The $28M Mistake: What 30 Years in MedTech Actually Teaches You | Steve Duddy

The $28M Mistake: What 30 Years in MedTech Actually Teaches You | Steve Duddy

Steve Duddy went from J&J sales floors to CEO of multiple MedTech companies. He shares the leadership code that took 30 years to write. In this insightful interview, Steve Duddy shares his extensive experience in the med device industry, leadership, startup growth, and strategic decision-making. Discover practical advice on team building, navigating challenges, and fostering innovation in a competitive landscape. Guest: Steve Duddy — Founder & CEO, Duddy Executive Services | Former President & CEO, Corinth MedTech | Former CEO, NuvoLase | Director of Global Marketing, Cutera | Johnson & Johnson Ethicon | 3M Connect with Steve:🔗 LinkedIn [linkedin.com/in/steveduddy]🌐 Website [DuddyExecutiveServices.com] About The Legacy Code:Every leader carries a code — lessons learned the hard way, decisions they wish someone had warned them about, moves that changed everything. The Legacy Code is where those conversations happen. Hosted by Teresa Ge, founder of Succedia Ventures and the Legacy Lounge community in San Francisco. Follow the podcast: [Spotify link [https://open.spotify.com/show/0rGOIrSWtaEgwQoRoIPu0f?si=QCrZ9wDDT9KBcRXleapIbQ]] | [Apple Podcasts link [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-legacy-code-with-teresa/id1832328773]]Join the Legacy Lounge [https://luma.com/legacylounge]Connect with Teresa Ge [linkedin.com/in/teresage] Chapters 00:00 Choosing a Career Path in the Medical Industry 00:53 Lessons from COVID-19 and Industry Challenges 02:29 The Crew Team Analogy for Leadership 05:32 Assessing Team Strengths and Weaknesses 05:43 Hiring for Startup Environments 08:43 Setting Goals and Exit Strategies 11:03 Revenue Goals and Funding Strategies 12:26 Avoiding Common Leadership Pitfalls 15:39 Growing Companies in the AI Era 23:44 The Importance of Fast Moves in Business 25:31 Mentorship and Sharing Experience 30:05 Building Community and Knowledge Sharing What does it actually take to build companies that last in the medical device world? Steve Duddy has been on every side of that question. He started selling pharmaceuticals in New York City, cut his teeth at Johnson & Johnson's Ethicon division and 3M, and went on to serve as President and CEO of multiple MedTech startups — managing P&Ls exceeding $250M, guiding companies through FDA clearance, global commercialization, M&A, and capital raises. Most recently he led Corinth MedTech in commercializing the Veloxion System — the world's first single-use resectoscope — targeting a $2 billion global market. Today, through Duddy Executive Services, Steve advises the next generation of MedTech and HealthTech founders and C-suite executives who are scaling fast and need someone who has genuinely been in the room. In this episode of The Legacy Code, Steve shares the unfiltered leadership lessons that 30 years of wins and near-misses have taught him — including the story of a $28M IP lawsuit that a single decision could have prevented, why the hire that looks perfect on paper will freeze when things get hard, and the one mindset shift that separates leaders who build lasting companies from those who plateau. This is the conversation happening in the rooms where the real decisions get made. 🎙️ The Legacy Code is hosted by Teresa Ge — founder, investor, and builder of the Legacy Lounge community in San Francisco. Every episode brings in operators, founders, and executives who share the code they carry — so you don't have to figure it out alone.

Amy Silvis, USC Trojan & Commercial Real Estate Investor: Why Most Retention Systems Are Built Wrong | The 4-Stage Framework That Predicts Tenant Renewal | From Biotech to Real Estate to Healthcare

In this episode of The Legacy Code, Teresa Ge sits down with Amy Silvis to unpack a lesson that applies far beyond real estate: the best businesses do not just react to churn, they remove friction before people ever consider leaving. Amy shares her path from biotech into commercial real estate, the health challenge that reshaped how she thinks about ambition, and the operating principles she uses to build for the long term. Together, Amy and Teresa explore what retention really means, how great operators manage risk before it becomes visible, and why mentorship, trust, and the right team matter more as your responsibilities grow. This conversation also goes deeper than business. Amy opens up about protecting mental and physical health while building, making hard pivots with conviction, and creating a life and career that compound over decades. If you are building a company, managing people, investing in long-term assets, or simply trying to stay healthy while pursuing something ambitious, this episode will give you a sharper framework for how to grow without losing yourself in the process. This episode is for:- Operators thinking about retention (healthcare, SaaS, real estate, services)- Founders building for decades, not just exits- Anyone who thinks retention is about preventing exits instead of removing friction In this episode, we cover: * Amy’s personal health journey and how it changed her leadership * The transition from biotech to commercial real estate * Risk mitigation strategies for founders and operators * Why mentorship changes the speed and quality of decision-making * How to build a strong team across different communication styles * The real connection between health, resilience, and long-term performance Hosted by Teresa Ge, Founder of Solunar Wellness (AI health infrastructure) and creator of The Legacy Lounge, an exclusive community for founders building generational companies. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Amy's Journey 04:09 Overcoming Health Challenges and Career Shifts 08:17 Transitioning from Biotech to Real Estate 10:20 The Importance of Mentorship 14:53 Building a Strong Team and Managing Risks 17:07 Communication Styles Across Industries 17:44 Handling Challenges with Empathy 21:48 Prioritizing Health and Well-being 23:27 Balancing Work and Mental Health 26:40 Advice for Young Entrepreneurs

