The Family Business with Matt Kaufman: Recent Episodes
Matt Kaufman
There is no work life balance. This is a myth. The truth is your family and your career are intertwined, never balanced. The Family Business provides insight into how healthcare executives make decisions that affect both sides of their lives. The results are sometimes comical, sometimes serious and always life changing. The most important takeaway is that everyone is facing these moments, even the individuals that seem like they have the perfect life. You will learn that everything is not as it seems and their road to get to this "perfection" is littered with wonderful moments and every kind of mess you can imagine.
Ever watched an ibex climb a mountain?
In this episode, we explore the journey of Ibex Medical Analytics, a company revolutionizing cancer diagnostics with an AI-based platform. Join us to learn how Ibex secured millions of slides from a hospital, gained significant investment, and assembled a world-class team. The company's name, Ibex, symbolizes their tenacity, much like the ibex mountain climber, and holds personal significance, named after Yossi’s aunt, Yael, who lost her battle with cancer. This conversation with Yossi highlights the early successes of Ibex and its potential to save lives.
Tune in to hear their inspiring story and keep an eye on this groundbreaking company.
Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Alex Ballatori, whose family serves as the driving force behind his groundbreaking innovations. Alongside co-founder Shane Shahrestani, MD, PhD, Alex leads StrokeDx, a company revolutionizing stroke diagnosis. From humble beginnings to winning the prestigious MedTech Innovator award, Alex's journey is a testament to the power of familial support and determination. Their cutting-edge handheld technology, utilizing magnets in a novel way, promises swift and accurate stroke detection, potentially saving countless lives. Don't miss the chance to witness the future of healthcare unfold with leaders like Alex at the helm. Tune in for the full conversation and witness the transformative impact of family-driven innovation.
In this episode, we delve into the personal motivations driving Orestis Vardoulis, PhD, founder of Zeit Medical. Inspired by family experiences with vascular conditions, Orestis set out to revolutionize stroke detection and response. With an unwavering determination, he leads a team of four to develop groundbreaking technology that not only accurately detects strokes but also triggers immediate emergency response. Despite his remarkable achievements, Orestis remains humble, attributing his success to his support network and his Greek heritage. Join us as we uncover the story behind the man shaping the future of medtech.
In this episode of The Family Business we catch up with Kwame and learn his origin story, about his family, his faith and his famous shoulder shrug. He is like no one else and at the same time he is relatable to everyone. In this episode, he explains the impetus to turn his observation into action. Positively impacting an entire industry and generation. If you are going to listen to one of these podcasts, make it Kwame's.
Activity exclusivity. Kind of rhymes (bit of a stretch).
When your child is growing up they will show aptitude as well as an interest in certain things. In today's society, it has become a pursuit at the sake of forgoing all other activities. I see it regularly in the sports I coach in the community. They only play soccer, baseball or lacrosse. Extends to outside of sports. Music, dance, debate and academics are all exceptional areas worthy of their time.
That said, they do not need to be mutually exclusive. I had a conversation with Sang'ona Oriedo recently on The Family Business. She mentioned how important it was to her development that her parents and older brother encouraged her to explore several activities and not limit herself. The result is this amazing human being. She enjoyed everything and excelled at most. All because of the encouragement of her family.
The team at iRhythm Technologies, Inc. and at LifeScan can attest to what she brings to the party. The variety rounded her out, made her conversant in several areas and allowed her to become more worldly. She feels (and I agree) that those experiences have made her better at what she does today.
She describes growing up with a father from #kenya and how opportunities were scarce for him. How he gave her never ending support and did not saddle her with how difficult it was for him and her mother to get to where they are today. Totally unselfish.
Adoption.
Not of new technology. Not of a #medicaldevice. Traditional adoption of a child. It is an area of interest for me. My niece and nephew were adopted along with more than a few friends and their children. My feeling is the whole point of a social media platform is to share and encourage conversation.
