Clinician to CEO : Export Your Medical Device With Confidence By Overcoming Go To Market Roadblocks For Medtech Growth

MedTech graveyards are full of clever devices that never made it past the demo. In this episode, Dr. Tori O’Daniel — OB/GYN and Medical Director — breaks down the five adoption pillars that separate shelf-ware from standard-of-care. From ease-of-use to VAC submission strategies, this is the playbook every MedTech innovator needs to hear before launching. Here’s what you’ll learn: – The “ease-of-us...

Think of this as your espresso shot of leadership training — short, strong, and immediately useful. In this Five in Five episode, Hakeem breaks down Francie Jain’s top leadership lessons, from making coaching stick to creating performance through psychological safety. Each insight ends with a doable action step you can apply this week — no fluff, just transformation. Here’s what you’ll learn: – Ho...

Technical brilliance is table stakes. Influence is the multiplier. In this episode, Hakeem sits down with Francie Jain, CEO of Terawatt, to explore what truly drives team performance — from psychological safety to purpose-built coaching. Whether you're scaling a MedTech company or leading a clinical team, this conversation will challenge the way you think about leadership, teaming, and influence....

Biotech isn’t just hard - it’s brutal. But the right lessons can save you years of pain. In this bite-sized H-Files episode, Hakeem shares 5 hard-earned insights from his conversation with Nigel Theobald, CEO of N4 Pharma. After more than a decade building an RNA delivery platform, Nigel offers an unfiltered look at what it really takes to survive and scale in biotech. Here’s what you’ll learn: –...

Great science doesn’t guarantee commercial success - especially in biotech. In this episode, Hakeem sits down with Nigel Theobald, founder and CEO of N4 Pharma, to unpack what it really takes to turn an RNA delivery platform into a viable, scalable business. From investor pressure to team building and tough pivots, Nigel shares lessons every biotech or MedTech founder needs to hear. Here’s what yo...

Digital health funding has dropped 3× since 2021 — but that didn’t stop Tamar Blue. In this episode, Hakeem breaks down how Tamar raised over $1 million for MentalHappy, her mental-health startup, even as capital tightened across the industry. From mindset to tactical moves, you’ll get a clear, repeatable playbook — with action steps you can start using today. Here’s what you’ll learn: – How to ra...

Digital-health cash is scarce — but that didn’t stop Tamar Blue from raising over $1M for MentalHappy. In this episode, Hakeem sits down with Tamar to unpack how she built traction, validated real user demand, and developed a long-term founder mindset in a funding environment where most startups are stalling. If you’re building in mental health, MedTech, or anywhere capital is tight, this one’s fo...

AI isn’t coming — it’s already transforming how smart MedTech founders build and scale. In this 5-in-5 episode of The H-Files , Hakeem recaps key insights from his conversation with MedTech entrepreneur Spencer Jones, breaking down 5 real-world use cases where AI is already driving impact - from FDA submissions to scalable ROI tools. Here’s what you’ll learn: – How AI is speeding up regulatory wor...

AI isn’t a future concept — it’s the toolkit high-performing MedTech founders are using right now. In this episode of The H-Files , Hakeem welcomes back Spencer Jones to explore the real-world impact of AI across the MedTech lifecycle. From slashing regulatory prep time to mapping top European KOLs in minutes, Spencer shares the exact tools and workflows that are saving time, improving outcomes, a...

Most MedTech teams burn through thousands at global healthcare events - with little to show for it. In this 5-in-5 episode, Hakeem unpacks key insights from his conversation with Lee Ali, Managing Director of Expo Stars and a global expert on exhibition strategy. Learn how to flip your next trade show from budget drain to pipeline win with five actionable tactics you can implement right now. Here’...

Too many companies show up to healthcare exhibitions - but few actually stand out. In this episode of The H-Files , Hakeem sits down with Lee Ali, founder of Expo Stars, to break down what separates high-performing booths from those that bleed budget. From the TEO framework to real-world tips on team roles and lead qualification, this episode is a tactical guide for MedTech founders who want resul...

Welcome to The H-Files: 5-in-5 - the weekly dose of distilled insight from healthcare leaders, in five minutes or less. In this episode, Hakeem reflects on his conversation with Dave Taylor, CEO of Valley Diagnostics, who’s navigating the hard road of building a MedTech company from scratch. From funding frustration to NHS hurdles, Dave’s journey offers 5 real-world lessons every founder should he...

