"The combination of hands-on mechanical skills and broad business acumen has prepared me for many opportunities in the engineering and engineering management fields," Schiestl said. "Career opportunities included manufacturing, product development, program management, strategic planning, information technology, operations, business management and, most recently, global technology."

 

Recently, Randy and his team at Boston Scientific have been experimenting with open source challenges, the first of their kind in medical devices. The initial foray into such projects was the Boston Scientific Connected Patient Challenge, a global challenge to identify connectivity solutions in medicine through an open competition.

 

"Teamed with other experts in the field including Google, Partners Healthcare, John's Hopkins University, MIT, UMass, and Medstro, we accepted ideas, assembled a panel of highly qualified judges and selected a winning concept," said Schiestl. "It was a first for medical device and drove global innovation in our industry to a new level."

 

Discussing some of the biggest challenges he faces at his organization, Schiestl noted the critical importance of "getting it right the first time," particularly when the equipment developed by Boston Scientific is used specifically to treat patients undergoing a variety of medical therapies. This requires, according to Schiestl, "speed and efficiency while maintaining engineering discipline and knowledge-driven principles to deliver life-saving products."

 

Concluding his interview, Schiestl noted that young professionals looking to lead scientific organizations like Boston Scientific should "rely on your education, training, intuition, and the people around you to make solid knowledge-driven decisions. If you haven't closed identified knowledge gaps, step back and do more homework. Keep product quality, safety, innovation, and performance objectives well aligned. Enjoy the journey!"