Chengetai Nkiwane | Founder, Girl in MedTech | From Food Manufacturing to Medtech: Building Communities & Starting Boldly

Chengetai Nkiwane, founder of Girl in MedTech and a staff supplier quality engineer at a top 10 medtech company, discusses her journey from food manufacturing in Zimbabwe to medtech in Ireland and why she created the global community she wished had existed during her transition. Chengetai shares how transferable quality skills—risk management, QMS, and compliance—helped her move from consumer safety to patient safety, and what her day-to-day looks like supporting suppliers to ensure components meet the highest standards. The conversation covers leadership that makes people feel seen, “done is better than perfect,” authentic networking, and her mission to make room for more women to thrive in medtech.

 

Guest links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chengetai-nkiwane | https://girlinmedtech.com/ |  https://girlinmedtech.substack.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/girlinmedtech | 

Charity supported: Opportunity International

Interested in being a guest on the show or have feedback to share? Email us at theleadingdifference@velentium.com. 

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Host & Editor: Lindsey Dinneen
Producer: Velentium Medical

 

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Episode 091 - Chengetai Nkiwane

[00:00:00] Lindsey Dinneen: Hi, I'm Lindsey and I'm talking with MedTech industry leaders on how they change lives for a better world.

[00:00:09] Diane Bouis: The inventions and technologies are fascinating and so are the people who work with them.

[00:00:15] Frank Jaskulke: There was a period of time where I realized, fundamentally, my job was to go hang out with really smart people that are saving lives and then do work that would help them save more lives.

[00:00:28] Diane Bouis: I got into the business to save lives and it is incredibly motivating to work with people who are in that same business, saving or improving lives.

[00:00:38] Duane Mancini: What better industry than where I get to wake up every day and just save people's lives.

[00:00:42] Lindsey Dinneen: These are extraordinary people doing extraordinary work, and this is The Leading Difference.

/Hello, and welcome to another episode of the Leading Difference podcast. I'm your host, Lindsey, and today I'm delighted to welcome as my guest Chengetai Nkiwane. Chengetai is the founder of Girl in Medtech, a global community that exists to champion women in the medical technology industry, where girls and women in medtech find their people, their power, and their place. She is also a staff supplier quality engineer at a top 10 medtech company and a strong advocate for women in medtech and STEM. A National University of Science and Technology alumna with a first class honors in applied biology and biochemistry, she transitioned from food manufacturing into medtech after relocating from Zimbabwe to Ireland and built the community she wished had existed when she made that leap. She has 13 years of professional experience in quality.

[00:01:37] Lindsey Dinneen: All right. Well, welcome to the show. I am so glad to see you here today. Thank you so much for joining me.

[00:01:44] Chengetai Nkiwane: Thank you for having me, Lindsey.

[00:01:46] Lindsey Dinneen: Of course. I would love if you would start by sharing just a little bit about yourself, your background, and what led you to medtech.

[00:01:55] Chengetai Nkiwane: Yeah, ah, that's a, that's a good one. So I'm Chengetai Nkiwane. I'm working in the medtech industry in Ireland. So a bit of my background. So I growing up, I've always been someone who was excelling. So I'd always be like the straight A student, and everyone expected that I'd be a doctor.

So like during, when we had the prize-giving ceremonies typically in high school when you were sitting b- like we'd have certain desk, like a, like a full bench that's assigned to, to like the grade. And then say everyone would then be given a prize based on like a subject, best in maths, best in biology, best in everything else.

And year after year, I'd always be the only one sitting on the desk. So to say straight A student, I'd be the only one there. So because of that, I've always excelled, but I didn't get a lot of career guidance or mentorship growing up, so I wasn't very-- I didn't know exactly what it is that I wanted to go into. And then I moved into the food industry after I graduated with my degree in applied biology and biochemistry. This was back in Zimbabwe. Moved into the food industry, went through, I was an intern initially in quality, then moved up into microbiology and then from there, food safety and quality manager.

So all that was in the food industry. Then come 2019, moved to Ireland, international move during COVID. That is a story on its own as well there. And then transitioned into medtech, where I started in as a senior quality engineer and then currently I'm a staff supply quality engineer in medtech as well. So that's just a bit of my background, where I've come from and where I am now. Yeah.