This is one of the best exchanges I have ever had on the topic with two individuals that know it firsthand. David Carey, his wife Kim and daughter Elise provided candid insight into the emotions involved and an understanding of how this feels. Particularly all the while explaining it to their biological son, Cooper who was 7 at the time.
My podcast #thefamilybusiness focuses on how family and career are intertwined. This is as good an illustration as I could imagine. If you have questions about adoption these are the people to ask. We welcome any comment, question or sharing of this information. Beyond impressed at their ability to express themselves candidly.
Dave built quite a career with Stryker and currently Pristine Surgical. He is extraordinary. Kim just runs triathlons and other small accomplishments. Ironically they met racing together on their first date. No pressure…
The History of the Steam Engine.
Never would have guessed that book would launch a lifetime of learning. Led a kid living on a ranch in New Mexico to Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Quite a story. Sit back and hear about Gabriel Sanchez in this episode of The Family Business. Improbable path to CEO of a medtech startup.
That book and watching the Apollo 13 movie set him on a course for engineering and mechanical problem solving. He was drawn to the engineers figuring out how to making a breathing device out of basically garbage. To him, the engineers were the hero.
His technology that he created has evolved into the company Enspectra Health, Inc. Going to save patients from the challenges that come along with skin cancer and biopsies. Unreal system. Take a bow Fogarty Innovation for helping his company come to life. Thank goodness for the public library and his mother pushing non fiction.
What do they call you?
Pops.
This is one of my favorite questions to ask grandparents, in laws or in this case step parents.
Fahad Kajani is one of the truly sensational human beings on this planet. Exceptional business mind, high degree of ethics, funny as all get out and horrible taste in music. His time and contributions at Henry Schein, E4D Technologies and now with Vision Radiology has been exemplary. In this episode of The Family Business, we discuss Fahad marrying a wonderful woman (Samantha), who has two children. Here is the plot twist. He used to call his own father Pops. Nothing like a little symmetry to continue showing life is a circle. Guess the Massachusetts Institute of Technology education is paying off with his math skills.
Fahad is incredibly open and shares what it is like to add water and have instant family. How his parents and extended relatives reacted to all of this (spoiler alert - they were awesome) and everything that comes along with this life choice.
Love still conquers all, apparently as his life continues to ascend. His career is a terrific story in itself and interweaving it with his personal life makes it beautiful.
When you become a parent, your title at work, your education, SAT scores and IQ go out the window. Your kids do not care. They want to do art projects with pipe cleaners, egg cartons and crayons. It takes a humble and introspective person to understand that piece of parenting. The sacrifice of your identity for a period of time in your life when your accomplishments are put in a box. We have all been through it and thankfully life is a circle. Always funny when you find out that someone was a math wizard, phenomenal dancer, cheerleader, star athlete or awarded an academic scholarship before they started their family. You? You did stand up comedy? Yes. Yes, I did.
In this episode of the Family Business, we get to sit down with Justin Ballotta and his incredible wife Meredith Ballotta to discuss this point. She was educated at the highest level and had a significant career going. They made a choice and she put her career on hold to have a family. In this clip, we have a laugh about the realization of who you were and now you are in charge of art projects.
They are a sensational pair. Justin is one of the most respected executives in medical devices. His time with Cardiva Medical was beyond impactful and now with his development of Revival Healthcare Capital he is now helping other companies have success. They are each humble and grateful for their lives and had some funny stories to tell about how they built their family and careers.
A few truisms emerge over 20 years of search.
Here is one my favorites - Of all the career decisions you make in your life, the person you marry is one of the largest. When the most important person in your life believes in you and encourages you to take risks, there is no greater confidence builder. In another example of this, I present to you Zaffer Syed. He broached the idea of going to a start up named Saranas with his wife. She apparently eats risk for breakfast and told him to go for it. Zaffer is entrepreneurial himself and this reinforcement by the person he trusts most sealed the deal. The rest is history. I am sure everyone appreciates Tahira Syed and all the spouses out there being the voice that validates the decision. In this episode of the Family Business, we learn quite a bit about Zaffer, his tennis skills, the Texas Medical Center Innovation and how teaching his daughter to drive is a bit of an adventure. He is a sensational guy as is his family. One of the truly good humans in the healthcare space.
