohamed Abou-Alam | Ep. 26

    In this episode of Leadr. Podcast, host Steph Pliha sits down with Mohamed Abou-Alam, CEO of Precision Cardiovascular, to discuss how remote monitoring could redefine heart failure management. An engineer turned investor turned CEO, Mohamed shares lessons from Samsung, venture capital, and now medtech, where he’s leading a team building implantable sensors that track heart pressure in real time. For medtech leaders, this episode reveals what it takes to build culture, foster partnerships, and stay mission-driven while navigating complexity. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Introduction: Tackling Heart Failure with Remote Monitoring 02:10 – Engineering Roots to Medtech Innovation 05:40 – From Venture Investor to Medtech CEO 08:00 – Understanding Heart Failure and Remote Patient Care 10:50 – Inside Precision Cardiovascular’s Implantable Sensor 13:30 – Redesigning Remote Monitoring for Patient Adoption 16:20 – Lessons from Cardiac Pioneer Sir Magdi Yacoub 18:50 – Using Activity Data to Improve Heart Failure Insights 21:00 – Why Partnerships Drive Medtech Success 23:20 – Building Company Culture in Healthtech Startups 26:20 – Leading Distributed Teams in Global Medtech 32:00 – Mentorship, Energy, and Leadership in Innovation 33:40 – The Book That Built Grit and Resilience 34:20 – Humor and Perspective in Startup Leadership 37:50 – Closing Reflections on Purpose and Progress Get in touch with Guest Speaker: Website: https://www.precision-cv.com/ LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamedaboualam/ Take our Free 2 Min Survey: https://precision-cardiovascular.webflow.io/ 🎁 FREE RESOURCES TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS: ✨Brand Brief Template: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/brandbrief ✨Entrepreneur Checklist:https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/30daye-checklist ✨Automated Marketing:https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/automatedmarketing ✨15 Strategic Investor Slides: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/getfunded 🚀 LAUNCH AND BRAND YOUR BUSINESS WITH ME! 30 Day Entrepreneur Course:  https://30dayentrepreneur.tribeagency.org/ Brand Masterclass: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/brandmasterclass 🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO LEADR. PODCAST: Latest interviews with innovators and industry leaders:  https://tribeagency.org/leadr-podcast CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL: 📱Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/tribeagency1/ 📱Twitter/X: http://x.com/TribeAgency1 📱LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephpliha/ 📱YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@makeyourbrandaverb ABOUT ME: I'm Steph Pliha, Founder & Principal of Tribe Agency with 20+ years in leadership. After building multiple 7-figure businesses, I now help entrepreneurs transform their brands from nouns to verbs. My Make your Brand a Verb™ Framework has helped countless businesses dominate their markets through strategic positioning and marketing that delivers real results. 📱LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephpliha/ BUSINESS INQUIRIES: hello@tribeagency.org #MakeYourBrandAVerb #BrandStrategy #StartupMarketing #SmallBusinessBranding #MedtechMarketing #BusinessTips #LeadrPodcast #Medtech #Startups FTC Disclosure: Some links shared are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission from purchases made at no additional cost to you. © 2025 Tribe Agency. All Rights Reserved.