5 Lessons from Navigating the Biotech Landscape with Brendan Tian

In this conversation, Teresa Ge interviews Brendan Tian, Chief Commercial Officer at Pacera Biosciences, discussing the intricacies of commercializing medical breakthroughs and the leadership required in the biotech industry. Brendan shares insights from his extensive career, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer needs, navigating challenges in scaling businesses, and the role of AI in enhancing pharmaceutical processes. He also reflects on the traits that future business leaders should cultivate and the significance of maintaining personal well-being amidst professional demands. Takeaways Commercializing medical breakthroughs requires specific leadership skills. Understanding unmet needs is crucial for success in any industry. The right talent and mission-driven people are essential for overcoming challenges. AI is transforming the pharmaceutical industry by improving efficiency. Balancing personal well-being with professional responsibilities is vital for success. Effective communication and alignment of missions can drive business growth. Navigating regulatory challenges is a critical aspect of the pharmaceutical industry. Leaders should encourage creativity and diverse skills within their teams. Passion for one's work leads to greater dedication and success. Taking time to recharge is essential for maintaining energy and focus. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Brendan Tian and His Career Journey 01:37 Leadership Lessons from Early Career Experiences 03:11 Understanding Customer Needs and Value Propositions 06:16 Navigating Challenges in Business Growth 09:15 The Importance of Mission Alignment in Business 11:09 Prioritizing Patient Safety in Pharmaceuticals 13:22 Harnessing AI in the Pharmaceutical Industry 15:32 The Advantages of Working in a Smaller Company 16:25 Advice for Future Business Leaders 20:01 The Role of Fitness and Well-being in Leadership 22:07 Embracing Multifaceted Talents in Leadership

Why Most Founders Struggle to Close Deals — And What Actually Works | Jackie Wu

Most founders don’t lose deals because they’re bad at sales. They lose deals because they misunderstand trust, timing, and their own worth. In this episode of The Legacy Code, I’m joined by Jackie Wu — an award-winning business growth strategist, global speaker, and Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce Ambassador. We talk candidly about what actually drives revenue when the pressure is real: * Why chasing customers kills deal flow * How leadership decisions quietly sabotage sales * The negotiation mistake even smart founders keep making * Why personal wellbeing is not “soft” — but a revenue multiplier * And how the right conversation can change everything Jackie has helped founders close high-value deals in minutes, not months — including six-figure outcomes with first-time prospects — and advises leaders preparing for massive economic moments like the 2026 Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup. a systems conversation for founders, executives, and investors who want sustainable revenue — without burnout or broken trust. 00:00 – Why most founders misunderstand revenue 01:12 – Leadership decisions that quietly kill deals 05:03 – Custom sales vs. chasing the wrong customers 07:55 – Trust as the real accelerator 11:55 – Founder wellbeing and decision quality 14:39 – Negotiation, self-worth, and knowing when to walk away 16:37 – Community, chambers, and long-term leverage

A Deep Dive into Root Cause Fertility with Dr. Elisa Yao, M.D.

Up to 30% of women are told they have “unexplained infertility.” But is it really unexplained—or just under-investigated? In this episode, Dr. Elisa Yao, a wholistic fertility phsician, and Teresa Ge, founder of Solunar Wellness, unpack the hidden causes of infertility, the role of hormones like progesterone, the power of functional medicine, and why cycle tracking is the true EKG of women’s reproductive health. A must-listen for anyone seeking clarity, hope, and a root-cause roadmap to natural fertility. 00:00 – Introduction: Why so many “normal” labs aren’t telling the full story 01:30 – The truth about “unexplained infertility” and what’s often missing in standard workups 03:00 – What most fertility labs overlook and how comprehensive testing changes outcomes 05:30 – The role of progesterone: PMS, mood, sleep, and early pregnancy loss 07:45 – How stress steals progesterone—and what that means for conception 10:40 – Building trust with your body: listening to early wellness signals 12:00 – The “Holistic Fertility” approach: combining functional and restorative reproductive medicine 16:30 – Fatigue, bloating, and hidden imbalances: how gut health affects fertility 20:00 – Food as medicine: Dr. Yao’s “3 No’s and 3 Yes’s” fertility diet 27:00 – The truth about Diet Coke, sugar, and sperm quality 30:00 – Real patient stories: restoring DHEA and natural conception success 33:00 – The mind-body connection: managing stress, grief, and self-doubt during infertility 36:00 – The best fertility tracking apps and why most are inaccurate 42:00 – Period clues: what shorter, lighter cycles and color changes reveal 47:00 – Improving egg and sperm quality—even after 40 50:00 – Why IVF isn’t the only path—and the science behind holistic fertility 52:00 – For career-driven women: preserving fertility and being proactive 55:00 – Getting started with holistic care and cycle tracking 56:40 – Closing reflections: empowerment, science, and hope This episode is brought to you by Solunar Wellness, an AI-powered platform blending traditional Chinese medicine and modern science to decode your body’s rhythm. Whether you’re a woman optimizing fertility or a clinic seeking better wellness outcomes, we personalize solutions that work. Explore more at https://solunarwellness.com/