Never know what your kids will pick up from you. Sometimes it is simply leaving things on the floor and letting them gravitate towards it naturally. Who can say where it will lead?
Well, we can see in this case. Michaella Corso was surrounded by balloon catheters growing up. Turns out it rubbed off. Now, she is one of the foremost Clinical Affairs executives in the industry. She has been beyond valuable for Penumbra, Inc. Truth be told, she is an even better person. Teamed with her extraordinary husband Issao Fujiwara with Waymo, they have created a career and family fabric that is exceptional.
In this clip from The Family Business, you can see how much of an impact you can have on your kids by not cleaning up.
I was a rare bird. Such a nerd. This is what I learned about Carla Leibowitz when she was growing up in #Quito#Ecuador. Having a daughter who is a STEM kid, I can do nothing but appreciate people like Carla pursuing a technical career when many people told her to stay home and have babies. Took her all the way to #MIT and an ongoing sensational career.
On top of all that, she has an amazing family and is setting an example for her children. In our conversation on The Family Business, Carla speaks about how going to a bilingual school allowed her to be the translator between American doctors and Ecuadorian physicians. There she saw her first interventional procedure. It launched her fascination with medicine and therapy. Right place + Right Time + Right Person = Adventure.
The rest is history being written everyday. Her contributions at Paige have been instrumental in developing game changing healthcare technology. She is absolutely an extraordinary human.
I got the call from the doctor....
Hard to think of a more ominous sentence. Funny how the ubiquitous word "the" can signify Cancer. In that call your life and those around you change in an instant. Now, to keep it interesting, add in that you are pregnant. Let that sink in. Pregnancy meet Cancer, Cancer this is Pregnancy. Find a way to coexist. This is Lisa Ensz. She is on another plane personally and professionally. Fortitude and tenacity at a level where the needle is pinned. She was on The Family Business with me where we discussed her astounding life. Here is another line - I was feeding my baby on one side and getting radiation on the other. We have known each other since HeartWare IncMedtronic days and I was not aware of all that she overcame. Today she is immensely successful with Corvia Medical, Inc. Not to mention a beautiful marriage and two spectacular children. All of this started in South Dakota.
It is a rite of passage as a first time parent to be exhausted. Comes with the territory as my Dad would say. The Salunke family was in the usual zombie state. With his wife pregnant with their first child Nitin Salunke also was launching (birthing) his first product ever. No rest for the weary. Luckily Supriya Salunke was able to bring Sonia S. into the world and we are all the better for it. In this episode of The Family Business, we learn that when all else fails and the baby will not sleep, turn on the vacuum cleaner. Two of the most intelligent people around resorted to a Hoover to get some rest. Whatever it takes...
Their family is extraordinary. Supriya has a sensational career at W. L. Gore & Associates and Sonia is with Accenture. They run together, travel together and support each other. Nitin is the CEO of Supira Medical which is a Shifamed company. Not to be left out is Nikita Salunke at Stanford.
Ever speak with someone that you feel like the world needs more of?
I have known Amy Belt Raimundo for many years and cannot say enough about her contributions to her community, the investment world, medical technology, advancement of female executives and her family. In this episode of the Family Business, we hear all about how she brought MedtechWomen to life. Her success at Kaiser Permanente Ventures providing investment to emerging companies has been substantial all the while vocally leading the effort to normalize women being on Boards. Some folks when they make it they do not reach back to bring the next person along. Amy has brought the whole team with her. I met her during the #Guidant days and you could see her scalability back then. In this clip, you see how it has filtered down to her 5 year old daughter. Do not interrupt Emery when she is on a Board call.
Compliments from unexpected sources resonate. They stay with you. In some cases, it builds the confidence for a person to accomplish extraordinary feats.