    40 min

  3. 10/28/2025

    The Surgeon Who Built a Data Company with Dr. John Porterfield | Ep 25

    What happens when a world-class robotic surgeon becomes a founder? In this episode, Dr. John Porterfield of Informed Surgical shares how his experiences in the OR and robotic surgery inspired a new way to measure surgical quality. He explains why patient outcomes—not volume or reputation—should drive referrals, and how data transparency can change healthcare incentives. A grounded conversation for medtech executives rethinking the future of value-based surgery. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – From Surgeon to Medtech Founder: The Informed Story 03:15 – Robotic Surgery Innovation and Early Adoption at UAB 04:10 – Leadership and Ironman Lessons in Surgical Discipline 08:37 – From Rural Roots to Data-Driven Healthcare 10:20 – Mentorship, Family, and Sustainable Surgical Careers 13:07 – Founding Informed Surgical with Intuitive’s Sal Brogna 17:00 – How Data and AI Are Redefining Surgical Quality 21:17 – Inside ProCendi.com: Building Patient Access Through Data 27:22 – The Informed Algorithm: Risk Adjustment and Surgical Outcomes 46:17 – Innovation Ethics: What Keeps a Surgeon-Founder Up at Night Connect with Dr. John Porterfield and Informed Surgical: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-porterfield/ Website: https://informedsurgical.com/ Alternatively, website for finding quality surgeons in your area: https://procendi.com/ 🎁 FREE RESOURCES TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS: ✨Brand Brief Template: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/brandbrief ✨Entrepreneur Checklist: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/30daye-checklist ✨Automated Marketing: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/automatedmarketing ✨15 Strategic Investor Slides: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/getfunded 🚀 LAUNCH AND BRAND YOUR BUSINESS WITH ME! 30 Day Entrepreneur Course: https://30dayentrepreneur.tribeagency.org/ Brand Masterclass: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/brandmasterclass 🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO LEADR. PODCAST: Latest interviews with innovators and industry leaders:  https://tribeagency.org/leadr-podcast CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL: 📱Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/tribeagency1 📱Twitter/X: https://x.com/TribeAgency1 📱LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/tribebrand/ 📱YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@makeyourbrandaverb ABOUT ME: I'm Steph Pliha, Founder & Principal of Tribe Agency with 20+ years in leadership. After building multiple 7-figure businesses, I now help entrepreneurs transform their brands from nouns to verbs. My Make your Brand a Verb™ Framework has helped countless businesses dominate their markets through strategic positioning and marketing that delivers real results. BUSINESS INQUIRIES: hello@tribeagency.org #MakeYourBrandAVerb #BrandStrategy #StartupMarketing #SmallBusinessBranding #MedtechMarketing #BusinessTips #LeadrPodcast FTC Disclosure: Some links shared are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission from purchases made at no additional cost to you. © 2025 Tribe Agency. All Rights Reserved.

    53 min

  4. 10/20/2025

    Meet the Genius Behind AI in Surgery! Hasan Ertas, CEO of Exin Health AI

    Leadr. Podcast host Steph Pliha welcomes Hasan Ertas, CEO of Exin Health AI, for a conversation about leadership, medtech innovation, and the future of AI for surgical documentation.  Drawing from his time at Stryker and Intuitive Surgical, Hasan reveals how OR Genie uses speech and vision AI to transform how nurses capture intraoperative data.  For medtech professionals, this episode is a masterclass in bringing meaningful automation into one of the most complex environments in healthcare. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Intro: Meet Hasan Ertas, CEO of Exin Health AI 03:45 – From Stryker to Intuitive: Lessons in engineering and leadership 09:20 – The power of attitude over resume 13:10 – Culture and decision-making at Intuitive Surgical 18:50 – The inefficiencies hiding inside the OR 22:30 – The origin of OR Genie and how it works 27:10 – Speech and vision AI in surgical documentation 33:45 – How OR Genie prevents errors and expired implants 39:00 – Integration with EMRs and ASC strategy 44:20 – The future of AI in healthcare and responsible innovation 52:00 – Mentors, books, and leadership principles that shaped Hasan 57:40 – Closing reflections on curiosity and lifelong learning Get in touch with our Guest Speaker: Hasan Ertas:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/hasan-ertas-226430/ Exin Health AI: https://exinhealth.ai/ 🎁 FREE RESOURCES TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS: ✨Brand Brief Template: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/brandbrief✨Entrepreneur Checklist:https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/30daye-checklist✨Automated Marketing:https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/automatedmarketing✨15 Strategic Investor Slides: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/getfunded 🚀 LAUNCH AND BRAND YOUR BUSINESS WITH ME! 30 Day Entrepreneur Course: https://30dayentrepreneur.tribeagency.org/ Brand Masterclass: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/brandmasterclass 🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO LEADR. PODCAST: Latest interviews with innovators and industry leaders:  https://tribeagency.org/leadr-podcast CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL: 📱Instagram:   / tribeagency1   📱Twitter/X: https://x.com/TribeAgency1 📱LinkedIn:   / tribebrand   📱TikTok:   / tribeagency   ABOUT ME: I'm Steph Pliha, Founder & Principal of Tribe Agency with 20+ years in leadership. After building multiple 7-figure businesses, I now help entrepreneurs transform their brands from nouns to verbs. My Make your Brand a Verb™ Framework has helped countless businesses dominate their markets through strategic positioning and marketing that delivers real results. BUSINESS INQUIRIES: hello@tribeagency.org tribeagency.org #MakeYourBrandAVerb #BrandStrategy #StartupMarketing #SmallBusinessBranding #MedtechMarketing #BusinessTips #LeadrPodcast FTC Disclosure: Some links shared are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission from purchases made at no additional cost to you. © 2025 Tribe Agency. All Rights Reserved.

