At Radiometer, fostering a sense of belonging and driving continuous improvement are at the core of our mission. Ashalatha Chalithadka, Senior Software & IT Engineering Manager in our Carlsbad, CA office, exemplifies these values through her commitment to innovation, advocacy, and team development. Here’s a closer look at Asha’s inspiring journey and her significant impact at Radiometer.
Setting Goals and Defining Success
“What I find truly inspiring at Radiometer is the collective awareness across all levels of the organization—everyone understands where we stand in the market as a leader in blood gas analysis and where we aim to go. There’s a clear commitment to continuous improvement, with strong support from leadership to help us reach our goals. Success is about having this shared vision, having access to the necessary resources and tools for growth, and ultimately sustaining that momentum.”
Asha envisions a future where Radiometer continues to lead the market through a unified vision and unwavering commitment to improvement. For her, success lies in collaboration, providing the right resources, and maintaining the momentum needed to achieve our collective goals.
Advocacy and Building Community
“One of the great advantages of being at Radiometer is that it feels like a small, close-knit company where we can wear multiple hats, yet we are also part of Danaher’s broader ecosystem. This gives us access to incredible resources, including Associate Resource Groups (ARGs) and the Danaher Business System (DBS). These have been invaluable for my personal and professional growth, and foster a strong sense of community and belonging.”
Ashalatha is actively involved in advocacy work and participates in Danaher’s Associate Resource Groups (ARG). These initiatives provide opportunities for personal development, foster a sense of community, and support belonging within the organization.
Leading Innovation at Radiometer
“I lead the software team responsible for developing the blood gas analyzer’s software. We also focus on data analytics to enhance the feedback loop from the field to the factory and provide critical technical support for both the lab and manufacturing floor. This varied scope allows me to engage with the product lifecycle holistically, contributing to areas well beyond my primary role, which has been incredibly rewarding.”
In her role, Ashalatha spearheads the development of software for blood gas analyzers and leverages data analytics to improve feedback mechanisms between the field and manufacturing. Her holistic approach ensures that Radiometer’s products remain at the forefront of healthcare technology, enhancing both clinical and manufacturing processes.
Opportunities for Innovation
“Innovation at Radiometer is an ongoing journey. Whether it’s driving incremental improvements or creating breakthroughs, the spirit of ‘Kaizen’ permeates the company. We have a wealth of resources, tools, and cross-site collaboration that supports continuous improvement. I’ve had the privilege of leading several Kaizen initiatives like the Problem Solving Process (PSP), Transactional Process Improvement (TPI), DMVM etc. These experiences have allowed me to methodically achieve outcomes I wouldn’t have reached as quickly without the structured processes we have in place.”
Ashalatha champions a culture of continuous improvement through the Kaizen philosophy. By leading various Kaizen initiatives, she ensures that Radiometer remains agile and innovative, consistently enhancing our products and processes to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare industry.
Looking Forward: Embracing Challenges and Driving Change
“I am passionate about problem-solving, and I’m eager to take on even larger opportunities where I can make a substantial, measurable impact. I thrive in environments where I can apply my skills to drive positive change and create lasting improvements.”
Ashalatha is excited about future opportunities to drive meaningful change within Radiometer and the broader healthcare landscape. Her passion for problem-solving and dedication to making a measurable impact continue to inspire her team and contribute to Radiometer’s mission of improving patient care.
And each of us plays a part. Fueled by our culture of continuous improvement, we turn ideas into impact – delivering innovation at the speed of life.
Solve the toughest challenges
Achieve more every day in a culture of continuous improvement to take your career to the next level. High performers belong at a company that can live up to their standards. When you join Danaher, our unique way of working will challenge and inspire you. With access to an ever-evolving portfolio of best practices and know-how, you will quickly move from aspiration to results.
Join a winning team
Excel in a collaborative environment where leading minds come together to drive impact. Count on Danaher’s support, resources and best practices while having the autonomy to lead and contribute to talented teams and businesses. Collaborate with teammates around the world who share a collective goal to improve human health.
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Help our customers improve quality of life around the world—for a healthier, more sustainable tomorrow. At Danaher, you’ll innovate to help customers solve their most complex challenges—our combined impact on human health is the measure of our success. You’ll join a group of leading businesses, each with unique missions and challenges, yet unified by a shared ambition to accelerate the real-life impact of tomorrow’s science and technology.
You belong here
Bring your authentic self to Danaher, where you and your unique viewpoint matter. You’re coming to Danaher and our operating companies with a story, and we want to hear it and learn from it. Here, we embrace unique viewpoints—they strengthen our teams and lead to innovative solutions, breakthrough thinking and winning businesses. We believe that when you can be yourself at work, there’s no limit to the impact you can make.
Accelerate your potential
Grow at the pace of your aspirations at a leading science and technology company, where your expertise drives breakthrough thinking and innovative solutions. Build an incredible career across high-impact science and technology industries, spanning Danaher’s global portfolio of leading businesses.
When Noreen Karim started at Integrated DNA Technologies in January 2023, she began a journey of impact and collaboration, using her STEM skills to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Noreen continues to gain new skills with the Danaher Business System (DBS) of continuous improvement.