On this episode of The Family Business, we sat down with Michelle Ortiz. When she was growing up in Puerto Rico, her pediatrician remarked on how intelligent she was and to consider being a biomedical engineer. Michelle took the compliment to heart and since then she has gone on to have a stellar career along with a beautiful family. My favorite part of the story is that she is still in touch with this woman and she shares all of her achievements with her. Ripples in a pond. All it took was one sincere comment from a person she respected. Michelle can tell a story. Some funny stuff throughout her time at Smith & Nephew CONMED Corporation and currently at DSM. We laughed during the entire conversation. Incredibly candid. I will not spoil some of the surprises. Trust me it is worth watching the entire chat. Big reveal.
Got to finally ask the question I have been wondering for 19 years.
What does it feel like being a kid told by your parents that we are moving for a new job?
Always heard, "Oh they are fine with it. Kids make friends easily, blah blah". Wondered, is that really what happens? I always imagined dishes flying and doors slamming.
As luck would have it, on this episode of the Family Business we sit with both Christie Blakely and Lauren B.. We get to the bottom of the big family move. Both of them are in the orthopedic space and have made significant impact for patients around the world. People would say "like mother, like daughter". In this case, they are both profoundly independent. Colleagues of a sort.
On top of it, they are rather funny. Some great stories about her Dad raising two daughters while Mom's career flourished. Figuring out pony tails and other important tasks.
Christie is leading sales and marketing at Geistlich Pharma AG while Lauren is forging her own path at DJO. First time in this program that we had a parent and child both in the medical device industry. Compelling perspective and banter between the two.
Go Gators.
The man worked at NATO and for a 4 star general. Sounds like the beginning of a James Bond movie. You wonder how successful executives get started. Here is your chance to hear one hell of a story...
Here is Carsten Schroeder or 008. As good a person as I know in the healthcare industry. What makes him truly amazing is his genuine care and regard for his family and his workmates. In this episode of The Family Business, we will learn how a test in 5th grade sent him on a path to impacting thousands of lives while at MicroVention-Terumo Grifols Novartis and Boston Scientific.
His love of animals that he shares with his family is also discussed with his adoption of a lonely dog on the side of the road and a lame horse. Quite a guy. Quite a family.
Here is a piece of information that will make you go "Huh, that makes sense"
Apparently in Switzerland the term for Godfather is Gotti. I know, right?
In this episode of The Family Business (pun intended here) we break new ground. In this conversation are the Co-CEO's of VirtaMed - Stefan Tuchschmid and Raimundo Sierra. In addition to creating the most advanced surgical simulation technology I have ever seen, they both are dedicated family men.
They went to the same PhD program and developed a friendship that has forged not only the bonds of building a business together, Stefan asked Raimundo to be Gotti to his youngest child. Quite an honor. Okay, I'll say it - he gave him an offer he couldn't refuse...
The conversation covers what it is like being Co-CEO's, using social media to describe their culture and adjusting to the pandemic with a mobile van showcasing their simulator. Truly brilliant folks and their company is thriving.
Quick note to those manufacturers that laughed at or ignored Poorvi Patodia. Might want to look up Biena Snacks.
To steal a line from Pretty Woman: Big mistake.
In this episode of The Family Business, we hear how a start up in the consumer goods industry gets off the ground. Her company has taken off and is on the shelves of over 15,000 stores including Whole Foods Market. Poorvi literally had chick peas all over her apartment all while being married and having a baby. She had a blossoming career in healthcare going and decided to take the unlikeliest of routes and bring a healthy snack to the market based on what she ate as a child.
Some funny stories of her convincing her family to be the tasters of countless versions and flavors, explaining what she is doing instead of her corporate career and ignoring anyone who doubted her.
Truly inspiring as she is incredibly humble. Talk about the 1% of the 1%.
So what did we learn?
Apparently Stacey Porter is the "cop" of her house. Also, her son Henry is a scene stealer.
