From a Red Cross teenage volunteer in war-torn Lebanon to President and CEO of CVRx, Nadim Yared has had quite the journey throughout his medtech career. For the past 15 years, he has led the tight-knit team at CVRx, guiding the startup as they pioneer unique therapies to advance the health of patients around the globe.

Recently, Yared joined host Scott Whitaker on the Medtech POV Podcast in a 2-part episode to discuss his expansive career, transition to a startup company, and work with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Yared’s Journey into Medtech

During the interview, Nadim Yared reflected on how his time as a volunteer introduced him to the world of medicine:

“When I turned 16, 17, I started working for the Red Cross volunteering and had a lot of good leadership experience. During the war, we were the only group working on the ground to go and help people wounded during the bombs and so forth. So that was kind of my foray into the medical world early on.”

After pursuing a degree in engineering, Yared gained valuable experience working at Medtronic and GE Medical. However, 15 years ago, while fleeing Lebanon with his family, he received a call from CRVx to join the team as President and CEO—a story he recounts in Part I.

“During the war, we were the only group working on the ground to go and help people wounded during the bombs and so forth. So that was kind of my foray into the medical world early on.” 

––Nadim Yared, President & CEO, CVRx

Leading a Startup Company in Medtech

Going from massive, global teams to overseeing a small startup company, Yared noticed differences in both leadership and company culture. One of the ways he’s developed himself professionally in this role is by establishing relationships with investors and board members.

As he remarked to Whitaker, “One thing that surprised me early on is how smart and rapid thinkers most investors are in medtech.”

For those looking to work in a startup environment, Yared says, “don’t be afraid.”

“The risk profile is very different when you’re working in a large company, an established company versus a startup, but also, the risk-reward profile is less skewed in a startup.”

The Importance of Cross-sector Collaboration

Yared, who is an active member of AdvaMed, also discussed the importance of participating in associations to advocate for things you are passionate about. For him, this was a dedication to improving the relationship between the medtech industry and FDA.

“When I started talking about the culture at FDA, I felt everybody was talking the same language as I did at AdvaMed and it was a shared concern, whether you’re a small company or a big company.”

Yared credits the current collaborative nature between the industry and the FDA to members of AdvaMed and past leadership, but notes it wasn’t easy and required a great amount of effort.

To hear more of Yared’s story and work he does today both at CVRx and with AdvaMed, listen to the latest episodes, and learn more about the Medtech POV podcast.