Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the secret weapon every leader needs to win — in business and in life.

In this episode of Leadr. Podcast, Steph Pliha sits down with bestselling author and emotional intelligence pioneer Dr. Travis Bradberry to explore how mastering emotional triggers, self-awareness, and relationship management transforms leadership at every level.

Dr. Bradberry shares powerful insights from his new book The New Emotional Intelligence and practical strategies to strengthen your EQ skills.

📚 Pre-Order The New Emotional Intelligence: https://amzn.to/3GFrJUS

🎯 Takeaways:

• How to strengthen emotional intelligence in everyday life

• Why EQ is the difference-maker for leadership success

• New updates from The New Emotional Intelligence

• Tips for recognizing and managing emotional triggers

  
  

  Ways to Connect:

  💡 Connect with Stephanie Pliha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniepliha

  💡 Connect with Dr. Travis Bradberry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travisbradberry/
  

  
  

  🔔 Subscribe for more leadership insights: https://tribeagency.org/leadr-podcast

  
  

  🔔 Join the waitlist for Make Your Brand a Verb Masterclass: https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/brandmasterclass

Dr. Shirin Towfigh breaks down gender-specific hernia mesh designs that are transforming patient care—and why every surgeon needs business savvy.

In Episode 20 of the Leadr. Podcast, Dr. Shirin Towfigh—leading hernia surgeon and medical-device innovator—shares her journey from the OR to the boardroom.

You’ll learn how gender-based mesh designs are improving outcomes, why “if you don’t have revenue, it’s a hobby,” and the strategic marketing steps needed to commercialize a device.

Whether you’re a surgeon eyeing entrepreneurship or a MedTech marketer, this episode delivers actionable insights on:

• Clinical evidence & patient-first mesh design

• Surgeon-engineer collaboration

• Patent strategy & medical-device commercialization

• Building revenue-driven practices

  
  

Timestamps / Chapters:
00:00 Intro & Guest Bio
02:59 The Business of Medicine
05:51 Journey in Surgery & Innovation
09:06 Surgeon–Engineer Collaboration
11:59 Gender-Based Mesh Designs
14:58 Commercialization & Marketing
17:49 Future of Hernia Mesh Products
21:02 Navigating the MedTech Industry
24:01 Final Thoughts & Advice
30:58 Understanding Mesh in Surgery
36:04 Evolution of Hernia Repair
39:01 Future of Hernia Surgery
47:17 Mentorship & Leadership Insights

Connect & Learn More:
– Stephanie Pliha (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniepliha
– Dr. Shirin Towfigh (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirintowfigh
– Full podcast page & show archive: https://tribeagency.org/leadr-podcast
– Work with us: https://tribeagency.org/contact

Keywords of episode: Dr. Shirin Towfigh, hernia treatment, hernia mesh, medical device innovation, surgeon entrepreneur, commercialization, marketing strategies, clinical evidence, patient care, mentorship, leadership

May 2, 2025 at 9 AM PT

Watch episode 19 with host Steph Pliha on Leadr. Podcast as she discusses the essential leadership qualities needed to win in MedTech with Tim Matthews, a distinguished leader and consultant from Spencer Stuart. Uncover the nuances of effective leadership that are shaping the future of MedTech.

In This Episode:

♦️Leadership Evolution: Tim’s journey from Intuitive Surgical leadership to his influential role at Spencer Stuart.

♦️Emotional Intelligence: How emotional intelligence underpins successful team dynamics and leadership.

♦️Executive Strategies: Insights into Spencer Stuart’s unique executive search approach and the pivotal role of board dynamics in corporate governance.

♦️Remote Leadership: Tactics for maintaining strong team culture and building relationships in a remote work environment.

Key Insights:

• The necessity of empowering teams and fostering a positive culture for peak performance.
• Importance of understanding and implementing emotional intelligence in leadership roles.
• Strategic executive assessments and their impact on shaping effective leaders.
• The challenges and opportunities of leading in a post-pandemic, remote-first world.

Don’t Miss Our Upcoming Events:

Sign Up for the Brand and Marketing Masterclass Waitlist: Don't miss out on transforming your brand into a market leader.

Join the waitlist today!

🔗 https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/brandmasterclass

Connect with Us:

🔗 Watch on YouTube and Apple Podcast: tribeagency.org/leadr-podcast

🔗 Reach out to Tim Matthews on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-matthews/

🔗 Explore more about Spencer Stuart: https://www.spencerstuart.com/

🔗 Discover more episodes at Leadr. Podcast: https://tribeagency.org/leadr-podcast

🔗 For collaborations or inquiries: https://tribeagency.org/contact

AI is here, but most people aren’t using it right. If you’re frustrated with clunky AI tools, slow workflows, and security risks, you need to hear this.