[00:03:44] Lindsey Dinneen: Amazing. Thank you so much. So I have so many questions for you. I'm really excited to have this conversation, and lots of different things come to mind right away. But one of the things that I would love if you would share about is, you have created this organization called Girl in MedTech, and I would love to hear sort of the origin story behind it. What made you think that this was something that was really needed in the marketplace? I'm a big proponent from the start. I'm really excited about the work you're doing. And of course, I think, of course, we need this in the world. But, you know, I'd love to hear about the experiences that led you to go, "This is really needed, and I, I can do this."

[00:04:27] Chengetai Nkiwane: Okay. Yeah, no, thanks for that, Lindsey. So with Girl in Medtech, w- when I transitioned into the medtech space, I didn't really find like, anyone that reflected my experience or even just the community that I needed. So from that, I felt I needed to start and build that community, what I wished had existed when I transitioned.

So from there actually, I actually started Girl in Medtech as a new mom, so I started it. I recently had a baby, so I think it just gave me time to then sit with it and realize, okay, "If I'm going to do this, I'm just going to do it." And I, I always go by the motto, "Done is better than perfect." So I don't want to keep procrastinating and saying, "Okay, I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it," but then I just was like, "You know what? It's something that I wished had existed."

And after s- talking about it and, like, putting it out there in the world, so many people came back to be like, "You know what? This is me. I so need this, that community in the space." You know, typically women were so underrepresented in these, in the medtech space, in even STEM fields as well, so just having that community of women who comes together with mentorship, being there for each other, and also just even uplifting each other and encouraging each other as we go.

So that was a big thing for me to what led me to start the Girl in Medtech. And, like, our mission is where girls and women in medtech find their people, their power, their place. So I think that truly exemplifies what exactly Girl in Medtech is. And yeah, it's, the response to it as well has been very has been phenomenal and amazing as well. Yeah.

[00:06:06] Lindsey Dinneen: Excellent. Well, thank you so much for sharing that. And I'd love to learn what the, what the organization does right now. So I know that you have, for instance, mentorship opportunities open both for those who would, you know, be able to share their time as a mentor, and then also the folks that would like to have to be mentored. And so I was wondering, can you share a little bit about that and kind of what you envision that to look like? And then also, what are some of your things that you're excited about as you continue with this organization?

[00:06:38] Chengetai Nkiwane: Okay. So with Girl in Medtech, currently we have a mentorship program, so where we're matching mentees with mentors. So it is basically for every woman in medtech, say people wanting to break in, people already in it, people who want to move to the next level within the organization. So it's within their different organizations. So it's for every woman who then wants to thrive in the industry.

And also the good part about it, you have like-minded individuals, you have people that you can... i'm a big proponent of, you know, having that exposure to different people that they call it, I think, exposure therapy. The more you have that closeness or relatedness to people who are already in the industry doing the work, you then actually know you can do it.

So for example, if someone sees me and they're like, "Oh, you know what? If she can do it, I can actually do it." So we have the mentorship space, and then we're also having the s- space for voices where, say, seasoned women in the industry come with their stories. Say, people who have pivoted in the industry, who have transitioned, say, like myself or people that, that just have unique stories to tell, we'd be good at showcasing that.

And then we also have our newsletter as well, where we share medtech insights, events. And then I think f- in the future, we'd be looking to have like in-person events virtual events as well, just to have that community, especially in the medtech space, and just to have everyone represented and feel like they have a place where they belong as well. Yeah.

[00:08:10] Lindsey Dinneen: Wonderful. That is very exciting. I'm so glad to see what you're building, and you know, as you mentioned, of course it's resonating with people because we do need that. And so I'm really thankful for you for stepping out and doing it. And I, I wonder so, so these, this mentorship opportunity, is this completely something where people can just apply and it's sort of a free exchange? Or how are you envisioning that to work?

[00:08:35] Chengetai Nkiwane: So initi-- now at the beginning we have like our first cohort, we have the founding mentors and then the founding mentees. So as it stands, it's free. So anyone can sign up and then we'll have matching with the different mentors in the space depending on what exactly it is that the mentee is looking for. Then once we have that matching, we'll have the first cohort, and then I think later as the as the organization grows and develops, we'll then move to a membership and then also look to then host events globally.

