An Interview With Vanessa Ogle
S. Support women with mentorship and career coaching.
H. Harness talent by taking a chance on a rising star.
I. Inspire others by being a positive role model.
N. Network to connect with other accomplished women leaders as well as early career talent.
E. Elevate and celebrate the successes and accomplishments of fellow women leaders.
Despite strides towards equality, women remain underrepresented in leadership and management roles across various sectors. In this series, we would like to discuss the barriers to female advancement in these areas and explore actionable strategies for change. We are talking with accomplished women leaders, executives, and pioneers who have navigated these challenges successfully, to hear their experiences, tactics, and advice to inspire and guide the next generation of women toward achieving their full potential in leadership and management roles. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Marie O’Malley.
Marie currently serves as the Sr Vice President of Commercial Operations for PiSA USA. PiSA USA offers world class development, manufacturing, and sterilization services to top tier and startup medical device and pharmaceutical companies.
Marie serves on the Board of Directors of HERhealthEQ which is a non-profit organization with a mission to drive health equity for women in developing countries. Marie was recognized by Diversity Plus Magazine as one of the ‘Top 15 Women in Power Impacting Diversity’ in 2021.
Prior to joining PiSA USA, Marie had a 27-year successful career at Medtronic. Marie held a number of positions during her tenure at Medtronic including leading a global Sourcing team. During her time at Medtronic, Marie was promoted to an executive level position and received numerous recognitions for her many contributions and accomplishments.
While at Medtronic, Marie was very involved in the Women’s Network and has sponsored and mentored emerging female talent throughout her career to create a more inclusive culture.
Marie has also served on the Board of Directors of MassMEDIC for over 12 years, Founded in 1996, the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council (MassMEDIC) is the largest regional medtech association in the United States, with over 300 members representing manufacturers, product developers, suppliers, research institutions and academic health centers. Marie served as the first female Chair of the Board in 2019–2021. Marie was recognized in the 2018 and 2019 top 100 list of women executive leaders in the medtech industry.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be when “I grew up”. I was always a hard worker and an accomplished student so when I was contemplating college and degree options, my father suggested I get a degree in either Accounting or Engineering as there were good job opportunities in those fields. I graduated with a degree in Finance from Binghamton University in Upstate New York and started my career as an accountant. My professional journey evolved with a number of new opportunities and roles and led me to leading a large global team at Medtronic. I was fortunate to be able to travel extensively to work with team members and suppliers all over the world.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
I had many great experiences while I was at Medtronic for close to three decades. I had the opportunity to work with amazing colleagues and leaders, travel the world, and support the Medtronic mission and the patients we serve.
During the pandemic, I made the decision to retire early from Medtronic and do something different for the next phase of my career. Within weeks of leaving Medtronic, I was exploring opportunities with other medtech companies. During this process, I was speaking to a trusted female executive who encouraged me to push myself to do something different and start my own consulting company. As scary as this sounded, I took her advice and established O’Malley Advisors, LLC. Taking this leap turned out to be a great decision as it challenged me to learn new skills, launch a successful business, and appreciate the value and worth of my time and talent. One opportunity led to another and another and eventually brought me to the role I have today with PiSA USA.
I am grateful for all the advice from fellow female executives in the industry who encouraged, coached, and mentored me, especially as I navigated the transition to entrepreneurship. So many women, including my now adult daughter, have supported and helped me navigate my career, and I will continue to pay it forward.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that significantly influenced your path to leadership?
I was working for a Controller early in my career as a staff accountant. My manager insisted his team all earn their accounting certification credential. He took the exam 4 times before passing so then expected his team to sit for the exam. I prepared and passed with this the 2nd highest score of all who sat for the exam that year. I consequently received an award and internal and external recognition. My boss at the time was surprised to say the least. The Vice President of Sales recruited me for a managerial position she created where I was able to develop as a leader and serve as the business partner for the US commercial team. This launched my career in an entirely new direction.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
The Vice President of Sales was instrumental in changing the trajectory of my career by offering me a position outside of traditional accounting and finance roles. She saw my potential and gave me an opportunity to join the commercial leadership team and lead the Sales and Contracts Administration organization.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
I had my daughter, who was in elementary school at the time, read The Confidence Code -The Science and Art of Self-Assurance-What Women Should Know by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman to summarize it for me for an upcoming work book club. The book discussed the neuroscience and genetics of confidence while outlining the actions you take can change your physical wiring. Instead of reading the book myself, it became a conversation between my daughter and myself that resonated with me as I was amidst trying to juggle a career and motherhood. While I wasn’t always able to be fully present at many of my daughter’s school events or “get it right”, I hope that I am a positive role model of confidence and paving the way for future female leaders.
Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life or your work?
“Clear is Kind. Unclear is Unkind.” Brene Brown. As a leader and professional, I find it is always best to provide direct feedback and responses. My team has appreciated knowing where they stand and getting real time feedback. People trust and respect authenticity.
How have you used your success to make the world a better place?
I try to give back as much as I can by mentoring and supporting others in their career journey. I was given an opportunity by a female executive which I am forever grateful for. I have mentored many young women and provide career guidance, support and connections which have elevated their careers. I maintain a strong network and am excited to help others whenever I can.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. According to this report, only about 31.7% of top executive positions across industries are held by women. This reflects great historical progress, but it also shows that more work still has to be done to empower women. In your opinion and experience what is currently holding back women from leadership and management?
There are some fields and industries that are historically male dominated. The Medical Device industry is no exception. There are accomplished women and early pipeline talent who just need the opportunities, exposure, and support in order to shift to a more representative percentage of top female executives.
This might be intuitive to you but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become leaders and managers?
Women make incredible leaders. They are able to develop and execute strategic initiatives as well as build and develop teams through strong leadership. In my experience, women can multitask and execute better than many of their male counterparts.
Can you please share “5 Things We Need To Increase Women’s Engagement in Leadership and Management?”
1 . S Support women with mentorship and career coaching.
2 . H Harness talent by taking a chance on a rising star.
3 . I Inspire others by being a positive role model.
4 . N Network to connect with other accomplished women leaders as well as early career talent.
5 . E Elevate and celebrate the successes and accomplishments of fellow women leaders.
In your opinion, what systemic changes are needed to facilitate more equitable access for women to leadership roles?
Women should have equitable access to leadership and promotional opportunities. One way is to require hiring managers to interview a diverse slate of candidates for leadership roles. We should ensure access and consideration for women which will bring forward capable female talent and future leaders. This is critical at all levels to ensure a diverse pool of pipeline talent moving through the industry.
What strategies have you found most effective in mentoring and supporting other women to pursue leadership positions?
One simple effective tool is to actively listen and encourage women to reach their full potential with stretch assignments and opportunities. Women should pursue those roles which may seem to be a big leap, yet they are often fully capable of being successful. Once given the opportunity, women will develop in their leadership roles and shine if given the chance.
How would you advise a woman leader about how to navigate the challenges of being a woman in a leadership role within a male-dominated industry?
Take your seat at the table and find your voice. You are in your position to contribute so speak up. Furthermore, if you have a seat at the table invite someone into the conversation to ensure everyone’s voice is heard and valued.
How do you balance the demand for authoritative leadership with the stereotypical expectations of female behavior in professional settings?
You must earn the trust and respect of your team, colleagues and leadership. Your performance will speak for itself. Women need to be the authoritative leader and break the stereotypes that it is acceptable for men but not women to demand control and respect.Challenge gendered vocabulary like bossy, emotional or temperamental that is used independent of intention to shift the norm.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
Use your network and remember it is a two-way street. Employers want strong talent who are passionate leaders and employees want to find satisfying roles in collaborative organizations. Finding that match is often a win-win so don’t be afraid to network and openly share what future you may be looking for, MedTech is a small and supportive community.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
I am active on LinkedIn and always happy to expand my network. https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-o-malley
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
About The Interviewer: Vanessa Ogle is a mom, entrepreneur, inventor, writer, and singer/songwriter. Vanessa’s talent in building world-class leadership teams focused on diversity, a culture of service, and innovation through inclusion allowed her to be one of the most acclaimed Latina CEO’s in the last 30 years. She collaborated with the world’s leading technology and content companies such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Broadcom to bring innovative solutions to travelers and hotels around the world. Vanessa is the lead inventor on 120+ U.S. Patents. Accolades include: FAST 100, Entrepreneur 360 Best Companies, Inc. 500 and then another six times on the Inc. 5000. Vanessa was personally honored with Inc. 100 Female Founder’s Award, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Enterprising Women of the Year among others. Vanessa now spends her time sharing stories to inspire and give hope through articles, speaking engagements and music. In her spare time she writes and plays music in the Amazon best selling new band HigherHill, teaches surfing clinics, trains dogs, and cheers on her children.
Please connect with Vanessa here on linkedin and subscribe to her newsletter Unplugged as well as follow her on Substack, Instagram, Facebook, and X and of course on her website VanessaOgle.
Marie O’Malley Of PiSA USA On How We Can Increase Women’s Engagement in Leadership and Management was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.