In this episode of The Family Business, we unpack incredible insight on how to build a culture while building a family. Stacey has had an extraordinary career with Intuitive and now with the prolific dialysis corporation Outset Medical, Inc. She manages all of this with a combination of style, kindness and humor.
All while raising her precocious teenager and married to a brilliant architect. Love this conversation as we get to hear how the sausage was made developing these well known corporate cultures.
Never knew there was such a thing as a Fencing mom. Leave it to the incomparable Mika Nishimura to be this anomaly.
In this episode of the Family Business, I caught up with her about her life, family and career. She has lived, folks. Brilliant, determined, successful and downright funny.
Great stories about her Dad helping her with MBA studies and then sliding a loan agreement under her nose at a "friends and family rate" and her attempt to be a stay at home mom which lasted for a cup of coffee.
Cannot say enough about her as a person. Quick to help anyone and promote women in business at every opportunity. She is on a few Boards and offers guidance on women who are looking to ascend there. She has been doing extraordinary work throughout her career building companies and currently at Gilde Healthcare.
Is it okay to enjoy being an empty nester? Apparently so according to John Lockhart and his wife Danielle. In true funny Lockhart fashion they determined that yeah, we are pretty good with their kids leaving… In this episode of The Family Business I sit down with John who has had an unparalleled career at Penumbra, Inc. and with REAL System by Penumbra, Inc. What I did not know is how Danielle would steal the show. She should take her act on stage. The conversation is candid, lively and incredibly genuine. My favorite line so far is "Pipe down, Twin". They have a set and we had a great time giggling at twins wanting to be considered independent from each other.
Being a parent means that whatever your kids are carrying, you are carrying.
In this episode of The Family Business, we connect with Ariel Klein Sutton. She has built a phenomenal career and is currently making a difference for #stroke patients as the EVP Marketing with Imperative Care.
We were speaking about allergies and how they affect children. She shared a story about her son and how her mother's intuition likely saved his life. She then went on to become a substantial supporter of organizations focused on children's allergies.
All this while she and her husband build their careers and raise their three boys. Quite a story.
How come you get to be on your phone?
Every parent gets that whine weekly. Our usual response, "This is for work." What about if your career is predicated on social media? It is part of your job to be on every platform daily.
How do you get an 11 year old to understand the difference between your responsibility and their love of #TikTok? Good luck with that one...
Here is a conversation with Kamal Bhandal on the Family Business. She has been ahead of the curve in social media influencing as it relates to medical technology for years. Truly an authority on the subject. She drives much of the strategy for Align Technology.
While raising two daughters, her lines are perpetually blurred between the digital and real world. Instead of fighting with them, she did the opposite. She seeks their opinion and their suggestions on how to use social media. One of many clever items she said during our chat.
Give a listen, she is one of the more knowledgeable people in this space and is dancing along the line that is forever moving between setting a good example and doing her job.
This was my George Clooney.
Started The Family Business program this year and compiled a list of folks that would be great guests. People that exemplify the intertwining of family and careers. Thrilled that all of them have said yes so far.
The "big get" was Vivek Jayaraman and Aruna Jayaraman. Watching our conversation, it became clear that there was no way to select a clip as all of it was compelling.
To name a few:
Aruna is the only female GI physician in Sonoma County (not including Kaiser)
Vivek is the COO of Cerus and has had a monstrous career to date with Medtronic and Trivascular/Endologix LLC
They lost their home to the fires exactly three years to the date that this was taped. Had no idea and the irony was striking
They are first generation Americans and have an immense appreciation for their parents' influence
They have two sensational children, one of which is going to be an author thanks to me...
Take a listen.
Here is the answer to the question that has plagued me for years, which is "When does a pig become a hog?"
Never know what you are going to learn on a new episode of The Family Business. In this case, we are entertained by the incomparable Kristen Knox. She is currently the Senior VP and General Manager at ACIST Medical Systems.