We met Noreen to discuss her experience and her dreams for the future.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your role.
I grew up in a small village in the northwestern Pakistan called Malakand. I received my Ph.D. in Medical Genetics in Pakistan where I worked to unveil the genetic causes underlying inherited skin diseases. After completion of my PhD in 2019, I came to the United States for a postdoc to join Dr. Robert Rice’s lab at UC Davis in Environmental Toxicology where I worked on multiple projects of genetic and proteomic nature.
I joined Integrated DNA Technologies, IDT, last year in January as a Research Scientist III. The work IDT does resonates with me because number one, my career has been centered around DNA and protein analysis. And number two, this is just something that clicked with me most of the time. The sheer molecular scale of genetic material fascinates me, especially considering its profound impact on life. And so, I am in it to pursue a long-term career in molecular biology and genome technologies.
What does your day-to-day look like?
I was hired for a project related to making a kit that would make it easier to detect or sequence cancer-causing mutations. It was put on hold based on a business decision, but since then, I’ve worked on several other projects. Lately, I’m involved in a project aimed at developing CE-IVD approved products for the detection of diseases.
There are two categories of products — RUO or research-use-only products, that are used solely for laboratory research purposes and CE-IVD or products approved for invitro diagnostic uses can be used in clinical labs. The latter category products undergo rigorous testing and validations to meet regulatory requirements.
It is very exciting to be part of a product development process that has a positive impact on real people’s health and lives.
I am a Research Scientist, so I work in research, development and innovation. My day-to-day work includes designing and executing experiments to answer questions about the product ideas that we are working towards. It also entails data analysis and interpretation to draw conclusions, troubleshooting any roadblocks, as well as presentation and report writing. My day-to-day depends on where we are in the product roadmap.
For example, for this CE-IVD project, I need to ask myself, “What data do we need to fulfill the regulatory standards? What are the experiments we will need to obtain the data? What are the documents that we need to have completed?”
What are some of your most memorable moments over the year you’ve worked with IDT?
I worked in what IDT calls “sandbox projects” — projects that are not on the company’s project list but we test different ideas that can someday be developed into a product/project. I worked on a sandbox project related to cDNA synthesis.
We had an inhouse developed reverse transcriptase enzyme at IDT. My team and I developed the buffers and identified the optimal chemical and physical conditions for that enzyme. Now, that enzyme and the buffers can be used to make RNA from very minuscule quantities, down to the picogram scale. It was exciting to see something developed so well in such a short time.
I actually presented that work as a poster presentation at the last general meeting of Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) in Florida and . I got very good feedback on that from the attendees.
Can you talk us through what your career journey has looked like as a woman in STEM? Do you have any advice for women starting their own STEM careers?
As I mentioned, I’m from the northwestern part of Pakistan. In that area, there was a lot of resistance to women’s education at the time. During my undergrad, there were times when our university would be closed for months at a time because of threats coming from the Taliban. That was one of the things that impacted me, or rather, weighed on my mind. I was constantly reminding myself, “I have to move forward. I have to resist this resistance.” That was something that kept me progressing.
I believe that people should follow their passion, whatever resonates with them, be it STEM or any other field. We spend most of our waking hours doing our work. Therefore we should pursue what brings joy to us. I think one will be more productive at what one genuinely enjoys.
Can you tell us anything else about your experience working at IDT?
Working at IDT is my first industry job.
IDT has provided me with a valuable glimpse into the industry environment. As someone who previously used these products, I now see them from the developer’s perspective. In my past year with IDT, I learned how products are meticulously planned and developed, I observed significantly larger teams collaborating towards shared goals, and understood a bit more of how companies grow and progress.
Lately, I’ve been delving into the DBS tools, also known as the Danaher Business System tools. I completed a Kaizen and a PSP this year, and I am really looking forward to applying the DBS tools in my work. What appeals to me is how systematically structured these tools are – they can be applied to both small-scale and large-scale challenges. Take the Problem Solving Process (PSP) tool, for example, while it may seem very basic, its structured approach allows it to be employed across many scenarios, taking you to the core of issues and their solutions. I think DBS tools are a good way of gaining leadership skills allowing one to be more productive and efficient at work.
Why do you think other people in genomics would enjoy a job at IDT or any other Danaher company?
Everyone who has worked in molecular biology knows IDT for their oligos (oligonucleotides). If you talk about IDT to anyone, they’ll be like, “Oh, the oligo company.” It was the same for me. I worked with IDT products throughout my career so much that when I saw there was an opening and I got the offer, I was very excited.
Another exciting feature of IDT is the cutting-edge nature of the field and therefore, our products. To give you some background, in next generation sequencing there is pre-sequencing, sequencing and post-sequencing areas. Pre-sequencing is when the DNA/RNA samples are prepared for sequencing, and post-sequencing is when the sequencing data is crunched, analyzed and interpreted. IDT works ion the pre-sequencing area making kits for sample preparation for next-generation sequencing. We are working on continuously improving the NGS track by simplifying the sample processing and driving to obtain more in-depth information from as little sample as possible. It’s a very advanced field positioned at the very forefront.
