How Did I Get Here, and Why Do I Stay?

By: Steve Gompertz, QRx Partner

It might sound like failure to say that I earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering and then never worked a day as a Mechanical Engineer. But my career has been anything but a failure. Despite our best intentions and plans, careers often veer in directions far different from what we imagined.

When I graduated with my engineering degree, I found myself working as a software engineer creating electrical design software, or eCAD. My dream was to be the engineer designing cars, planes, or rockets using advanced CAD tools—new technologies at the time.

So how did I land the job with no software or electrical design background? This was my first lesson: vision and soft skills can matter more than technical ones. My employer valued my vision for how automation tools could be used in engineering, and they saw my personality as a good fit for the team. My competitor had stronger credentials, but he couldn’t hold a conversation. I could.

Subtle Changes in Direction

The next lesson came quickly: no matter how good you are, business shifts can end your employment. The key is not to take layoffs personally, but to stay focused on your vision while allowing for subtle course corrections. My former employer, the one who laid me off, soon needed help showing customers how to implement their engineering tools. My vision was useful again, and this time I guided customers instead of writing code.

At the same time, a nearby medical device company was investing heavily in CAD tools and had no idea how to use them. That opportunity launched my 34-year journey in medical technology.

Lesson learned: adaptability matters more than credentials.

Getting Out of My Comfort Zone

My vision took hold, and soon I was recognized as an expert. But I wanted more than technical leadership—I wanted organizational leadership. My boss wisely pointed out that I needed broader experience first. So I took on a project leadership role in operations, helping with ERP and factory management systems. I knew nothing about either.

Getting uncomfortable was the best decision I could have made—even though at first I felt incompetent and out of place. Over time, two strengths surfaced: project management and the ability to envision how to leverage information systems. I turned failing projects into successes, earning a reputation for delivering results on time, under budget, and with clearer communication.

Takeaway: leadership requires discomfort.

Sometimes Luck Is Needed

I made several attempts at organizational leadership, but timing was never right. Then luck intervened. I had implemented the company’s first Product Data Management system (a precursor to today’s eQMS). The system belonged to Document Control, and when its long-time leader retired, they asked me to step in.

I didn’t know it would introduce me to the world of Quality Systems. Nor did I know the department was a disaster. But within a year, I turned it around completely. Victory! I had proven to myself that I could lead at the organizational level.

And I was learning something bigger: a QMS is just like a computer program. It’s a system of inputs, outputs, mechanisms, and controls. Architect it poorly and it fails. This realization became a new mission and vision.

Good Advice Can Be Tough to Hear

Along the way, I had a career advisor who challenged me with a hard truth: what did I really know about the medical device industry if I’d only ever worked for one company? He told me to stop tying my career to a single employer. So I did the unthinkable—I left.

Once again, I felt like I’d made a mistake. New company, new people, new ways of doing things. But that was exactly what I needed. I learned to apply my vision and skills in different contexts. Promotions and awards followed. I gained certifications my former employer had never supported. I became more strategic and well-rounded.

Lesson: growth requires new perspectives.

Success, But Was I Fulfilled?

Despite rising through the ranks, I realized what truly motivated me was influencing thinking around QMS concepts—and improving the competence of my quality and regulatory colleagues. Too many were hobbyists, learning anecdotally and afraid to challenge outdated methods. I wanted to change that.

Making the “Leap”

Consultants call it the “leap”: the decision to strike out on your own. For me, it meant pursuing a mission to influence the profession and improve the industry. I became both teacher and practitioner. I helped launch a Master’s degree program in Medical Technology Quality and continue to serve as an instructor. I began speaking at conferences, running workshops, and publishing thought pieces. I built a presence on LinkedIn and grew a following in the thousands. And I co-founded a consultancy based on these principles and vision.

Why I Stay

Through all the changes, I’ve stayed focused on medical technology and its ability to impact millions of lives. The path has been challenging, sometimes painful, but always rewarding. More than anything, it has proven that vision—not job titles—defines a career.

And I regret none of it.