The, the nice part about Giving Medtech, we have a very big global footprint. So we're in 20 plus countries at the moment, and we have an increased number of members that are joining as well from all parts of the world. So, because of how global it is it'll, it's, it's we're definitely going to then have different events in the different yeah, in the different parts of the world as well. So yes, yeah, we're envisioning it to grow bigger and like ultimately just empower all the women, yeah, women in the medtech space as well. Yeah.

[00:09:36] Lindsey Dinneen: Amazing. I love it. Okay, so you mentioned a couple of times the transition from going from the food industry to medtech. I know that that is-- can feel like a really steep learning curve, but I also know that you have found so many of the skills that you learned through the food industry and your experience there have actually translated really well to medtech. And I think one of the hesitations that some people might have is feeling like either that learning curve would be too steep or they don't actually have the transferable skills. But you're one of those people, living proof that not only is it possible, but sometimes it's a huge advantage. I would love if you would share just a little bit about your experience and how you feel that skills can translate that way.

[00:10:22] Chengetai Nkiwane: Oh, yes. Perfect. So for me, definitely I saw how that worked in my career. The fact that-- so when I, when we moved to Ireland, when I was looking at the quality roles, quality engineering kept coming up even though I was in food industry. Then I was like, "Okay, this looks to be interesting." Then when I was now looking at the job description, I was like, "Okay, risk management, tick; quality management systems, tick; you know, compliance regulations." And then I just realized, "Okay, in as much as it's a different industry, but, like, the core principles are still the same. It's just that there's that move from moving from consumer safety to patient safety."

And then after that, then looking more into the industry, seeing how impactful it is. You know, it's one of those industries where you feel like you wake up with a feel-good feeling because you're doing work that makes a difference, and you feel like, you know, you are helping people, people that would have otherwise wouldn't have had a second chance, getting second chances through the work that we do.

So because of that, and yeah, it's so purposeful, I felt, "Okay, you know what? I have the transferable skills," and I went for it, applied, and then I actually got the role and I've been in medtech since, and it's, yeah, it's, it's like I feel like this, my story has come full circle because I feel like it's like a perfect fit of a glove when it comes to my career.

[00:11:46] Lindsey Dinneen: Y-yeah. So okay, that is, that is perfect. Thank you for sharing that. And so I'm, I'm curious, you know, as you have had various opportunities to grow your own leadership skills, what are some of the things that have stood out to you in terms of good leadership examples? And then what are some pieces of advice perhaps for somebody who is interested in getting into medtech and potentially hoping to grow their career into leadership? So, so kind of on both sides, what are, what are some of traits of really good leaders that you've seen, and then how do you feel that, what is some advice exactly for those who would like to get into the industry?

[00:12:28] Chengetai Nkiwane: Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah, the leadership point is it holds a special place in my heart. So yeah, definitely I could talk about leadership all day. So for me with leadership, I feel it's, it's not about having all the answers. It's people that then come in and show the others, like to show people what exactly it is that they can do and what they can do in the industry.

So for example, with the good leaders that I've seen are people that make people feel seen. People that make people feel less alone, feel supported, and know that there is, there's space for them. And I feel for, in my own experience, the leaders that have, like, played a major role in my career and in my transition and in just my whole career journey are people that made me seen. I felt supported. They mentored me. They gave me the support, held my hand, almost like held the door open for me to walk through it, which is ideally what you want in a leader.

Then looking at advice that I'd give to someone who'd be wanting to get into medtech or eyeing a leadership role, you should always start before the title. So look to, you know, those stretch opportunities in your organization. Volunteer. Look for a mentor. It doesn't necessarily have to be like a formal mentorship, but it could even be just you shadowing that person, finding out exactly what it is that they do in work, just trying to be close to them or just spending the day and trying to find out exactly what it is that they do.

Also even just looking at the relationships as well. I know in, in medtech, people are big proponents of the fact that your network is your net worth, and that's particularly true in this industry. You know, build those relationships before you need them. Get to talk to people, find out exactly what it is that that they do, have that relationship, and then from there I feel like when you have that in place, that makes it easier for you, say, with getting into a leadership role. Yeah.