The other thing I like about IDT is its collaborative environment. Because my experience before IDT was in the post-sequencing area, it was a switch for me. The collaborative environment of IDT made it much easier. for me to learn and be productive ASAP.
Lastly, being a part of Danaher, we have access to all the DBS tools and processes which is a great way of growing and developing one’s career.
What does the future hold for you and your career?
I do not see myself being confined to the lab forever. I definitely want to learn more about organizational structures and business strategies. I like looking at the bigger perspective, which I think is very important for even somebody who’s working in the lab.
If you could give potential candidates considering a role at IDT any information or advice, what would you share with them?
I find myself very fortunate to have landed at IDT. I would circle back to what I said earlier about the cutting-edge nature of our work, the collaborative environment of IDT and Danaher, and the impact our work has on the world of genetics and on the health of people’s lives. We are also in the Bay area, which is the hub of biotech giving us the opportunity to be more aware of what’s happening in the field. It’s these things that are important for career and professional growth.
Find Your Next Step at Danaher
At Danaher, we believe in giving people the skills they need to innovate. With us, you can pioneer groundbreaking innovations and see the difference you make in people’s lives. As an industry leader in biotechnology and other fields, we help people build meaningful careers and push the boundaries of what’s possible.
When Angelica Meyer joined Aldevron in 2016 as a biomanufacturing operator, she didn’t know what the future had in store—for her career or for the company. Five years later, Aldevron became a Danaher operating company, and today, Angelica is a senior manager leading the new Manufacturing Support and Technology team. Below, she shares what it was like to go through the acquisition—including learning the Danaher Business System of continuous improvement—and why she calls her work “the most rewarding experience of my life.”
What does Aldevron do, and what kind of impact does your work have?
We do contract manufacturing, which means making biologics—plasmid DNA, mRNA and proteins—for our clients. Every project is different because we have clients all over the world and work with them at every stage, from the initial clinical phases all the way through to commercial products. Sometimes we’re taking their existing processes and executing on those, sometimes we’re working with them to develop a new process, and sometimes we handle all of that ourselves.
As far as the impact of our work, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is a good example; we supplied the plasma DNA Moderna used for all the different variants of the virus. Getting to be part of that collaboration has been amazing. Normally you don’t get to see a program go from initiation to patients nearly that quickly, but because of the pandemic, it was obviously a very compressed timeline. And the opportunity to contribute to a project that affected every single person in the world—it has been the most rewarding experience of my life, hands down.
Danaher acquired Aldevron not long after the first vaccines rolled out. How has that changed the way you work?
I believed going in that the acquisition would be extremely beneficial for us. That was especially true at that point in the pandemic, because procurement was a nightmare for so many companies, including us. Things were shut down, things were delayed. Before we joined Danaher, trying to get the materials and technologies we needed felt like being alone on one side of a tug-of-war. And then after the acquisition, suddenly we had all these other operating companies we could work with and learn from. Cytiva, Pall—we were able to talk to them about what our next steps should be in a way you never could if you weren’t part of the same parent company. It was an open door for collaboration.
And I think being under the Danaher umbrella was especially appealing for me as someone involved in tech—my role isn’t within the R&D department, but my team does handle process development and biomanufacturing engineering; we sort of bridge manufacturing and R&D. So to join a company that’s so well-known for investing in development and gain all this potential to do new things—that was exciting.
What about your introduction to the Danaher Business System (DBS)? What was it like to climb that learning curve?
Danaher did bring DBS in relatively quickly, but it never felt invasive or aggressive. It wasn’t, “Learn all these acronyms and terms right away, and sink or swim.” It was, “Hey, here are some tools and structures that can make your work easier and better, and here are some people who can help you get those things online.” It was done very thoughtfully—working collaboratively, slowly making adjustments. They really emphasized that DBS is an ever-evolving process. When you have a metric in the red, that doesn’t mean you’re doing a bad job. It’s about continuous improvement.
I think I was personally predisposed toward DBS because I love troubleshooting and solving problems—that’s one of the reasons I enjoy working in biologics so much; the field always throws you curveballs. But I do think it’s been valuable across the board. Daily Management, for example, is a visualization tool for keeping track of different elements of the business—that’s now pretty ubiquitous across all of the departments at Aldevron.
Can you give us any examples of improvements DBS has helped the team make?
We have been doing a lot of what we call kaizens, which are essentially workshops where you deeply evaluate a process and look for opportunities to streamline it. So far we’ve focused on big-picture issues such as safety programs and batch-record distribution, and we’re working our way down to smaller challenges. Kaizens are very structured, which I think is important—if you don’t have a specific process, it’s hard to know what you’re putting in and what you’re getting out.
There’s also a lot of attention paid to getting the right people in the room. For the kaizen that led to our new “dock to stock” warehouse process, for example, it was critical to include the operators who work on the floor. Our goal was to cut out unnecessary work for them as they checked in materials. Before, we were treating everything the same way regardless of its product impact, which meant spending as much time on things like paper towels as we were on final vials. If you want to solve a problem like that, the operators are your subject matter experts—and then we also include people who work on any processes that process affects.
