In this insightful podcast episode, Dr. Stephen Long interviews Pat Wadors—an esteemed HR leader and advocate for organizational health—on the critical intersection of innovation, culture, and leadership within the medical technology (medtech) industry. Drawing from her experience at Intuitive and beyond, Wadors articulates a powerful vision for what she calls a “high-performing, healthy organization.”

The conversation begins by challenging the traditional narrative that innovation is fueled by unfettered freedom. Instead, Wadors argues that constraints are not creativity’s enemy—they’re its engine. She references the metaphor of “the crow and the pitcher”—a creative device used by artists to create tension and focus—suggesting that structural limits often force more inventive thinking. This aligns with the Prosperity Trait®  that Discipline (i.e., the willingness to do the hard thing) is the first ingredient of repeatable innovation.

A central theme in the episode is the importance of psychological safety. Wadors describes how high-performing teams are distinguished not just by talent, but by trust. At Intuitive, leaders are trained to solicit feedback, model vulnerability, and play devil’s advocate with their own ideas—deliberately making room for dissent. This humility creates the conditions where innovation is not only possible, but sustainable. Wadors stresses that psychological safety is not simply a perk—it’s a system that supports creativity under pressure, especially when navigating regulatory constraints and long development cycles endemic to medtech.

Wadors also underscores the value of diversity of thought, noting that complex problems in medtech require input from a wide range of perspectives. Leaders must not only invite differing opinions but also create processes that ensure these voices are truly heard. This echoes The Prosperity Trait® insight that Self-Confidence is not bravado—it’s the strength of belief required to express imaginative ideas, especially in high-stakes environments.

The conversation shifts to the unique challenges of innovation in medtech, where product lifecycles can span years or even decades. Wadors describes how organizations can maintain energy and cohesion over these long arcs by grounding their teams in mission and purpose. At Intuitive, the company’s focus on improving patient outcomes gives people a reason to persist, even when progress is slow or uncertain. This mission-based resilience aligns with the Prosperity Trait® skill of Mental Toughness—specifically the behaviors of Patience, Persistence, and Recovery that sustain creativity over time.

Waters also explores how to build leaders who can manage the dual pressures of performance and well-being. She highlights the role of support structures—including open communication, collaborative decision-making, and active feedback loops—as mechanisms that allow teams to thrive. These structures turn innovation into a teachable, coachable, and scalable capability—not just the result of individual genius.

The episode closes with four key strategies leaders can implement to drive healthy innovation:
 1. Embrace constraints as creative catalysts. Use structure to focus energy and drive depth.
 2. Engineer psychological safety. Model humility, invite critique, and make feedback systemic.
 3. Connect innovation to purpose. Build stamina by anchoring daily work in meaningful outcomes.
 4. Develop systems of support. Coach leaders to balance ambition with well-being and collaboration.