Scott Addonizio - The Surprise Question

In this episode of MedTech Snapshot, Scott shares the career-defining leap that took him from startup founder to C-suite and boardrooms—starting with a one-way ticket to China.

Travis: 

Welcome back to the Med Tech Snapshot podcast, the one-question, one-answer digest discussion surrounding all things medical device. Today we're covering an interesting topic with our guests where we asked them a surprise question, one in which they had no time to prepare for. That question is: share with us a breakthrough moment, a defining moment in your career, which when looking back on it, was the catalyst for where you are today. I personally love this portion of the interview because it really leads us through a candid look under the proverbial hood of our guest in their career, along with the decisions that they made and how they got to where they are today. 

All right, Scott, so I know I told you there was only going to be two questions, but I lied. There's actually a third. So we want to keep you on your toes here. So I would love to get personal for a moment. Just learn, you know? Can you share with us, think back to an experience in your career where you had a breakthrough career-defining moment. What was it, What happened and why was it so significant? 

Scott: 
Wow. So going back down memory lane, I think this one's actually pretty crystal clear answer for me because I'm kind of, I have a, I have a unique history in this, in the medical device industry. 

I think that clear moment where I knew, that pivotal moment that really had a shift in my career was when I took the assignment overseas in China for a company that I started with a couple of my buddies called Orbis and I was, I basically cut.  

I went and decided I was going to move to China on what was supposed to be a one year assignment because we were going to partner up and we want to do manufacturing in China. And one day, well, they were looking for a general manager. 

I said, you know what, let me go over there. I've been there before. I'll take on this role. And without even hesitating, I kind of just said I'll do it. 

And then I remember on the way over I had a one way ticket on the plane over to China and I'm sitting in there and I'm like, Oh my God, I'm going to China. I uprooted everything, moved, and I'm going to China. 

And I think that was such a key moment in my career in that you, you basically remove yourself from all comfort zones. You basically get out of  that position of the routine where you can just come into work, and it's like breathing. 

I mean, I entered into a hot, a new culture. A new, opportunistic environment where I didn't like—I didn't know how to speak Chinese. I didn't know their culture at all. I never went to—I didn't know any lessons. None of this. 

I mean, it was just getting off a plane and realizing, Oh my God, I, I can't even go to the grocery store and, and buy something. So that just opened the door of opportunities—was huge. 

Like if you have that ability to fully immerse yourself and take those cultural punches with stride and really want to learn and, and be involved with something so different than what you're used to and you're accustomed to. I mean, I think that catapulted my career. 

I went from going over there as a one year assignment just as an acting general manager to C-level and a board member of multiple companies. 

And I think I would attribute all of that to the fact that I took that uncomfortable risk of moving, and seeing what I could do in another cultural situation, outside the comfort zone of what we're all used to. 

It was amazing experience. 

I would attribute that, my career, in China as the pivotal movement moment in my medical advice career.