The process doesn’t end with implementation—it’s kaizen, evaluate, kaizen, evaluate. Our goal isn’t to make everything perfect right now. It’s to continually improve, and as we do, identify other opportunities for improvements. But I can say we’ve already seen great results. Our processes have been streamlined significantly just in this first year within Danaher, and I think that really is because of using the DBS tools.
What are you looking forward to right now regarding your growth and Aldevron’s?
I look forward to every day because I always know I’ll get to help clients advance their clinical programs and reach more patients—but beyond that, Aldevron is so dynamic that I honestly have no idea what’s in store. A year ago, I never would have expected to be in this role; I started as a biomanufacturing operator, and now I’m getting to run a brand-new team.
The same is true of Aldevron itself—I couldn’t have told you when I joined in 2016 that we’d see exponential growth almost every year, but that’s been our trajectory. And I think we’re just getting started; gene therapy is still relatively new in the field. There are a lot of visionary people at this company, and now we have the resources to bring in new technologies, expand the manufacturing we’re already doing and adapt to support innovations in the industry. So I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how we grow.
Interested in joining Angelica and the rest of the Aldevron team? Check out all open roles across Danaher or join our talent community today.
My name is Maria Sanz Rodriquez and I am a Marketing Manager at Radiometer. My career path is not the traditional one you would imagine. I started my career as a chemistry scientist, doing research in academia – along the way, I developed new skills that led to a career change in marketing and sales.
From Lab Coats to Marketing
As a scientist, I was always interested in the clinical aspects of chemistry and as a result, decided to specialize in laboratory medicine. In Spain, coming from a science-based background, you can choose one of four laboratory specialties; I chose laboratory clinical biochemistry. I started working in a hospital and had my first contact with analyzers. When I finished my specialization at the hospital, Radiometer asked if I was interested in joining the Iberian Radiometer team. The rest is history.
Now, years later, I am a marketing manager at Radiometer. I love my job because it allows me to explore my passion for growth and development – for businesses, people, and myself.
Did I expect to work in a global diagnostic technology company when I started my career as a scientist? Definitely not. But I’ve found many opportunities for personal growth, high-quality products and community within a global team.
The Power of Seizing Opportunities
As time passed, I realized that a job at Radiometer is not just a one-time proposition. You get a development plan and work with your manager towards your goals. And because we are part of a larger organization, Danaher, you become part of a global community inside and outside Radiometer. I have close connections with colleagues from around the world. And honestly, I am proud to sell Radiometer products because they are the best on the market.
Improvement is what motivates me. And not just business-related improvement but (maybe even more) related to people management and development. I want to work to support the business and my people. I make a habit of asking myself: “How can I support my team? Can I share knowledge? Can I have another one-to-one meeting with someone to check in and improve their current situation?”
Anyone can change their career path, but I think I could take the journey I am on because I learned how to see opportunities; this is a skill that anyone can learn.
You cannot wait for things to happen to you. The chance that someone offers you your dream job out of the blue is extremely low. You must raise your hand and speak up when you’re ready to take on the next challenge and continue learning. And you need to ask yourself from time to time: What do you want to do in your future career?
Continuous Improvement: Applying Business Principles in Life
I call it improvement, but at Radiometer and Danaher we call it continuous improvement. Danaher Business System (DBS) is the foundation on which we build lean manufacturing. And honestly, I love the DBS. When I started using DBS, I thought it was just about numbers. Now I understand why we use it – why we think strategically and learn new tools and processes.
Believe it or not, I even apply DBS tools at home with my kids. When their grades were slipping, I called for a meeting and used visual management and problem-solving tools to help them see the problem and create a step-by-step solution. This is just one example of how DBS adds value and can be helpful in many ways.
Interested in joining Maria and the rest of the Radiometer team? Check out open roles across Danaher or join our talent community today.
My name is Zana Dauti and I have worked at Radiometer for over seven years. I started as an intern and was only supposed to stay for six months but fell in love with the culture and purpose of our work. As an Electrical Engineer, I work in the test and manufacturing processes department. This serves as the link between research and development (R&D) and production. My team ensures that products are ready for manufacturing and handles any additional testing or documentation needed.
My role involves working with test equipment and software for electrical circuit boards. We take the functional requirements from R&D and find solutions to create a production-friendly version of the prototypes. It can be challenging, but it’s rewarding to see our products used with the knowledge that they are helping people in critical health situations.
Our work at Radiometer is incredibly meaningful, creating medical devices that help save lives. It’s fulfilling to be part of such an important mission and to know that our work has a real impact.
Harnessing Potential: A Culture of Growth and Support
Radiometer is an amazing place to work. One of the reasons is due to the supportive and encouraging environment. Even though I’m often younger than most of my colleagues and one of the few women in the department, I’ve always felt valued and respected. I appreciate that everyone is willing to lend a hand or point you in the right direction when you need help.
I’m currently working on duplicating some of our test equipment. This job is a balance between fun and necessity, and while the tasks aren’t always the most fun, knowing that my work positively impacts lives motivates me to get out of bed and come to work every morning.