    57 min

  5. 09/29/2025

    The Future of Breast Imaging Innovation with Dr. Tara and Dr. Peymon Ghazi | Ep. 23

    Dense breast tissue creates blind spots in screening and drives uncertainty for patients and clinicians. Dr. Tara Ghazi and Dr. Peymon Ghazi of MALCOVA are addressing this challenge with advanced imaging and AI-powered decision support. In this episode, we explore clinical trial design, proof points that matter, and strategies for building trust with radiologists. Investors will find a grounded view of milestones worth tracking, while operators and clinicians will gain insight into practical adoption paths. 00:00 – Intro: why this conversation 00:03 – Meet Dr. Tara & Dr. Peymon Ghazi (MALCOVA) 00:08 – The dense-breast screening gap 08:28 – Patient experience and comfort in imaging 10:20 – Risks of status quo screening 10:36 – Clinical workflow and radiology integration 18:03 – Guidelines and real-world context 21:09 – AI triage and decision support 28:25 – Entering the clinical phase: proof points 37:53 – Future of breast-imaging innovation 🎁 FREE RESOURCES TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS: ✨Brand Brief Template: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/bra... ✨Entrepreneur Checklist: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/30d... ✨Automated Marketing: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/aut... ✨15 Strategic Investor Slides: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/get... 🚀 LAUNCH AND BRAND YOUR BUSINESS WITH ME! 30 Day Entrepreneur Course: https://30dayentrepreneur.tribeagency... Brand Masterclass: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/bra... 🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO LEADR. PODCAST: Latest interviews with innovators and industry leaders: https://tribeagency.org/leadr-podcast CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL: 📱Instagram: https://instagram.com/tribeagency1 📱Twitter/X: https://x.com/TribeAgency1 📱LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trib... 📱TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tribeagency ABOUT ME:I'm Steph Pliha, Founder & Principal of Tribe Agency with 20+ years in leadership. After building multiple 7-figure businesses, I now help entrepreneurs transform their brands from nouns to verbs. My Make your Brand a Verb™ Framework has helped countless businesses dominate their markets through strategic positioning and marketing that delivers real results. BUSINESS INQUIRIES:hello@tribeagency.org #MakeYourBrandAVerb #BrandStrategy #StartupMarketing #SmallBusinessBranding #MedtechMarketing #BusinessTips #LeadrPodcast FTC Disclosure: Some links shared are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission from purchases made at no additional cost to you. © 2025 Tribe Agency. All Rights Reserved.

    45 min

  6. 09/29/2025

    Building Strong Medtech Teams with Drue DeAngelis | Ep. 22

    In this episode of Leadr. Podcast, host Steph Pliha sits down with Drue DeAngelis, founder of The DeAngelis Group and an industry veteran with nearly four decades in orthopedics. From carrying a Zimmer sales bag to leading at Stryker, and ultimately building his own retained search practice, Drue shares how his career evolved and why alignment between talent and company mission matters more than ever.  For medtech founders and investors, his perspective on leadership, fundraising challenges, and building resilient executive teams offers practical lessons. He also explains why he launched MSK Innovations as a platform for CEOs to pitch and connect with world-class investors. 00:00 – Introduction 01:23 – Breaking into orthopedics with Zimmer 02:25 – Building with Stryker and rapid growth 04:00 – Transition to entrepreneurship and search 05:30 – Why contingency recruiting fails 08:00 – Moving into retained search and C-suite roles 13:25 – Launching new ventures and MSK Innovations 16:00 – Building a pitch platform for medtech CEOs 20:30 – Acquiring Orthopedics This Week 24:00 – Reinventing a media platform for MSK innovators 28:30 – The founder’s challenge: technical vs. commercial leadership 33:30 – Traits that define successful medtech CEOs 40:00 – Capital raising, board dynamics, and runway risks 48:00 – Closing reflections Guest Speaker(s): Website: https://www.orthospinesearch.com/ LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ddeangelis/ 🎁 FREE RESOURCES TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS: ✨Brand Brief Template: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/brandbrief ✨Entrepreneur Checklist:https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/30daye-checklist ✨AutomatedMarketing:https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/automatedmarketing ✨15 Strategic Investor Slides: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/getfunded 🚀 LAUNCH AND BRAND YOUR BUSINESS WITH ME! 30 Day Entrepreneur Course:  https://30dayentrepreneur.tribeagency.org/ Brand Masterclass: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/brandmasterclass 🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO LEADR. PODCAST: Latest interviews with innovators and industry leaders:  https://tribeagency.org/leadr-podcast CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL: 📱Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/tribeagency1/ 📱Twitter/X: http://x.com/TribeAgency1 📱LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephpliha/ 📱YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@makeyourbrandaverb ABOUT ME: I'm Steph Pliha, Founder & Principal of Tribe Agency with 20+ years in leadership. After building multiple 7-figure businesses, I now help entrepreneurs transform their brands from nouns to verbs. My Make your Brand a Verb™ Framework has helped countless businesses dominate their markets through strategic positioning and marketing that delivers real results. 📱LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephpliha/ BUSINESS INQUIRIES: hello@tribeagency.org #MakeYourBrandAVerb #BrandStrategy #StartupMarketing #SmallBusinessBranding #MedtechMarketing #BusinessTips #LeadrPodcast #Medtech #Startups FTC Disclosure: Some links shared are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission from purchases made at no additional cost to you. © 2025 Tribe Agency. All Rights Reserved.