In this episode, host Steph Pliha sits down with Rajat Paharia—ex-Google Exec and now founder of Ask Steve, a no-BS AI tool built for real productivity. No fluff, just a smarter way to automate tasks, write better, and scale your business without extra effort.

• How AI can instantly improve your workflow
• What Google gets right—and wrong—about AI
• The biggest AI adoption mistakes startups make
• Why branding is the #1 thing AI companies get wrong
• How to use AI without security risks or clunky add-ons

🔥 50% OFF Ask Steve—Get the AI Tool That Works 🔥

Use code TRIBE50 for an exclusive 50% discount and take control of your productivity today.

🔗 Get it here: ⁠https://www.asksteve.to⁠

What You’ll Learn: About Rajat Paharia:

Rajat Paharia is a product leader with over 20 years of experience in AI, product development, and technology innovation. He is the Founder and Head Intern at Ask Steve, a Chrome extension that brings AI directly into your browser.

Previously, Rajat was a Director of Product Management at Google, where he worked on Google Maps, augmented reality, HR technology, and Nest smart home devices. Before that, he founded Bunchball, a venture-backed SaaS startup, and led design, engineering, and business units at the renowned IDEO.

AI Tools recommended by Rajat:

💡 Run AI Models on Your Own Machine:

• ⁠LM Studio⁠
• ⁠Jan⁠
• ⁠GPT4All⁠

⚡ Next-Gen AI Tools ("Bigger Lego Bricks")

• ⁠Bolt.new⁠
• ⁠V0⁠
• ⁠Lovable⁠

🎥 Watch on YouTube → [https://www.youtube.com/@tribeagency_makeyourbrandaverb]📌 More episodes & free resources → ⁠tribeagency.org/leadr-podcast⁠

💬 AI is evolving fast—what’s your biggest challenge? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and Rajat might answer in a future episode.

📢 Subscribe & Turn On Notifications for unfiltered insights on AI, startups, and brand strategy.

Watch, Listen & Subscribe

Connect With Us

🔹 Tribe Agency → ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠

🔹 Ask Steve → ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠

🚀 This episode is packed with real, no-fluff insights. Don’t miss it!

🚫🍸 Continuing our Dry January series, we shift our conversation to automations—vital tools that streamline your business processes for 2025. Join me, Steph Pliha, and my special guest Spencer Jones, as we dig into powerful automation strategies that can transform your operations. This time, we're exploring how automations can significantly enhance productivity and innovation in your business.

In This Episode:

Automation Tools We Discuss:

Explore More and Connect:

📲 Share this episode with fellow entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts who are keen to leverage automation for scaling their ventures. Stay tuned for more powerful insights!

January 2025 Series - AI & Automations

🚫🍸 It’s Dry January—but let’s be honest, your business could still use a drink... of AI & Automations. Welcome to AA for Business: AI & Automations, where we help you detox from manual work and automate your way to success in 2025.

In this episode, Spencer Jones and Steph Pliha dive into how AI and automation are transforming fundraising, financial analysis, business operations, and lead generation. They also break down why paid AI tools are worth it, how to craft better AI prompts, and what happens when you treat AI like an employee rather than just another tool.

Oh, and let’s not forget… micropreneurship is on the rise, and AI is your best business partner.

✅ Fundraising, financial analysis, and lead gen? AI’s got your back.
✅ Paid AI tools = better results, fewer headaches.
✅ Mundane tasks? Automate them and reclaim your time.
✅ Marketing still matters—even when AI is doing the heavy lifting.
✅ Ask AI better questions to get better answers.
✅ Micropreneurship is easier than ever—AI can help you scale solo.
✅ Early adoption = unfair advantage. Get in now.

🎧 Listen or Watch Now:
🔗 Leadr. Podcast Website: [https://tribeagency.org/leadr-podcast]

🚀 Want AI-Powered Marketing & Automation?
💡 Work with Tribe Agency → [tribeagency.org/contact]

🌟 Tune in Next Week: Episode 16 - Part 2!

We’ll take it up a notch and explore next-level AI trends & automation hacks for scaling businesses.