The other half of my job involves developing alternatives to our existing products. I ensure that once our R&D team has identified an alternative component, all necessary documents and test processes are in place so that manufacturing can proceed smoothly.
In my professional growth and development, I have received tremendous support from my managers and colleagues at Radiometer. They have helped me improve my skills through various courses and have encouraged me to raise the bar. I’ve always had the freedom to take ownership of my tasks, and I am encouraged to make improvements to my work where I see fit within our regulatory limits. This freedom and support has greatly helped me grow professionally and personally.
The fact that Radiometer is part of Danaher has many advantages, especially in knowledge-sharing. Some of my colleagues are part of an interest group where they meet engineers from other companies within Danaher to discuss their work, challenges and solutions. It offers a chance to learn about the different testing systems and processes used at other companies and share knowledge more freely as we all play on the same team.
Internally, we have a monthly meeting among electrical engineers where we present specific projects and insights. This knowledge-sharing is invaluable and often sparks ideas for how to do things differently.
Trailblazing Women in STEM: Fostering a Culture of Inclusion
In my personal life, a lot has changed over the past seven years, but one constant has been my work at Radiometer; the strong connection to my colleagues and work makes this place feel like a second home. Our work environment is supportive and nurturing and places value on mental health.
Despite being the only woman on my team, I have found my place here and feel a sense of belonging. As an electrical engineer, I am first and foremost an engineer and focused on the job at hand. My team has always included me and gave me space to be myself. Despite being the only woman on my team, I have never felt like my voice isn’t heard.
I always recommend Radiometer as a workplace to my friends and other women in the field. I’ve noticed that generally, women tend to doubt themselves more and hesitate to apply for jobs if they do not meet all the qualifications. This is why it is crucial to break down these barriers and create a more inclusive workplace where everyone feels empowered, but also to be transparent outside the company and showcase our authentic culture. I believe we have a strong culture here at Radiometer and we should be proud of it.
Interested in joining Zana and the rest of the Radiometer team? Check out open roles across Danaher or join our talent community today.
After three and a half years in the pharma industry, Kajal Pradhan took a leap into diagnostics and has found the change fits well with her personal and professional goals. We chatted about her experiences so far and her vision of what’s to come.
What is your role at HemoCue?
I am a Territory Sales Representative based in Guwahati. I cover the entire northeast region of India, so I am on the move a lot! My daily responsibilities involve visiting our customers, providing them with scientific knowledge about our products, and showcasing how point-of-care solutions can enhance their clinical practices.
My job is all about building strong relationships with customers, delivering services, and visiting our channel partners, which are things I really enjoy.
What brought you to HemoCue?
Prior to joining HemoCue, I worked in the pharmaceutical sector in Guwahati. I had been considering a change for career growth, but I wasn’t very familiar with HemoCue initially. I spoke to some contacts in the diagnostics industry and found that HemoCue has a very good reputation. And during the interview process, I got a very positive impression of HemoCue and the team. And it’s only gotten better since I started!
Upon joining, I found a supportive working environment, with leaders who appreciate and motivate their team members. I really enjoy traveling, and since that is something I do quite a bit for my job, it’s very motivating. There are a lot of opportunities to do good, meaningful work here, and I see myself growing at HemoCue.
How would you describe the HemoCue culture and growth opportunities?
HemoCue’s work culture is different from the pharmaceutical industry, and I’ve learned a lot through this transition. There is a strong sense of respect in HemoCue, both between colleagues, but also from our customers. Our customers trust that we are going to guide them to the right solution and are very excited to hear about the new things we have brought to them.
I think that the supportive environment, where every team member is encouraged and appreciated, has been instrumental in my growth. Very soon after starting here, I was given the opportunity to present a story of my success installing HbA1c machines at a Town Hall meeting. That was a very proud moment, and very motivating.
The leadership team, including my reporting manager Suman Dasgupta, has been encouraging and has shown that gender does not determine opportunities for growth at HemoCue.
How does HemoCue support your personal purpose?
The company focuses on selling value rather than just the price, and this aligns with my personal values. I want to sell more than just a product, but rather something that I believe in and that will help our customers. That is what HemoCue does.
Also, I value the work culture at HemoCue, which is built on respect and appreciation. I have interacted with people at all levels in the company and everyone is very respectful and open. Additionally, the equal opportunities provided to all team members, regardless of gender or background, make me feel valued and supported.
What sets HemoCue apart?
HemoCue might not have been widely known in northeast India before, but it’s gaining recognition now. The company’s small, close-knit teams create a supportive and motivating atmosphere where everyone’s contributions are valued.
What sets it apart is the trust it has built with customers, as well as its commitment to providing equal opportunities to all employees. There are many female managers here. It is motivating to see, knowing that they were once in a position similar to mine and now they are managing a whole team! Everyone is treated the same, regardless of gender or race, and that is very refreshing!
What are you most looking forward to in the months and years ahead?
I am looking forward to strengthening myself on a qualitative approach. My focus is to gather more knowledge every day so I can be ready when an opportunity with increased responsibility comes.
