Manage episode 521597983 series 2887096
Few people enter the MedTech world because of a personal experience with the technology itself—but for Brent Lavin, that’s exactly where it began. At just 23 years old, a CT scan that revealed an urgent medical issue also sparked a lifelong passion for medical technology and its power to save lives. That moment became the foundation of a career devoted to driving innovation in healthcare.
Brent’s early engineering work revealed an exceptional talent for connecting technical possibility with human need. Over the next two decades, he would lead cross-functional teams through more than 20 successful product launches, three mergers and acquisitions, and hundreds of millions of dollars in portfolio growth. His leadership—marked by curiosity, clarity, and conviction—has earned him accolades such as BD’s Director of the Year and the CEO Excellence Award.
Today, as Director of Strategic Growth at BD, Brent is responsible for identifying high-impact opportunities for both organic development and targeted acquisitions. Previously, he served as Director of Marketing and Product Management, where he led global teams across multiple disease states to record-breaking revenue growth, even in the face of pandemic-era supply chain challenges.
Before joining BD, Brent spent years at GE Healthcare, where he honed his product management and global commercialization expertise, launching next-generation ultrasound systems that achieved over 200% year-over-year growth. His career reflects a rare blend of technical grounding, marketing strategy, and human-centered leadership—built on a mission to deliver meaningful innovation to clinicians and patients worldwide.
Beyond the numbers, Brent is known for building high-performing teams and mentoring leaders who thrive in complex environments. Whether he’s shaping go-to-market strategies, integrating newly acquired companies, or guiding engineers toward greater clarity and impact, his approach is grounded in purpose: to help people and teams reach their full potential while bringing life-changing technologies to market.
LINKS:
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-lavin/
Aaron Moncur, host
Download the Essential Guide to Designing Test Fixtures: https://pipelinemedialab.beehiiv.com/test-fixture
About Being An Engineer
The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community.
The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us
Chapters
1. Introduction to Brent Lavin (00:00:00)
2. Brent's Journey from Engineering to Business (00:01:01)
3. Combining Technical and Commercial Skills (00:02:40)
4. Launching Medical Devices and Overcoming Challenges (00:05:23)
5. Understanding Consumer Needs in MedTech (00:11:12)
6. Personal Experiences Shaping Professional Insights (00:16:39)
7. Pipeline Design and Engineering Services (00:21:11)
8. Mergers and Acquisitions in Healthcare (00:22:43)
9. Strategic Acquisitions and My Role (00:23:45)
10. Challenges in Scaling Manufacturing (00:25:23)
11. Determining Product Market Fit (00:25:58)
12. Strategies for Scaling Customer Base (00:27:42)
13. Importance of Building Relationships (00:28:58)
14. Future Opportunities in Med Tech (00:31:50)
15. Advice for Aspiring Product Managers (00:36:50)
16. Accelerating Product Development (00:39:12)
17. Connecting with Brent and Final Thoughts (00:42:37)
333 episodes