🔥 Key Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

👉 AI Tools to Supercharge Your Business:
▫ ChatGPT (Pro Version) - [https://chatgpt.com/]
▫ Claude AI - [https://claude.ai/new]
▫ Lovable AI or Web/Landing Page - [https://lovable.dev/#via=ffc119]
▫ Jasper AI for Copywriting - [https://www.jasper.ai/]
▫ Grammarly AI for Editing & Proofreading - [https://www.grammarly.com/]

👉 Automation & Lead Generation Tools:
▫ Make.com for Workflow Automation - [https://www.make.com/en/register?pc=tribe]
▫ Dripify for AI-Powered Lead Generation - [https://dripify.io/#a_aid=tribeagency]
▫ Apollo.io - [https://apollo.partnerlinks.io/24pucy6pqel7]

▫ Flodesk for email nurture sequences - [https://flodesk.com/c/8M70PX]

▫ SMS Automation through ManyChat - [https://manychat.partnerlinks.io/vtqvbjnms27g]

👉 Other Must-Try AI Editing Tools:
▫ MidJourney AI for Design & Branding - [https://www.midjourney.com/]
▫ Descript for AI-Powered Podcast Editing - [https://get.descript.com/ug9497394gey]
▫ Opus Clips for Video Content Creation - [https://www.opus.pro/?via=tribe]

Courses:

30 Day Entrepreneur - register today

Want Entrepreneur Wisdom, download our checklist for free.

Dive into the essentials of launching a successful MedTech startup with Spencer Jones, Founder of XOMedTech on Episode 15 of Leadr. Podcast. Host Steph Pliha uncovers the critical insights every MedTech entrepreneur needs to know. From the integration of AI and automation to the power of community and mentorship, this episode is a treasure trove for aspiring innovators.

Episode Highlights:

⚫️ Unexpected Paths: Explore Spencer’s journey from concept to realization in the MedTech space.Emotional Intelligence: Discover why soft skills can be your greatest asset in tech leadership.

⚫️ XOMedTech Introduction: Get an inside look at how Spencer’s platform is revolutionizing support for innovators.

⚫️ Power of AI: Learn how artificial intelligence is transforming productivity and patient care.

⚫️ Market Insights: Understand the significance of market research and customer discovery.

⚫️ Networking and Mentorship: Uncover the roles these play in navigating the complexities of MedTech entrepreneurship.

Connect with Us:

🔗 Watch Full Episodes on Apple Podcasts and YouTube - [tribeagency.org/leadr-podcast]

🔗 Steph Pliha on LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephpliha/]

🔗 Spencer Jones on LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-jones-5a008672/]

🔗 Explore XO MedTech: [https://xomedtech.com/]

🔗 XO MedTech LinkedIn Page: [https://www.linkedin.com/company/92946603/admin/dashboard/]

🎓 Free MedTech Development Roadmap Tool: [https://reports.medtechvendors.com/]

🎓 Join the Waitlist for Make Your Brand a Verb - Brand and Marketing Masterclass: [https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/brandmasterclass]

👉🏻 Contact Tribe Agency for collaboration or services: [https://tribeagency.org/contact]

Join host Steph Pliha on Leadr. Podcast as we delve into Kendy Elmore's transformative journey from teaching to creating The Lobby, a pivotal networking platform for medical sales professionals. Discover how Kendy is revolutionizing networking and mentorship in the medical sales industry.

What You'll Discover:

➡ Career Shift: Kendy’s transition from educator to medical sales networking leader.

➡ Networking Mastery: The impact of The Lobby in building strong community connections among medical sales professionals.

➡ Platform Impact: The Lobby's mission to empower over 100,000 professionals with robust networking and mentorship.

➡ Navigating Career Challenges: Strategies and insights for navigating the competitive medical sales job market.

➡ Finding Fulfillment: How embracing your IKIGAI leads to personal and professional fulfillment.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone in the medical sales field or aspiring to enter it, packed with actionable advice and insights on networking, leadership, and career development.

Connect and Engage with the Medical Sales Industry:

➡ Follow Steph Pliha on LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephpliha/]

➡ Connect with Kendy Elmore on LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendy-elmore/]

➡ Visit The Lobby Network: [https://www.thelobbynetwork.com/]

➡ Learn more at Tribe Agency: [https://tribeagency.org/]

➡ Join our 30 Day Entrepreneur Course with 50% off (Code Founded50): [https://30dayentrepreneur.tribeagency.org/]

➡ Get on the Brand and Marketing Masterclass Waitlist: [https://tribeagency.myflodesk.com/brandmasterclass]

➡ Explore Medical Sales 101: [https://medicalsales101.com/]

➡ Follow Tribe on The Lobby: [https://community.thelobbynetwork.com/topics/36410/feed]

➡ Subscribe for more episodes on Leadr. Podcast: [https://tribeagency.org/leadr-podcast]

YouTube link:Building the Ultimate Medical Sales Network: Kendy Elmore's Journey to Founding The Lobby

Like, Share, and Subscribe! 👍🏻

Your engagement enables us to continue producing impactful content that helps you grow professionally. Share this episode with colleagues who are keen on enhancing their career in medical sales!