I’ve been fortunate to experience a supportive work environment at HemoCue. The respect, encouragement and equal opportunities provided here have made my journey enjoyable and promising. I look forward to continuing my career at HemoCue. In the future, I wish to lead a powerful team in sales and marketing!
Interested in joining Kajal and the rest of the HemoCue team? Check out all open roles across Danaher or join our talent community today.
Johan Gärdsmark, Manager of Firmware and Project Manager at HemoCue, strives for open communication when his team members face new challenges and steep learning curves. As they build new software and support HemoCue’s point-of-care blood diagnostics products, Johan’s perspective on teamwork and what success actually looks like comes from a surprising place: coaching his son’s volleyball team.
What is your role at HemoCue?
I’m the manager of our firmware team and a project manager here in Sweden. My team´s and my job is mostly about defining and designing features for new products. Another part of my role is to collaborate with my colleague in India, Shanti Pi, who leads the work with our cloud and application development.
The way I split my time varies. Depending on the situation, I may spend 20% of my time as a manager, 50% as a project manager and 30% on other activities, for example supporting people who need help.
How would you describe your leadership style?
As a software engineer, you have to be very structured and detail-focused. Because of my engineering background, I thrive in an action-oriented environment with clear decisions and responsibilities. I like when answers are black and white, but in reality, they are often in the grey zone. Nonetheless, they also need to be handled to drive action and decisions.
Transparency is important to me. I’m quite open with my team—as much as I can be—about plans and what’s happening. If someone is delayed, it’s never a problem to say, “This took much longer than we thought it would,” as long as they are vocal about it. It all comes down to keeping commitments, being completely transparent if there are problems, and communicating clearly and accurately.
Also, I’m very flexible about working hours. We have the privilege of working with software, and most of the time, it doesn’t really matter if you’re in the office or at home. If someone feels like they perform better at home, they are free to decide for themselves. On the other hand, it’s important to me that we have a good team atmosphere and I encourage the whole team to meet at least once a week.
As a coach to my son’s volleyball team, I see similarities between coaching that team and coaching team members here. It’s about team spirit, making everyone feel engaged and wanting to reach common goals together.
For example, we were at a volleyball tournament and we lost the bronze medal match. But I’m 100% sure everyone on the team was excited and had a great experience regardless. Even if the ultimate goal is to win, we can enjoy the challenge and celebrate our learnings which will make us stronger in the long run.
You touched on transparency. Can you speak more about how that comes into play on your team?
It can be seen in our daily work and how we collaborate. When we review each other’s code, there can be opposing opinions and conflicts, but I expect everyone to keep it at a professional level. It’s important to be open about defects. For example, if we identify a defect in software, I want my team to be open, not passing on problems to the next person. Obviously, it’s never good when we miss something, but we should celebrate the fact that we caught it before it reached the customer.
From a company perspective, my team members are viewed as experts in anything that has to do with software. That’s not always the case, but because we are small in numbers, we need to have a broad set of competencies rather than being specialized in one area. We must take on assignments that may require a big learning curve for us. For example, new technology platforms that may require a certain set of development tools, programming languages, architectures or design patterns.
Together, we’re getting started on that journey. We find a plan and learn from the experts. If someone is uncomfortable with an assignment because they feel like they lack the correct competence or experience and they’re open about that, then it becomes a discussion. That discussion might end up with me telling them I want to challenge them, and then I make sure to act as support throughout their journey.
What could someone new to HemoCue expect?
The first thing I noticed when I came to HemoCue was that everyone said “Hello” in the corridor, even though I didn’t know them. It’s a welcoming feeling. You have this closeness and access to the different departments. We take time to help each other because we have a common goal. It’s quite easy to get the bigger picture of what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.
We’re creating medical devices, so documentation and understanding the complete system are important. If you only want to code without really thinking about how it helps healthcare professionals, then HemoCue might not be the right company for you. Our focus is on the outcome and on stable, robust, reliable devices with a high focus on quality, so we’ll never do fast, progressive, weekly updates to our software.
What continues to draw you to HemoCue?
As I mentioned, we’re a small team, and at HemoCue that means we’re agile and flexible. That’s the advantage of being a small company. But that also means the priority can switch quite fast. You need to be willing to adapt and take ownership at work. If you’re willing to do that, it’s very engaging because then you have an opportunity to learn and grow.
I can honestly say that I never planned on staying at HemoCue for 12 years, but many factors have kept me here. I have been challenged, I have great colleagues and the atmosphere here overall has made me stay.
How could a new associate expect to grow professionally?
As soon as I joined, I became the expert at low-level development because I came with that background and there was no one else with those skills. I felt that I was responsible from the beginning. If someone joins who has expertise within a specific area that they want to develop in, they may soon become the expert with growing responsibilities.
Another great thing about working at HemoCue is that we can actually influence the customer’s experience of our new products. If you’re in an organization with thousands of people working on the product, you have a very, very small chance of doing that. For example, we’re developing a new product with a graphical user interface. Somebody on my team might say, “We should not use that icon; we should use this symbol instead.” And that feedback might be put to use straight away in the design process. You can really impact the design of the final product. That’s really, really cool.