[00:14:33] Lindsey Dinneen: Absolutely. That's great advice. And I also appreciate your insights into leadership. There are so many things that you have said, both in this conversation today, but also we've had the opportunity to meet before this as well, and there's so much synergy all the time, and I was, I was excited to hear your, your enthusiasm for leadership in particular. But, you know, one thing that you said, and I, I'd love to come back to this 'cause this is also one of my favorite quotes, is, "Done is better than perfect." And as somebody who would always err towards perfection and had to learn how not to be like that...

[00:15:09] Chengetai Nkiwane: Yeah.

[00:15:10] Lindsey Dinneen: I, I would love to hear some of your, you know, why did you choose to adopt this as sort of a, a motto to go by, and then how do you do that in action in a way that still provides excellence?

[00:15:23] Chengetai Nkiwane: Okay. Yep. That's one thing as well that I'm very passionate about. And like to your point, the done is better than perfect. It's something that I struggled with quite a lot, wanting to have everything perfect. But I realized behind that perfectionism, I was actually procrastinating or using it as an excuse to not do certain things. So I think just even in terms with like how I started Girl in Medtech, I had the idea for so long, but I kept pushing it back to be like, "Okay, no, I need... The website has to be perfect. The newsletter has to be perfect. I have to have X, Y, Z lined up and everything else."

But then I think with life or just in general, you j- I then just decided, "You know what? I'm just gonna do it," and I hit publish. I was like, "Okay, we're going in for it." And then you c- on the excellence part, I feel it, it initially isn't excellent or perfect to begin with, but the more, like, when it's out there in the world, you can iterate, you can come back and fix, you can edit, and you can work on it. But like, if there's nothing to work on from the start because there's nothing there, then there's nothing. Yeah.

[00:16:34] Lindsey Dinneen: Exactly. Exactly. Okay. Yes. Could not agree more. I think the way that you outlined that is absolutely perfect. I-- Ha, speaking of perfection. Oh, gosh.

[00:16:44] Chengetai Nkiwane: Yeah.

[00:16:45] Lindsey Dinneen: So I think that you're absolutely right, and you have to start somewhere. I feel that there's often this hesitation to maybe even put yourself out there, and this is something that I'd love your input on, too, is, one of the things that you talked about was your network is your net worth, and part of that, too, is giving value and, and actually showing up. And I think one of the things that sometimes people struggle with, not just in this industry but in general, is "How do I show up, say, on social media like LinkedIn in a way that's actually adding value?" And I'd, I'd love to hear your thoughts on that in terms of building your network, making your connections, but also giving back in some way. So I'm curious how, how you handled that.

[00:17:31] Chengetai Nkiwane: That's a great question, Lindsey. So for me with how I've handled just, I guess, that showing up I think I commented on something you posted recently about how substance over volume. So I know, like, in this world now where we have a lot of, like, I think AI-generated content and lots of information coming at us left, right and center, it's very difficult to show up authentically as yourself.

I think for me with the connections and even just on social media, it's about, like, telling your story and then, a, a friend of mine always says "You know, when you-- like, the people that are for you will find you." So in this case that I was feeling like, "Okay, who would want to hear my story or who would resonate with it?" But the more you, I put it out, then I realized, "Okay, there are people that relate or see themselves in this. And then from there I think that it grows in, in that way."

And then in terms of the network as well, you know, there are people that you look up to on social media, maybe people in medtech, people who are, like, who are doing like, big, big, big stuff in the medtech space. It's always good then to say if someone is, like, someone you look up to, you can always then reach out and then talk to them and then just build the relationship.

I know, like, with one of, I've had that personally with one of the guests that was on your podcast before, so Marissa Fayer. So she's ah, yeah, she's been on the podcast, 25 years of medtech experience; absolutely legend, a legend in the industry. So as, She has the, a book that she wrote her new book "Undervalued to Unavoidable: Women's Health as Infrastructure." So I got the book, read it, gave a review, talked to her about it, tagged her, then just had that connection through that.

