Industry Ignited Podcast
Industry Ignited is a platform for bold conversations with leaders who are transforming the way business gets done. Each episode spotlights breakthrough stories from the industrial, manufacturing, biotech, chemical, and B2B sectors, giving you an inside look at how top executives, innovators, and changemakers tackle real-world challenges and drive meaningful growth.
Hosted by Dr. Leeanne Aguilar—entrepreneur, executive coach, and marketing strategist—Industry Ignited goes beyond surface-level discussions to uncover the strategies, mindsets, and lessons that fuel leadership at the highest level. From navigating complex operations and scaling companies to rethinking culture and preparing for the future of work, every conversation is designed to inspire, challenge, and equip you with fresh perspectives.
Whether you’re an executive, entrepreneur, or emerging leader, this podcast will spark ideas, expand your vision, and ignite the drive to lead with confidence in today’s evolving business landscape.
Industry Ignited Podcast
How Fractional Executive Teams Are Changing Life Sciences: Richard Rives Bird of Rives Consult | Ep. 51
In this Industry Ignited episode, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Richard Rives Bird, President of Rives Consult, on why breakthrough medical devices don’t succeed on innovation alone—they succeed when founders pair great science with the right commercialization strategy, regulatory pathway, and reimbursement reality. Richard shares how he moved from physics into clinical affairs after a CEO recognized his ability to work with clinicians, and why he pioneered a fractional executive model (before it was mainstream) to give early-stage startups—especially European innovators entering the U.S.—hands-on expertise without the cost of full-time leadership. The conversation delivers a clear, practical takeaway: start with customer discovery and economics (follow the money), define reimbursement and workflow impact early, launch with an MVP and a focused indication for use, and build traction through real sales process learning before handing it to distributors—a playbook Richard uses to “graduate” clients into scalable growth. From FDA pre-subs and faster U.S. timelines versus EU MDR delays to inspiring examples like triple-negative breast cancer monitoring and regenerative medicine scaffolds, this episode is a masterclass in turning life science innovation into market impact.