Early cancer detection saves lives - but building a startup around it is anything but easy. In this episode of The H-Files , Hakeem sits down with Dave Taylor, CEO of Valid Diagnostics, to talk about what it really takes to build a MedTech company in the complex world of diagnostics. From long NHS timelines to the role of health economics in getting adoption, this is a transparent, founder-to-foun...

One of the biggest mistakes in leadership? The fear of making one. In this Five in Five episode, Hakeem unpacks key lessons from his conversation with leadership expert Cas Rix - someone who’s spent nearly 30 years guiding executive teams through major transitions. Together, they break down how fear of failure and perfectionism can quietly stall innovation, create team friction, and hold entire co...

WHY LEADERSHIP WITHOUT FAILURE IS A DANGEROUS GAME 🎙️ 💡 Perfectionism kills innovation. Fear of failure kills businesses. In this episode of The H-Files , Hakeem is joined by Cass Rix — an expert in strategic leadership and team dynamics — to unpack one of the most overlooked risks in high-performance leadership: the fear of failure. Together, they explore how perfectionism and mistake-avoidance...

“We want to go to America.” That’s what most MedTech founders say - but few are truly ready. In this Five in Five episode, Hakeem unpacks five key takeaways from his conversation with Angela Spang — an award-winning MedTech entrepreneur who’s scaled across the UK, Sweden, and the U.S. From strategy and timing to regulation and team structure, this rapid-fire breakdown will help you avoid common tr...

Many healthcare businesses dream of expanding into the U.S. — but size doesn’t always equal opportunity. In this episode of The H-Files , Hakeem sits down with Angela Spang, award-winning entrepreneur and founder of June Medical, to explore what it really takes to succeed in the world’s most complex healthcare market. Angela shares five hard-won lessons from scaling her business across the UK, Swe...

Expanding internationally is exciting - but the wrong move can cost you more than money. In this Five in Five episode, Hakeem shares key insights from his conversation with Suzie, breaking down five lessons MedTech founders need to hear before entering new markets. From partnerships to credibility to timing, this is your fast-track guide to scaling smarter — not just bigger. Here’s what you’ll lea...

New trade deals are opening doors - but international growth still requires a smart strategy. In this episode of The H-Files , Hakeem sits down with Suzie Ali-Hassan, International Business Director at ABHI, to explore what it really takes for UK health tech companies to scale globally. From common mistakes and evidence gaps to how accelerators and local partnerships accelerate success, this episo...

LinkedIn isn’t just a platform - it’s your digital trade show for international growth. In this Five in Five episode, Hakeem shares key takeaways from his conversation with LinkedIn expert Norma Foster. If you want to open doors internationally, land real deals, and raise your profile globally — without leaving your desk — this is the playbook you’ve been waiting for. Here’s what you’ll learn: – H...

💡 Many businesses underestimate LinkedIn’s potential for finding international customers, distributors, and partners. In this episode of The H-Files , Hakeem is joined by Norma Foster, an international trade specialist who has helped businesses across industries use LinkedIn to drive global sales. From profile optimization to targeted outreach, this episode walks through the exact strategies comp...

Welcome to Five in Five on The H-Files Podcast - your rapid-fire dose of export strategy and global growth insights. In this episode, Hakeem distills the top five insights from his conversation with Kath Darlington , a global marketing expert and UK Export Champion. Whether you're exploring international markets or scaling existing export efforts, these bite-sized strategies will help you grow sma...

What does it really take to build a global presence in healthtech and life sciences? In this episode of The H-Files Podcast , Hakeem Adebiyi sits down with Kath Darlington MBE , founder of The Scott Partnership - a global B2B marketing agency working with leading life sciences and MedTech companies. Kath shares her journey from start-up to international agency, and the lessons she’s learned from t...

Finding a distributor is easy. Finding the right one? That’s where most innovators fail. In this Five in Five episode of The H-Files , Hakeem breaks down five essential lessons for succeeding in the healthcare industry - whether you’re a manufacturer bringing innovation to market, a distributor seeking standout products, or a commercial lead building out a global growth strategy. Here’s what you’l...

Success in MedTech isn’t just about innovation - it’s about the right partnerships, timing, and strategy. In this episode of The Hands-on Business Podcast , Hakeem Adebiyi sits down with Bo Wiesman , a MedTech entrepreneur and investor with more than 20 years of experience. Bo shares his journey from running a successful distribution business to launching a digital health company and building an i...