What are you excited about?
I’m looking forward to further growing my team as software always seems to be on the critical path for every project. Also, to continue collaborating with Shanti and her team in India and see how we can grow together.
I’m also excited about our endless number of opportunities. We are a global company with several hundred thousand analyzers on the field in 130 countries, testing 400,000 patients per day. From a global health perspective, it’s mind-blowing to think about what we could do with that data.
But mostly, I’m looking forward to my team supporting the rest of the organization with new products.
Helen Kuroczycki never assumed she’d be working at IDBS for as long as she has, but she’s also never found a reason to leave. Her long and varied tenure reflects a career where one opportunity always leads to the next. Below, she explains what she’s working on and how she’s able to keep growing while staying put.
First, tell us about your background. What brought you to IDBS?
I originally thought I wanted to be a scientist. I studied to be a molecular microbiologist, and I loved being in the lab. Then, as I was working on my PhD, I realized that my interest in the science part was waning, but at the same time, I was developing a passion for computers. Even in the lab as a postgraduate, I was something of an unofficial de facto IT person, and I was always figuring out ways to work on projects on my computer. So I began considering a different career path.
My initiation into working at IDBS was a good example of being in the right place at the right time—and also being prepared. I was nearing the end of my PhD at University of Surrey and didn’t know what my next move was going to be. IDBS is based literally across the street from the campus, and a friend of a friend’s sister was working there as a consultant. She said, “Hey, they’re looking for software testers. People with a science background like you, but who also like IT.” I applied and got the job. It was a relief to get an IT job, but also know that my science background wasn’t going to waste.
Tell us about the many titles you’ve held over the past 17 years.
I started out on the Test team; I took every opportunity to learn about our software and build up my skill set, and I eventually became the Test team lead, responsible for managing the testing. I was on the Test team for about seven years, and then I had the chance to move into program management. So I kind of jumped ship from software testing to the software development side, making sure everything comes together for a software release. That was interesting because the role had typically gone to a software developer, and I didn’t have the exact technical skills, but my experience was relevant.
I went on to have a few different management positions, and I’d been in my role as a software engineering development manager for about four years when I realized that I wanted to move to the next level, but I didn’t want to go any further in Engineering. So I had a lot of open conversations with my boss at the time, and I identified gaps in my skill set—I wanted more commercial experience. And then I got the opportunity to join the Customer Success team.
I’ve been in my role as a customer success manager since last July, and it’s been a really great move for me because I’ve had the opportunity to build on skills I already had, pulling different parts of the organization together, but I’m also getting to work really closely with some account managers and the Services team to build out the commercial side of my skills gap.
Why do you think you’ve stayed at IDBS this long?
I’ve stayed partly because of growth opportunities and the ability to learn new things. The company was initially quite small when I started. There were eight to ten of us on the Test team and maybe only twice as many developers. Our small size meant I could do a lot of other people’s jobs—everyone kind of pitched in to do whatever was needed. I learned very early on that opportunities were everywhere, and I took every chance I could to upgrade my knowledge and abilities.
There’s also something to be said for the people I’ve worked with. Everyone wants to help each other because the underlying mentality is that the best team wins.
There’s always been a great camaraderie, and before COVID-19, there were a lot of socials and holiday parties. Especially when I was new, the social element really helped solidify a familial feeling within the whole company.
In fact, I actually married one of my co-workers, and I’d say a lot of the wedding reception guests were IDBS people because they were some of our closest friends.
What’s challenging you these days?
Right now, working remotely is the hardest part for me. I’m quite a people person, and I can’t wait to get back to the office. A lot of software and IT people fit the stereotype of being introverts, but that’s not me. A big part of my job is building relationships with the customers. Now, meetings with customers are more functional, and it’s harder to find that personal touch remotely.
The same goes for my co-workers. Some people on my team are people I’ve known for years at IDBS, but I’ve only met our new account manager once, and every interaction since has been completely remote. It’s weird because we work so closely. There’s something lost there, but we make do for now.
What part of the job excites you for the months and years ahead?
I’m always excited about what I’m going to learn next. I’m still fresh in my current role and that means I’m learning new things all the time. I have a lot of experience as a line manager, but now I’m focusing more on the commercial side of things, and that’s where I see myself progressing; head of a department on the commercial side, but probably still within Customer Success.
I’ve spent my whole career at IDBS so far, and I think in most situations, it would be normal to wonder what else is out there—I actually spoke to my boss about this a couple weeks ago. So it’s not that I’d never take a job outside the company. But I love IDBS, and having the huge Danaher framework only expands my career possibilities. The truth is, I don’t see any reason to leave.
Interested in joining Helen and the rest of the IDBS team? Check out open roles across Danaher or join our talent community today.
If Shanti Pi’s colleagues at Danaher’s India Development Center (IDC) hadn’t encouraged her, she might never have applied for her role at HemoCue. More than two years later, she’s leading a team of engineers—and helping the IDC itself grow as well. Below, Shanti explains her day-to-day work, what’s hard about her job, and why she finds it all so rewarding.