In this episode of Leadr. Podcast, host Steph Pliha interviews Whitney Faires, an executive coach and founder of WhitneyFaires.com.

They discuss their history working together at Intuitive and Whitney's journey from corporate to entrepreneurship. Whitney shares her passion for helping people reach their untapped potential and achieve their goals. She also talks about her proprietary framework, the Excellence Equation, which guides individuals in setting and achieving big goals.

They also touch on the importance of mindset and overcoming self-doubt. The conversation concludes with a discussion on silent dreams and the importance of pursuing them.

In this conversation, Steph Pliha and Whitney Faires discuss the importance of mentors and advocates in personal and professional growth. They emphasize the need for passion, confidence, and a supportive network to pursue one's dreams.

They also highlight the distinction between mentoring and advocacy, and the value of having both in your life. Additionally, they discuss the challenges and rewards of transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship, including the need for clear branding, technological proficiency, and the ability to delegate. The conversation concludes with insights on the power of trust, the importance of investing in personal development, and the impact of supportive mentors.

Key Takeaways

Resources:

Use Code: FOUNDED50 for 50% off course

Get in Touch:

Whitney Faires: whitneyfaires.com

Steph Pliha: tribeagency.org

Leadr. Podcast: tribeagency.org/leadr-podcast

Follow us on LinkedIn

Like, subscribe and follow for more episodes just like this...

Summary

In this episode, Steph Pliha interviews Chris Wood, the CEO of Reveal DX, a company focused on early intervention for lung nodules. They discuss the origins of Reveal DX and its goal of catching lung cancer as early as possible. Chris explains how their technology, based on AI and machine learning, can triage and identify high-risk nodules, helping radiologists make informed decisions. They also touch on the challenges of the medical imaging AI industry and the importance of improving patient care and reducing unnecessary procedures. In this conversation, Chris, the CEO of a medical imaging AI company, discusses the future of AI in radiology and the next big thing in the industry. He also shares advice for CEOs and founders of med tech startups and emphasizes the importance of understanding the customer's customer. Chris recommends several books on leadership and business, including 'Nudge' and 'Thinking Fast and Slow'. He also highlights the importance of fostering a culture of innovation and reinvention.

Keywords

medtech, innovation, lung cancer, early intervention, AI, machine learning, radiology, patient care, AI in radiology, medical imaging, lung cancer, med tech startups, leadership, business books, culture of innovation

Key Takeaways

Reveal DX is focused on early intervention for lung nodules to catch lung cancer as early as possible.

Their technology uses AI and machine learning to triage and identify high-risk nodules, helping radiologists make informed decisions.

The goal is to improve patient care by reducing unnecessary procedures and complications.

The medical imaging AI industry has faced challenges, but Reveal DX aims to provide a unique and valuable solution. The next big thing in medical imaging AI is the development of real useful applications that add value and improve patient outcomes.

Understanding the customer's customer is crucial for success in the med tech industry.

Leadership requires empathy, curiosity, and the ability to put oneself in the shoes of others.

Recommended books for business and leadership include 'Nudge', 'Thinking Fast and Slow', 'Startup Boards', 'The Hard Thing About Hard Things', and 'No Rules Rules'.

Fostering a culture of innovation and reinvention is essential to stay ahead in a rapidly changing industry.

Sound Bites

"We can take nodules that have single-digit percentage, likelihood of malignancy, and bring it to double-digit, maybe 20% likelihood."

"Our product belongs in the hands of the radiologist initially when they find the nodule."

"In these screening cohorts, we can identify 40% of the malignant nodules without an interval scan."

"If you watch Netflix, right? You know, when you finish one episode, it starts the next one."

"We're now sort of in this trough of disillusionment phase of the Gardner hype cycle."

"AI will become more and more a part of radiology, but it's certainly not going to replace radiologists anytime soon."

Connect and Engage:

Stay connected with Chris Wood and Steph Pliha to keep abreast of the latest in medical technology and leadership insights. Follow their journey and engage with them to deepen your understanding of the impact of AI in healthcare.

• 🔗 Follow Chris Wood on LinkedIn

• 🔗 Visit their website, www.reveal-dx.com

• 🔗 Connect with Steph Pliha on LinkedIn

• 🔗 Explore more episodes at Leadr. Podcast

If you found value in this discussion, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment on this episode. Share it with peers who are passionate about healthcare innovation, and join us again on Leadr. Podcast for more insightful conversations that inspire and inform.

This podcast is brought to you by Tribe Agency, your go-to-experts in all things branding, marketing, and consulting for MedTech startups. For more information, visit www.tribeagency.org.