Advancements in healthcare technology are driving breakthroughs and innovation in the medical equipment manufacturing industry. The future of healthcare is shaping up with advances in digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, big data, robotics and machine learning. These technologies are revolutionizing the healthcare system to become more proactive, personalized and convenient than ever before.
Angela Spang, a brilliant mind and relentless spirit, stands as a remarkable trailblazer who has been leading the charge in revolutionizing the industry through JUNE Medical Group. As the Founder and Owner of JUNE Medical, Angela’s journey in the medical devices’ domain has been nothing short of awe-inspiring. Her passion for healthcare, coupled with an unyielding determination to make a difference, led her to establish the company with a vision that resonates with healthcare professionals worldwide.
She saw the untapped potential for innovative solutions that could not only improve surgical outcomes but also enhance the overall experience for patients and medical practitioners. With this profound insight, Angela embarked on a mission to bridge the gap between traditional medical devices and cutting-edge technology. The result was JUNE Medical Group, a women-owned enterprise with a global presence, headquartered in the UK and with offices in the USA and Sweden.
We interviewed Angela on insights and keen business acumen driving the growth and success of JUNE Medical, positioning it as a prominent player in the medical equipment manufacturing industry.
Let’s delve into the intercepts of the interview!
Briefly describe your professional journey up until now.
I have covered a lot of ground in my professional career to date. Starting as a sales rep in medical devices with Gynecare, Ethicon (a part of Johnson & Johnson), through to marketing and strategy in pharma in Janssen Cilag, I spent 10 very formative years in the JNJ family. International marketing roles expanded both skills and experience covering EMEA, AsiaPacific and Latin America. Now I run a global medical device company, manufacturing a portfolio that I invented.
What challenges did you face along the way?
I never wanted to take on funding, so my JUNE Medical is bootstrapped and I am a 100% shareholder. That meant tight on resources and slower growth than if I had a sack of cash to dig in. Covid didn’t help – sales went off a cliff and we barely made it through. But we have now done all the hard parts and from here, we just see growth…tremendous growth.
What significant impact did you bring to your industry?
The unique aspect of my Galaxy II retractor is that it is both a better device, a newer device and a less costly device. It is easy to innovate and make better things but more expensive. It is really hard to do it if it also needs to save healthcare money. That is true innovation.
Tell us about your company and its foundation pillar.
JUNE Medical is built on trust. I trust the people I hired to do their best and to act with creativity, responsibility and respect for others. Without trust, everything takes longer and I don’t have time for internal grumbles. We have a lot to do and a limited time to do it, so we are efficient and effective. Most people think I have a huge team, but truth be told, my competitors have more lawyers than I had staff!
How does your company promote workforce flexibility and what is your role in it?
It comes back to the trust again. I don’t care where and when people work as long as we get the work done and we are moving forward faster than the competition. I don’t manage the details; I hire fantastic people and give them the support they need to make miracles happen.
What is your take on technology’s importance and how are you leveraging it?
I’ve always been an early adopter and love problem solving, so to me, all new tech is hugely interesting. And I also like thinking of how else it can be used…new ways of implementing it. My brain never stops and I constantly get new ideas.
What will be the next significant change in your industry and how are you preparing for it?
In surgery, robotics is becoming hugely advanced and I think that will change surgery in ways we can’t even imagine yet. Nanotechnology will reshape healthcare and I can’t wait to see what that means.
Innovation-wise, I suspect AI will come up with new ways to innovate based on algorithms taking in feedback from users and integrating limitations of structural design and material strength, spitting out optimized designs ready for testing.
What are your goals in the upcoming future?
Very simple: I want every surgeon in the world to have heard about my self-retaining retractor and if they want to use it, know how to get one.
What advice would you like to give the next generation of aspiring business leaders?
Do something you love and remember that it is easy to be brilliant on good days. Your true strength will show on days when it is hard and things aren’t going your way. That is when you will know what you are really made of.
