Women In Leadership Society (WIL), in collaboration with Diagnostic Equipment Service Corporation (DESCO), welcomes Jennifer Chester to discuss community, confidence, neurodivergence, and the skills needed to navigate a non-linear career path.

Jennifer is an award-winning healthcare technology professional, author, speaker, proud mother, and senior project manager with Intellus. Before project management, she worked as a BMET, and she says that biomed is still where her heart lies. She has also written children's books featuring Bella the Biomed and created the Next Gen Tech Moms Mobile Discovery Museum to introduce kids to medical devices.Chapters:

00:00 Sponsor shout-out to DESCO (www.descomed.com)

00:15 Introduction

01:19 Welcoming Jennifer Chester

01:43 Introducing Jennifer Chester

02:43 Biomed in Children's books!

04:06 What does Project Management in HTM look like?

05:33 What does it take to pivot into Project Management?

07:04 How does an art student end up as a Biomed?

09:11 What does it mean to be a Healthcare Professional

09:48 Air Force vs HTM: what does an impact-driven career look like?

11:08 What is the cost of precision in HTM?

12:06 Advice from a Neurodivergent in Project Management?

14:10 Utilizing your strengths when it is not your job description

15:40 How to tackle internal comparison as a neurodivergent?

16:46 To-do list to the rescue!

18:01 What is the benchmark for progress?

19:51 Self-imposed pressure and how to handle it.

21:38 What ignites self-imposed pressure?

23:02 Actions to manage anxiety

26:26 How to handle the aftermath of a bad meeting?

27:11 Support system for women leaders in HTM

28:38 What is DESCO's motto?

28:58 How did WIL enter your radar?

30:59 Why is community priceless?

31:32 Male chivalry is not dead! It just comes out wrong sometimes

32:52 Advice for men to support women in the industry

34:40 How does expectation shift for women stepping into a leadership role

37:56 Balancing team needs and priorities

40:31 How 1-1 with teams help?

42:31 How does team morale affect productivity?

46:07 Manager PTSD: what is this, and how does it affect people?

47:52 How do DESCO and Andrea create psychological safety for employees?

48:46 Advice for women stepping into a leadership role

51:38 A word from Andrea Bordenca, CEO DESCO

51:52 Outro

In this episode, we have Brandi Caton, who is a healthcare technology management (HTM) professional recognized as one of TechNation’s 40 Under 40 honorees for her professional achievements and positive influence on the industry. Currently working as an associate with Renovo Solutions, she has built a career centered on advocating for patient safety and next-generation outreach. In this episode, she is talking about leadership style balances for a young leader and what authenticity means to a leader. Tune in and spend sometime reflecting on your own leadership style.Share in the comments below on what you have experienced as a leader or a team member in your industry!Chapter List: 00:00 DESCO shoutout (www.descomed.com)00:15 Introduction01:19 Key Highlights of the video02:19 Introducing Brandi02:55 Shoutout to AAMI04:50 How has WIL increased visibility for women leaders?06:51 What does authentic leadership mean to you?08:35 What are some unspoken rules and expectations for women in male-dominated industries?10:44 When to celebrate your win vs when to stay silent?11:59 Comparison of the military vs the HTM industry regarding leadership expectations13:42 What does workplace inequity look like?15:04 Managing expectations for leadership style17:28 How to develop a leadership style?18:15 How does empathy tie into leadership?22:37 Redefining leadership through authenticity24:59 Why WIL?25:36 How has WIL supported you on your leadership journey?26:36 Advice for Women Leaders on boundaries28:28 Advice for young leaders managing older colleagues32:16 A note from Andrea, CEO of DESCO32:36 Outro#WomenInLeadershipSociety #WIL #WomenLeaders #DESCO #GrowthMindset #authenticity #empathy

Emily Hunt, the host of the show "In The Room," speaks about what to expect in the upcoming episode of In The Room. In this episode, there is drama, there is education, and there are hard questions that Brandi Caton, a seasoned leader in HTM, answers.

Chapter List:

00:00 Episode Sponsor: DESCO (www.descomed.com)

00:20 Introduction

01:19 Introducing Nicole Koharik

02:03 Why is WIL so important?

03:07 What does it mean to be part of the Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) Industry?

05:31 How did you hear about WIL?

08:36 How does a sense of belonging shape early career?

09:13 Relationship building and its hidden costs

13:29 Tips on overcoming Perfectionism

15:28 Self-reflection vs Self-criticism

16:25 Why is DESCO sponsoring this podcast?

16:46 Visibility and Self-Promotion

19:27 What does sponsorship in a professional network mean?

20:27 Build trust as a foundation of a relationship

21:50 Advice on positioning for sponsorship

23:03 A message for the introvert

25:27 Example of showing up as an introvert

28:11 Communication as a key skill

30:42 Dealing with Imposter Syndrome

32:07 Every connection matters!

34:41 Outro from Andrea Bordenca, CEO DESCO

In this episode of In The Room, Emily speaks to Nicole Koharik, the Head of Corporate Brand and Communications at PartsSource. Nicole has spent more than two decades in marketing and communications leadership, with much of that work rooted in the healthcare supply chain. She also serves the HTM industry as an HTMA Ohio board member and Women In Leadership Ambassador. Her background is strong, but what made this conversation so valuable was not just her resume. It was the way she talked about belonging, confidence, relationships, sponsorship, and the real emotional weight of showing up in rooms where visibility matters.

In this episode, join Emily and Nicole as they talk about how relationships are built through trust, how, as an introvert, Nicole built her communications skills, and how to build lifelong connections through advocacy and sponsorships. #intheroom #DESCOmed #womeninleadership #WIL #growthmindset

For our very first episode, we have April Lebo, founder of Women in Leadership (WIL), for a conversation about community, leadership, mentorship, and creating opportunities for others.

In her own words, April describes herself as - "As SVP of Culture at Probo Medical, I lead initiatives that foster a thriving, values-driven workplace where people and performance go hand in hand. As President of the Women in Leadership Society, I’m passionate about empowering women to grow, find confidence, and make a meaningful impact within their organizations and community. I am fueled by seeing others succeed and motivated by helping others elevate beyond what they thought possible."

In this episode, we explore:

✨ Why community isn’t a “nice-to-have”—it’s a career accelerator

✨ How representation creates opportunity

✨ Why leadership starts long before the title

✨ The story behind WIL and the impact it’s had across HTM

Whether you’re new to the industry, growing into leadership, or simply looking for inspiration, this conversation is packed with insights and experiences that will stay with you long after the episode ends.

What was your biggest takeaway from the episode? Let us know below! 👇

#InTheRoomPodcast #WomenInHTM #HealthcareTechnologyManagement #WomenInLeadership #HTM