We are thrilled to feature our Director of Capital Marketing, Capri T., in this insightful Q&A session. Capri shares insights on CONMED's culture and offers valuable advice for professionals looking to join the medical device industry. Don't miss her expert tips and experiences!

What attracted you to CONMED, and how has your journey been so far?

What attracted me to CONMED initially was being able to work for a company in a role that incorporated a perfect mix of my experience in sales, my education in communication studies and pre-med biology, and my passion for the healthcare industry. After joining CONMED, I began better understanding my fit within the company and how my values aligned with its culture. When CONMED came out with its 5 pillars of excellence, it reflected my work ethic and how I aspire to perform and reflected the same culture across the company. The reason I have been with CONMED going into my tenth year is because its leadership truly cares about the things that are also most important to me. As long as I did my part, CONMED always did theirs to help me grow and develop.

I started as a Sr. Sales Training Specialist in 2016. When I talked to my manager about a year later about my development, there wasn’t really a role or position that existed that I could move up to, and while rare, a position was created, and I became Manager of Training and Development. While on maternity leave in the summer of 2018, my boss and a coworker approached me about an opening in Marketing. After seeing how my talent and skillsets applied to Marketing, I was encouraged to apply. I was hesitant at first, thinking about the increase in travel after coming off of maternity leave, but CONMED supported my journey as a working mom and made sure I had all the resources I needed to be successful at work while still raising a family. It was incredible! After proving, first to myself, that I could handle it all, CONMED recognized my success and development within marketing, and I was promoted to Product Manager then Sr. Product Manager, respectively. 8 years after joining CONMED, in February of 2024, I was promoted to Director of Capital Marketing and now lead a team of six across 3 portfolios, and my passion now is developing top talent and building a strengths-based business.

How would you describe the company culture at CONMED?

CONMED’s culture is incredible. It’s 5 pillars of excellence best reflect the culture. When CONMED first launched these pillars, I thought it was just HR marketing, but I quickly realized how we embraced and reflected these values – operating with a sense of urgency, making and keeping commitments, believing in the power of engaged talent, and delivering exceptional results. These were all values I aspired to project, and I noticed that CONMED consisted of like-minded individuals, and we hired new talent who believed in these values too. When you have a company of people believing, fighting, and operating under the same core values, you get a culture that’s energizing, engaging, and exciting. You work with people you want to work with in accomplishing things you aspire to achieve together.

What are your primary responsibilities as a Director of Marketing - Capital at CONMED?

The best responsibility I have as a Director of Capital Marketing is to inspire and develop talented people. My team and I get to dream big together, solve challenges together, and succeed together. I have found that when you have a team of talented people doing the things they love and are best at and know you have their back, as a team, you produce bigger results for the Company, which just makes being on that team all the more fun!

At the product manager level, we have the “Founders Mentality.” We are empowered to own our portfolios; to own our brands. We each have our own businesses within CONMED, and when you have an entrepreneurial spirit, it’s a great place to learn about every aspect of business management and make “your business”, and CONMED, successful.

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to become a APM or Product Manager in the medical device industry?

I would advise anyone aspiring to become an APM or Product Manager in the medical device industry, to learn and truly understand the concept of “individual responsibility.” You will go as far as you let yourself, and you will also hold yourself back as much as you allow it. Once you are able to fully take ownership of your career development aspirations and have a 0% victim / 100% accountability mindset, you will start to see your true potential.

Don’t be afraid to slow down before you speed up. It’s not about getting to the next level the quickest, it’s about building out your skillsets and leveraging your talents to go the farthest, the longest. Find somewhere and someone who will care about your talents and aspirations and will help to align your strengths with your responsibilities to help you reach your potential.

What do you find most rewarding about your job?

I kind of answered this previously, but the most rewarding part about my job is getting to work with like-minded people and to experience success together, as a team. The best part of my job is seeing my team growing and achieving BIG THINGS. When my team is energized, having fun, and accomplishing their goals – there’s nothing better than that!

Are you ready to grow your career with CONMED? View our openings here: https://careers.conmed.com/