What do you do at HemoCue?
There are two parts to my role. The first is as an engineering manager for standalone software solutions, including our HealthTrender Anemia product. When a health care provider inserts a blood sample into a HemoCue analyzer, it displays the results for them—and those results can also be transferred via Bluetooth to an application on a mobile device, where they can add demographic information. That data is then added to a central repository, so governments and NGOs can monitor and evaluate their screening programs at the population level.
My team is responsible for software deliverables from end to end. As a medical device company, we’re of course subject to rules and regulations, and we reach out to headquarters for guidance on that. But otherwise, we’re set up to be completely independent in planning, building, and deploying releases. It’s a lot of responsibility, but it’s exciting for us and it gives us lots of opportunities to learn.
I’m also the HemoCue site lead for the India Development Center here in Bangalore, which is an umbrella organization that’s home to teams from multiple Danaher operating companies. I help promote support and collaboration between OpCos. Sometimes, in terms of career growth—if one of our team members is interested in a certain role, for example, and there’s a Beckman Coulter associate at IDC currently in that job, I might connect the two of them. We also work together on technology and solutions, helping each other grow and expand. And we seek and provide help from other OpCos for participation in and facilitation of Kaizens, which are weeklong problem-solving workshops.
Tell us about your path to this role.
Health care has always been close to my heart—seeing how my day-to-day work affects people’s lives is really important to me. I started my career with Allscripts, which provides electronic health record systems, then moved to Siemens as a product analyst before joining Beckman in 2016 to work on cloud projects. Back then, the IDC was just getting started. I’ve been able to see the whole journey, from a single OpCo to now.
When this position with HemoCue initially opened up, I didn’t think I’d even apply. They were looking for someone to establish the company’s first R&D team outside of Sweden, for both software and hardware—software development of mobile, web, and cloud applications had been outsourced up until that point. I didn’t have any experience with hardware, and I’d never been a people manager. But the IDC leadership had faith in me, and they explained their top priority was finding someone who was transparent and trustworthy. They encouraged me to just apply and see what happened.
I remember telling my husband after the last round of interviews that I didn’t think I’d get the job—I felt that just getting to the point where I was interviewing with the president of the company was an achievement in itself. But they ended up offering me the role, and I jumped at it. Two years later, I’ve been able to handpick 12 team members, and we’re on track to add two more this year.
How has HemoCue supported your learning and growth?
I’m extremely grateful the universe gave me Magnus Tunklev, who is such a supportive manager. From the start, I’ve always felt like he trusts me, and I can tell him about anything that is difficult or a pain point. He suggests possible solutions and helps me see the big picture. And—this was an eye-opener for me—he never forgets to ask how I’m actually feeling. It’s not just about me as a leader, but as a person.
He’s also made sure I’m plugged into the right meetings and connected with the right mentors, and everyone at both IDC and HemoCue has been so supportive. I’ve tried to carry that forward for my own team, as well. Each of us—including myself—starts out with a “buddy” from the company who’s in a similar role to our own; they help us not only learn the logistics of working at HemoCue but really immerse ourselves in the culture. It’s given us a foundation that makes day-to-day decisions much easier.
What are some of the challenges you’re taking on?
One challenge for me is balancing the HemoCue and IDC perspectives. We need to belong in both organizations, and that can sometimes be tricky. What works for our team in terms of working style or flexibility, for instance, might not work for another OpCo’s IDC team.
Another interesting challenge is identifying how we can best support the Hardware and Firmware teams in Sweden. Because we work remotely we’re somewhat limited in how we can contribute from IDC, but we’ve found creative ways to collaborate on new product development, sustainability and firmware projects. And we’re learning and getting better with each experience.
But the most interesting of all challenges is expanding HealthTrender—adding new features, rolling out to existing and new markets, improving connectivity, and extending HealthTrender to other solutions. We work closely with Marketing and Sales, and it’s hard to overstate the sense of accomplishment we all feel as key players in achieving something meaningful to human health and wellbeing.
What are you looking forward to right now?
Continuing to take our solution global. We started out building specifically for India, and that’s wonderful. When I talk with candidates, they’re thrilled about the idea of building for people in this country and contributing to the Indian government’s health missions, because so many of us have previously only worked on products for the U.S. or Europe. But it’s also exciting to expand. Last year, we took our solution global, moving into Mexico and Egypt, and in the coming year we’ll be adding a few other countries. Of course, each country comes with its own challenges in terms of languages, governance, and regulations on data privacy.
We’re also expanding our platforms later this year—we already have the web portal, which is written in Java, and the Android product, and we’ll soon have the opportunity to launch on iOS. We’re also exploring potential cross-OpCo collaborations, which is one of the benefits of the IDC. Is there something another company is doing that we can tap into at HemoCue, or a solution we can provide to them?
Finally, we’re thinking about expanding beyond HealthTrender to other software solutions. I really look forward to seeing the things we build today in the market tomorrow, helping those patients and providers, and I feel very fortunate that I’m able to be part of it.
Want to join Shanti and the rest of the team at HemoCue? Check out open roles or join the Danaher talent community today.