She has had a stellar career so far while raising two teenage boys with her husband. She said something in this clip that resonated with me. Kristen was a part of a successful acquisition and could have easily taken off as much time as she wanted. While she thrives on being a mom and married, she knew that in order to be the best version of herself she needed to get back to work. Significant self-awareness there and an incredibly supportive guy at her side. She is a character. Grew up on a farm and built a substantial business career. Truly an amazing story. Anyone interested in learning how to be a hockey mom, here is your role model.
Like most love stories, it all started at Benningan's.
Not sure if it is the potato skins or the suspenders worn by the wait staff.
Either way, we are the benefactors as Colby Holtshouse and Mike Holtshouse forged a romance there over 2 for 1's and being the only people in their age bracket there. In this new episode of The Family Business we explore their lives. Let me say this to you. They are funny folks.
Colby is the COO of Alydia Health and Mike is the Director of Ops at Murj. Exceptional medical device executives and caretakers of one of the more entertaining households on the planet.
Throughout this podcast, you will receive a reminder of what happens if you take your eyes off your daughter while trying to do a Zoom call with an investor.
Congratulations, you are having twins.
Could be the most exciting and disconcerting sentence spoken to new parents. I imagine most say "Wait, what? Sounded like you said twins."
In this episode of The Family Business, we sit down with Omari Bouknight and Kavita Bouknight to discuss how they have been raising their twins amidst two considerable careers.
If you do not already know them, please take my word for it that they are fascinating. Ironic that this is another program where I am speaking with the parents of twins. Kathryn (Katie) Arnold and Evan Norton were the interview I did shortly after this one. What are the odds we would have back to back twinnings?
Omari and Kavita are two of the more popular folks in the medical technology industry. Highly recommend you give their story a listen. Particularly if you have twins...
Mountain climbing as a family, a dog named Jed and saving patients from amputation. Another day in the life of Dan Rose. In a rousing conversation with Dan and his extraordinary wife Marta, we were given a glimpse into their lives.
In this clip from The Family Business, Dan, who is the CEO of LimFlow SA, explains why for the sake of his family they have made Switzerland their home while Marta describes the positives and negatives of his traveling.
This whole conversation is compelling. We cover a myriad of topics as they have truly lived a full life already.
I have had the pleasure of speaking with Kathryn (Katie) Arnold and Evan Norton for many years. I thought I knew them well. Their story unfolded during our conversation in my program The Family Business. This particular clip discusses how Katie built SPRIG from scratch and how her growing family prompted this initiative. Evan supported her while managing his own significant career and three children (including twins). Two exceptional success stories wrapped into one family.
Started this program called "The Family Business" with the intent of sharing stories about how career and family are intertwined. How both sides of that coin influence decisions and prompt outcomes that change the rest of your life. The good news is I do not have to try and explain it any further. My guest and friend Ajay Nair does it for me. He describes having a newborn and being separated from him for six months due to Covid and travel restrictions. I know it is six minutes. Worth your time. He is an unbelievable human being and his wife and child are cut from the same cloth. Any parent will be able to relate to what he says and understand the joy and anguish that comes with a significant career and having a child. I think we need to interview his wife next. She sounds like someone we could all benefit from knowing.
This is what happened on our latest episode of The Family Business. Motty Klots and Katie Ellias are one of the more prolific "power couples" in the medical technology community. They were gracious enough to share how their careers began and what it is like to get hired with your life partner. The program's goal is to share examples of how family is intertwined with your career. Motty and Katie manage it all with grace, humor and patience. With 4 children under 10 years old and two substantial careers, they have a few stories to tell.
Here is how they both were hired simultaneously at Medtronic.
They are extraordinary folks and if you have dual careers in your house and multiple kids, you might pick up a few pieces of wisdom.
For my first episode, the timing worked out well to shine a light on Connected Covid. We have been developing this non profit to provide a bridge for hospitals and clinicians to find each other during this talent shortage. Josh Goldsmith and Morgan Goldsmith, RN, MBA created and nurtured this effort all the while working full time and raising two boys. The full conversation is in the comments. Welcome to The Family Business.