Women In Medtech: Chiara Orsini

Careers for for the head and heart

Meet women who are changing lives at LivaNova

Chiara Orsini is Director of the Essenz™ Global Launch. In this role, she is responsible for defining the Essenz commercial strategy and coordinating its execution at global level, partnering with regional marketing and sales leadership teams to support commercial activities, and ensuring a successful launch of the Essenz Perfusion System. She has been with the company since November 2017.

Q: What made you pursue a career in medtech?

A: Since I was a child, I have felt the responsibility to play a part in improving people's lives, thanks to my family and the education they have provided me. At the same time, I was and still am curious and interested in technologies and innovations. In biomedical engineering, I saw the opportunity to combine both my interests.

Q: Tell us a little bit about your career path and what led you to LivaNova.

A: After my graduation in 2011, I became a Project Engineer for INSO Spa, in Doha, Qatar, to contribute to the activation of the Sidra hospital in Doha. I was in charge of coordinating the installation of medical equipment in some specialty areas of the hospital. This experience provided me the chance to learn about many medical device technologies and to be in contact with the most important medtech companies in the world. The time in Qatar also gave me the opportunity to learn about new cultures.

In 2014, I came back to Italy and joined Biosense Webster (a J&J company) as a clinical specialist, responsible for supporting the electrophysiologist in the Cath/EP lab during cardiac ablation procedures. I also worked as an Application Specialist/Project Manager at Carefusion, and when it was acquired by Becton Dickinson, I joined the marketing team as product manager.

Earning a masters degree in marketing management in 2017 was crucial for my career because it provided me with the right experience to join LivaNova as Global Marketing Manager.

Q: Is there a woman who mentored or inspired you throughout your career?

A: Stephanie Bolton, President of International at LivaNova, was my first female mentor. From the very first moment I was impressed by her experience and attitude. I think three important skills for a mentor are active listening, empathy, and the ability to see solutions and opportunities. Steph has demonstrated all of these while supporting me. She always offers me another way to look at the situation and has helped me improve and grow.

I have also had the pleasure to closely work with Sandra Spiritelli, Vice President of Integration at LivaNova, who is currently mentoring me, guiding and supporting me through the complexity of my role. Working with her is inspiring and provides me the chance to improve from a process and workflow management standpoint – such a fundamental component within the medtech industry to ensure continuous improvement.

Q: How would you describe your experience at LivaNova?

A: LivaNova has demonstrated throughout the years a commitment to my professional growth – giving me the opportunity to learn on the job while also supporting me as I earned an Executive MBA in 2022.

Having a global footprint, LivaNova provides the opportunity to deal with many different countries across the world and the relevant different market dynamics and thus learn quickly how to manage the challenges coming from different parts of the globe.

What I truly appreciate here is the fact that I have the opportunity to work with a cross-functional team where “collaboration” stands above all the rest. We share the common goal to develop breakthrough innovations that support our customers in improving the clinical practice and the patients’ care strategies, which is in keeping with the primary value we have as a company: patients first.

Q: What inspires you to do this work?

Q: What is the most helpful benefit that LivaNova offers its employees?

A: Looking at the intangible aspect of the question, I consider the opportunity to work in and with a multi-cultural and diverse team an incredible benefit that the company offers me. The opportunity to work hand-in-hand with colleagues from different functions is always an occasion to learn and expand my knowledge.

If I look at the tangible side of the question, I would say that the health benefits and health programs LivaNova offers are truly helpful. I consider them really an added value for me and my family members.

Q: Why would you encourage other women in medtech to work at LivaNova?

A: The combination of a diverse and multi-cultural team with the LivaNova mission represents a valid reason to join this company. If you have curiosity and willingness to deal with new opportunities and challenges in the healthcare sector with the ultimate goal of improving patients’ lives, LivaNova is the right place to be.

Flexibility and agility are key concepts here at LivaNova and I consider them fundamental to face challenges and drive changes in the medtech world, bringing in new ideas.

Lastly, I think it is important to share the fact that at LivaNova, I feel heard. Trust is a crucial component of a working relationship, from both sides, and at LivaNova your viewpoint is taken into consideration and you feel to be part of a whole.

Q: Can you share with us a little-known fact about yourself?

A: I became a sommelier in 2019. I love wine, and when possible I spend the weekend visiting wineries. In Tuscany, where I live, we are privileged to have a huge variety of wineries producing some of the most famous wines in the world!

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.