    51 min

  7. 05/08/2025

    The Secret Weapon for Winning in Leadership & Life | Dr. Travis Bradberry | Ep. 21

    Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the secret weapon every leader needs to win — in business and in life. In this episode of Leadr. Podcast, Steph Pliha sits down with bestselling author and emotional intelligence pioneer Dr. Travis Bradberry to explore how mastering emotional triggers, self-awareness, and relationship management transforms leadership at every level. Dr. Bradberry shares powerful insights from his new book The New Emotional Intelligence and practical strategies to strengthen your EQ skills. 📚 Pre-Order The New Emotional Intelligence: https://amzn.to/3GFrJUS 🎯 Takeaways: How to strengthen emotional intelligence in everyday life Why EQ is the difference-maker for leadership success New updates from The New Emotional Intelligence Tips for recognizing and managing emotional triggers Ways to Connect: 💡 Connect with Stephanie Pliha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniepliha 💡 Connect with Dr. Travis Bradberry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travisbradberry/ 🔔 Subscribe for more leadership insights: https://tribeagency.org/leadr-podcast 🔔 Join the waitlist for Make Your Brand a Verb Masterclass: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/brandmasterclass

    31 min

  8. 05/02/2025

    How This NEW Hernia Treatment Changes Everything for Men! | Ep. 20

    Dr. Shirin Towfigh breaks down gender-specific hernia mesh designs that are transforming patient care—and why every surgeon needs business savvy. In Episode 20 of the Leadr. Podcast, Dr. Shirin Towfigh—leading hernia surgeon and medical-device innovator—shares her journey from the OR to the boardroom. You’ll learn how gender-based mesh designs are improving outcomes, why “if you don’t have revenue, it’s a hobby,” and the strategic marketing steps needed to commercialize a device. Whether you’re a surgeon eyeing entrepreneurship or a MedTech marketer, this episode delivers actionable insights on: Clinical evidence & patient-first mesh design Surgeon-engineer collaboration Patent strategy & medical-device commercialization Building revenue-driven practices Timestamps / Chapters:00:00 Intro & Guest Bio02:59 The Business of Medicine05:51 Journey in Surgery & Innovation09:06 Surgeon–Engineer Collaboration11:59 Gender-Based Mesh Designs14:58 Commercialization & Marketing17:49 Future of Hernia Mesh Products21:02 Navigating the MedTech Industry24:01 Final Thoughts & Advice30:58 Understanding Mesh in Surgery36:04 Evolution of Hernia Repair39:01 Future of Hernia Surgery47:17 Mentorship & Leadership Insights Connect & Learn More:– Stephanie Pliha (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniepliha– Dr. Shirin Towfigh (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirintowfigh– Full podcast page & show archive: https://tribeagency.org/leadr-podcast– Work with us: https://tribeagency.org/contact Keywords of episode: Dr. Shirin Towfigh, hernia treatment, hernia mesh, medical device innovation, surgeon entrepreneur, commercialization, marketing strategies, clinical evidence, patient care, mentorship, leadership May 2, 2025 at 9 AM PT

    57 min
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5
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About

Welcome to Leadr. Podcast, the ultimate destination for medtech insights, leadership inspiration, and the latest innovations in our industry. Our guest lineup features trailblazers, disruptors, and innovators shaping the future of medtech. From bestselling authors to incredible medtech leaders, our guests will inspire, educate, and challenge your perspectives. This podcast is for medtech professionals seeking inspiration, leaders or medtech CEOs hungry for knowledge, Leadr. Podcast is your trusted companion. Hosted by Stephanie Pliha, Founder of Tribe Agency and Medtech Industry Veteran.

Information

  • Creator
    Leadr. - A Tribe Agency Podcast
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Leadr. - A Tribe Agency Podcast
  • Show Website
    Leadr. - A Tribe Agency Podcast