So sometimes it's not per se having-- like, I know some people would want to do, like, the cold DM and everything else, but I think as you try to just show up authentically and as true to who you are, then the connections will come. So yeah, I'd say don't be afraid to put yourself out there. The right people that relate to your story and that will resonate with it will find you. Yeah, definitely.

[00:19:46] Lindsey Dinneen: Excellent. Wonderful. So in your current role, I would love to learn about sort of what is a day in the life of you as this role like? I'm just kind of curious what are some of the things that you get to do on a daily basis that you particularly love.

[00:20:01] Chengetai Nkiwane: Okay. Yes. So in, in my day-to-day, day in the life there's a lot of, I'm very outward-focused, so I work with a lot of suppliers-- so we do like we have a lot of different initiatives with the suppliers. So your improvement projects, audits. So essentially we are working, like we're right in the middle between the product and the patient, and we're trying to make sure that all the components that go into the life-saving medical devices, meet the highest quality standards. So that involves a lot of cross-collaboration across different, yeah, different sectors and even departments, and also just working with a lot of suppliers and collaborating with, yeah, collaborating with lots of suppliers and other teams across.

But very interesting because it's never the same thing, like it's never the same thing twice. So there's always something new, something different, and you're always learning and growing as well. And yeah, I think because I have learner in my top five Clifton StrengthsFinders, I always find that just how unique and different the different perspectives and issues that we come across, how different they are. I'm always motivated because I'm learning something new every day. No day is the same in medtech, yeah, as I've come to realize. Yeah.

[00:21:24] Lindsey Dinneen: Which is one of the reasons I love it. I, I think we have a lot of, like I mentioned, similarities in, in a few different ways, and one of them is just loving this industry and being so passionate about getting to work in a space that truly impacts patient lives, and it's really exciting to see. And even whatever role you're playing, it, it all matters and it's all important, and I think it's a, it's a beautiful thing to be a part of.

[00:21:49] Chengetai Nkiwane: Yes definitely. I'd, yeah, definitely second that. Yeah, it's a beautiful thing to be a part of. Yeah.

[00:21:54] Lindsey Dinneen: So as you move toward the future of both Girl in MedTech and also your career, what are some trends and things that you are seeing that you're excited about maybe within the industry itself but also just with the work that you want to do and are, are excited about contributing to?

[00:22:14] Chengetai Nkiwane: Okay. Yeah, that's a great question, Lindsey. So trends that are upcoming that I'm excited about. I feel there's more representation of women within the space. So we're seeing a lot of women-led organizations. I know we've got wonderful organizations as well, MedtechWOMEN, we've got STRIPES. We've got so many organizations that are coming together to build communities around women in medtech. Yeah, including Girl in Medtech as well. So just people realizing the need and then coming up and showing that, you know, we're better together as women, and when we come together, we can create something truly beautiful.

And then looking towards the future, I think just having more women represented in the rooms that we traditionally wouldn't be in. So in those rooms where decisions are being made, where we are... yeah, we are showing up, putting in the work, and then also just having that visibility and bringing our best selves to work every day. So yeah. I'm excited about that as well. Yeah.

[00:23:18] Lindsey Dinneen: Yes. Excellent. Love that. Okay. So you are, you are based in Ireland, so I'm gonna ask a specific question about Ireland, if that's okay. So I, I know that Ireland is definitely known as a medtech hub, especially within Europe, and I'm curious about your experience working within the country and I'd love to hear a little bit about ecosystem within Ireland and maybe ways that other people can, should get involved in it.

[00:23:46] Chengetai Nkiwane: Oh, okay. Yeah, no, that's a-- Yeah, that's a great question. Ireland is, is lovely. Like it's the... Yeah, I know a lot of people complain about the weather. I think I've moved to that side as well of complaining because of the rain all the time, but "bad the weather." I know a lot of Irish people like to say " bad the weather," like except. So yeah, I'm learning some some Irish lingo in there, yeah.

So for me, the Irish medtech system is thriving and it's -- we have, I think nine out of the 10, top 10, the world's top 10 medtech companies have operations in Ireland, so it's a very -- It's like a hub for medtech in the industry. And like all the people that I've come across in the industry, particularly in Ireland, so friendly, so welcoming. People are always willing to help and, you know, give their perspective, show you direction, and just give like advice on what exactly, like if you have any questions around it. And generally there's a lot of like interconnectedness as well.

