I recently had the opportunity to attend the Summit for Women in Tech with two of my Avanos colleagues, Jamie Handler, Vice President of Global Marketing, and Kelly Hansen, Senior Director of Game Ready Sales & Marketing.

As the event title suggests, the summit brought women together for candid conversations about leadership, career journeys, workplace challenges and how we can create opportunities for the next generation.

The experience reinforced an important truth: Technology moves forward when more voices help shape it.

Technology is often discussed in terms of what it can do. But an equally important question is who helps decide what it should do. The people in the room influence which problems receive attention, which ideas move forward and how innovation ultimately reaches the people it is intended to serve.

That is especially important in the medical device industry, where the solutions we develop can directly affect patients, clinicians and caregivers.

At Avanos, our work begins with understanding their real needs. Those insights come from many places, including research, product development, clinical expertise, sales, marketing, and the direct conversations our teams have with customers every day.

Each person sees the challenge from a different vantage point. Our roles, backgrounds and experiences influence the questions we ask and the possibilities we recognize. When we bring those perspectives together, we challenge assumptions, uncover opportunities and develop stronger solutions.

As Avanos enters a new chapter, we have an opportunity to think differently about how we innovate, grow and serve our customers. Ensuring that different voices help shape that work will make us stronger.

As a commercial leader, I have seen how important it is to connect customer insight with innovation. A medical device can be clinically meaningful, but it must also address a real need, fit into the way care is delivered, and provide value to the people who use it. Sales and marketing leaders help bring those considerations into the conversation, just as our colleagues across R&D, Clinical Affairs, Operations, Quality, and other functions contribute expertise we could not succeed without.

Having different perspectives represented, however, is only the beginning. People must also feel heard, trusted and empowered to contribute. Creating that environment requires intentional leadership.

It means inviting perspectives from beyond the usual voices. It means listening with curiosity, particularly when someone challenges a long-held assumption. It means providing visibility, meaningful feedback and opportunities for people to grow. It also means advocating for talented colleagues when they are not in the room and encouraging them to step forward when they are.

All of us can help create that kind of culture. We can share what we have learned, make introductions, provide honest guidance and create space for others to contribute. Sometimes a single conversation, opportunity or expression of confidence can change the direction of someone's career.

Attending the summit with Jamie and Kelly made the experience particularly meaningful. Each of us leads from a different vantage point, but we share a commitment to listening, learning and helping others grow. Experiencing the summit together reminded me that progress is strengthened by connection and that none of us advances entirely on our own.

Technology will continue to change how we live, work and deliver healthcare. If we want that technology to solve the right problems and serve people more effectively, we need people with a broad range of experiences, expertise and perspectives helping to shape it. When more people have the opportunity to contribute, influence decisions and lead, we do more than expand individual careers. We strengthen our organizations, improve innovation and create better outcomes for the customers and communities we serve.

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Summit for Women in Tech with two of my Avanos colleagues, Jamie Handler, Vice President of Global Marketing, and Kelly Hansen, Senior Director of Game Ready Sales & Marketing.

As the event title suggests, the summit brought women together for candid conversations about leadership, career journeys, workplace challenges and how we can create opportunities for the next generation.

The experience reinforced an important truth: Technology moves forward when more voices help shape it.

Technology is often discussed in terms of what it can do. But an equally important question is who helps decide what it should do. The people in the room influence which problems receive attention, which ideas move forward and how innovation ultimately reaches the people it is intended to serve.

That is especially important in the medical device industry, where the solutions we develop can directly affect patients, clinicians and caregivers.

At Avanos, our work begins with understanding their real needs. Those insights come from many places, including research, product development, clinical expertise, sales, marketing, and the direct conversations our teams have with customers every day.

Each person sees the challenge from a different vantage point. Our roles, backgrounds and experiences influence the questions we ask and the possibilities we recognize. When we bring those perspectives together, we challenge assumptions, uncover opportunities and develop stronger solutions.

As Avanos enters a new chapter, we have an opportunity to think differently about how we innovate, grow and serve our customers. Ensuring that different voices help shape that work will make us stronger.

As a commercial leader, I have seen how important it is to connect customer insight with innovation. A medical device can be clinically meaningful, but it must also address a real need, fit into the way care is delivered, and provide value to the people who use it. Sales and marketing leaders help bring those considerations into the conversation, just as our colleagues across R&D, Clinical Affairs, Operations, Quality, and other functions contribute expertise we could not succeed without.

Having different perspectives represented, however, is only the beginning. People must also feel heard, trusted and empowered to contribute. Creating that environment requires intentional leadership.

It means inviting perspectives from beyond the usual voices. It means listening with curiosity, particularly when someone challenges a long-held assumption. It means providing visibility, meaningful feedback and opportunities for people to grow. It also means advocating for talented colleagues when they are not in the room and encouraging them to step forward when they are.

All of us can help create that kind of culture. We can share what we have learned, make introductions, provide honest guidance and create space for others to contribute. Sometimes a single conversation, opportunity or expression of confidence can change the direction of someone's career.

Attending the summit with Jamie and Kelly made the experience particularly meaningful. Each of us leads from a different vantage point, but we share a commitment to listening, learning and helping others grow. Experiencing the summit together reminded me that progress is strengthened by connection and that none of us advances entirely on our own.

Technology will continue to change how we live, work and deliver healthcare. If we want that technology to solve the right problems and serve people more effectively, we need people with a broad range of experiences, expertise and perspectives helping to shape it. When more people have the opportunity to contribute, influence decisions and lead, we do more than expand individual careers. We strengthen our organizations, improve innovation and create better outcomes for the customers and communities we serve.