I know we have the lots of events as well, like we have the Medical Technology Ireland. There's a lot of events and conferences and just a lot of a synergy within the medtech ecosystem. So it's very vibrant and like thousands of people are employed in the industry. And the, like it doesn't per se matter which company you're working at, but I think the whole ecosystem just comes together when it comes to events, and industry, yeah, industry-related topics and everything else. So definitely it's a, yeah, thriving and it's a, yeah. I'll, I'll say it the Irish way. "It's a great craic," yeah.

[00:25:28] Lindsey Dinneen: Excellent. Excellent. I love that you're picking up on some of that. Oh, fantastic. All right. Well, this has been a fantastic conversation so far, but I would also love to pivot. Imagine that you were able to offer a masterclass on any topic that you want, could be within your industry, doesn't have to be, and you get paid a million dollars to do it. What would you choose to teach?

[00:25:52] Chengetai Nkiwane: Huh. Okay. A million bucks is on the line here. Okay. Okay. For me, I think the masterclass, I think nothing beats lived experience in my case. So I think I would call my masterclass, "I Was the Only One in the Room and This Is What I Did About It."

[00:26:15] Lindsey Dinneen: Ooh!

[00:26:15] Chengetai Nkiwane: So I think it, it will be like an amalgamation of everything that I've gone through. And then just to show people, okay, if you have this, like all the lessons that I've learnt from my career transition, moving from medtech into moving from food, food manufacturing into medtech, just the community building that's happening with Girl in Medtech, the quality and compliance, the leadership as a Black African woman navigating the Irish medtech ecosystem. All that coming together and just showing to say even inasmuch as you could be the only one in the room, but this is what you can do. This is how you can-- I guess maybe change the narrative or use it for the greater good.

And in this case, I feel like I actually already am doing that through Girl in Medtech. So, I think I'd then use that million bucks maybe to get the word out more or to have more women see it, more women come in and, you know, just continue to find their place and find yeah, their people, their power and their place. So in essence, I feel like I'm already somewhat teaching it, but yeah, the million dollars would be, would be great to amplify the, the message, you know, overall. Yeah.

[00:27:31] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. There you go. I love that. And I love the fact that, as you said, you're already, you're already doing this. This is something that you're passionate about, you care a lot about, and so instead of waiting for the right time or the perfect time or whatever that looks like, which doesn't exist by the...

[00:27:46] Chengetai Nkiwane: It doesn't exist. Yeah, it doesn't.

[00:27:49] Lindsey Dinneen: Just started now with what you have, and I love that. All right. And so how do you wish to be remembered after you leave this world?

[00:27:57] Chengetai Nkiwane: Ooh. That is a, yeah, that's a loaded question, Lindsey.

[00:28:03] Lindsey Dinneen: I know.

[00:28:04] Chengetai Nkiwane: Yeah. Okay. How do I want to be remembered when I leave this world? I want to be remembered as the woman who made room and space for other women to see themselves in this industry and thrive. I want, say a girl in Zimbabwe who can look at, at the industry and be like, "You know what? I can actually see myself in this industry and grow in it." I want to be remembered in the mentor who feels that they have to contribute and mentor someone and advise and support someone in their medtech journey because it's something that they've lived and that they've experienced.

And I also want to be remembered, say, in the young woman who then decides, "Okay, you know what? Because I've seen someone who looks like me in this, in this position, in this industry, I can do it, too." And to give people, yeah, particularly women to be, you know what? It's something that's like, as women, we always feel like maybe we're overlooked or we are, we aren't the best to be in certain positions. But not to look at that as a limitation, but rather to look at it as your superpower and know that you can achieve great things. Yeah, that's... Yeah, I think that's, yeah, that's how I'd like to be remembered.

[00:29:24] Lindsey Dinneen: That's a beautiful legacy, and I love that you're already living it, clearly, and that's...

[00:29:28] Chengetai Nkiwane: No, thank you, Lindsey.

[00:29:31] Lindsey Dinneen: ...Something that you're doing and is just gonna continue because, you know, your heart for people being seen and heard and valued is beautiful, and the fact that you are actively doing things to help people feel that way is a huge gift to the world. So thank you for already living your legacy.

[00:29:51] Chengetai Nkiwane: Oh, thank you very much. I appreciate that. Yeah.

[00:29:54] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. And then, okay, final question: What is one thing that makes you smile every time you see or think about it?

[00:30:04] Chengetai Nkiwane: Ah, okay. For me, I think the one thing that makes me smile when I see it or think about it is, you heard it here first, Girl in Medtech. Why? Because I feel like it's the most authentically me thing that I've ever built in my life. Why do I say that? Because with Girl in Medtech, it's, it's a space where we're saying we want girls and women to find their people, their power, and their place, and it's the one place where every part of me exists.

The little girl who was on the bench on her own because she won all the prizes and was excelling; the supplier quality engineer; the founder, the Zimbabwean woman who is in Ireland; the new mom; the community builder; all of those people belong at the same time. So for me, that's one thing that I-- that really makes me smile when I see, when I think about it or when I see even, say, the logos or the people resonating with the message.

When I see, you know, a DM from someone to be like, "Oh my goodness, I so wish this existed. Like, I can't believe I c- I've come across this. This is exactly what I wanted. Like, this is something that I've been looking for, and it's so great to actually find it." So my transition has purpose, and the purpose of that is that it has actually formed the founding story of a global community, and this has connected me with women who have been in the position that I've been in.

You know, when you're now trying to build almost credibility from scratch in a new industry-- I know one of your previous previous people on the podcast talked about how the acronyms in medtech, trying to navigate all that and everything else. So yeah, that's one thing that genuinely makes me smile whenever I think about it. Yeah, it might sound like cliche, but it's the honest truth. Girl in Medtech makes me smile whenever I see it or think about it, yeah.

[00:32:22] Lindsey Dinneen: I love that so much. I love that for you, but I love that for the world because it's taking, like you said, sort of the whole essence of who you are and putting it into something that, that makes you smile. I mean, how amazing is that? I love it so much.

[00:32:38] Chengetai Nkiwane: Yeah. No, thank you, Lindsey. Yeah.

[00:32:40] Lindsey Dinneen: Awesome. Well, oh my goodness, this has been an amazing conversation. I am so thankful for all the work you're doing in medtech and beyond. Thank you for being brave and bold and putting yourself out into the world. Thank you for giving back. Thank you for also building an organization that is-- I mean, this is just the start. I can't wait to see how many lives are impacted by it, so.

[00:33:04] Chengetai Nkiwane: Thank you so much. Yeah.

[00:33:05] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, really grateful for you, really grateful for everything you bring to the industry. We are honored to be making a donation on your behalf as a thank you for your time today to Opportunity International, which designs, delivers, and skills innovative financial solutions that help families living in extreme poverty build sustainable livelihoods and access quality education for their children. So, we appreciate you picking that organization to support and we just wish you the most continued success as you work to change lives for a better world.

[00:33:37] Chengetai Nkiwane: Thank you so much, Lindsey, and thank you for having me. It's been an absolute pleasure and yeah I can't wait to see what the future holds. And yeah, thank you so much for just this opportunity and yeah, thank you for everything. Yeah.

[00:33:52] Lindsey Dinneen: Of course. Of course. And thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in, and go check out Girl in MedTech for sure.

[00:34:01] Dan Purvis: The Leading Difference is brought to you by Velentium Medical. Velentium Medical is a full service CDMO, serving medtech clients worldwide to securely design, manufacture, and test class two and class three medical devices. Velentium Medical's four units include research and development-- pairing electronic and mechanical design, embedded firmware, mobile app development, and cloud systems with the human factor studies and systems engineering necessary to streamline medical device regulatory approval; contract manufacturing-- building medical products at the prototype, clinical, and commercial levels in the US, as well as in low cost regions in 1345 certified and FDA registered Class VII clean rooms; cybersecurity-- generating the 12 cybersecurity design artifacts required for FDA submission; and automated test systems, assuring that every device produced is exactly the same as the device that was approved. Visit VelentiumMedical.com to explore how we can work together to change lives for a better world.