After studying at Bocconi Business School in Milan, Davide Pagliaro was recruited by multinational corporation Johnson & Johnson. Little did he know at the time, he’d be starting a career in the medical device industry that would last 19 years and counting.

Originally from a small town north of Naples, Davide has lived and worked in six countries across three continents. Places he’s called home include Belgium, Dubai, Netherlands, US, Germany and of course, his native Italy. 

The experience of living abroad—and not just traveling—has shaped his career and his life in a number of beneficial ways. It’s allowed him to become more open-minded, flexible and understanding of other people’s cultures and opinions. We tend to like what feels similar to us, and living abroad exposes you to new realities, teaching you to be more accepting of different points of view, Davide says.

Currently working remotely from his hometown in Italy, Davide is now the EMEA marketing director at Merit Medical, which has its headquarters in South Jordan, Utah. He’s been working at Merit for six months, having been recruited by a headhunter in the midst of the pandemic. 

Here’s what a typical day is like for Davide now, working between two timezones: he wakes up at 6 a.m. to first check emails from the US. After that, he goes for a jog, enjoys breakfast with his family, then starts his work day with his European colleagues, and finishes with calls from the US. Although his work days are long, he loves his job. He also makes it a point to set aside a half hour for lunch, and take time for himself throughout the day.

As for advice for those entering the industry, Davide says that if you want to excel, having an organized, structured routine is the key to success. You also need to have passion for what you do—knowing your true vocation will bring you joy in work and in life. If you don’t love what you do, then keep looking. As Steve Jobs says, “Never settle.”

Tune in to this insightful interview as Davide sits down with Kyler Canastra to discuss what content marketing in the medical device industry entails, key tips for industry professionals, why cooking is a wonderful way to relieve stress, and much more. 

You can watch the full conversation in the video above or on YouTube, and listen to the podcast on Apple or Spotify.

Rapid-fire recs  

Source of inspiration: 

  • Steve Jobs. “One of my true role models is Steve Jobs, although everyone says it. He never settled, he always strived for excellence on product design. He simply didn’t settle with himself or with others. He was very demanding with himself and with others. And that’s something that I try to do. I always demand a lot from myself, and also from the people that I work with. But for instance, I never ask anybody to do anything that I’m not willing to do myself. I think that’s also very important.” 

Books:

  • Winning by Jack Welch. “I’ve been blown away, once again, by a book that millions of people have read by Jack Welch, Winning. One of the things that he says, among other pearls in the book, is that if you find the right job, you’ll never work another day in your life. And I feel so close to that. The other day, my wife even made fun of me—when somebody asked what Davide’s hobbies are, she said, ‘his job.’ I don’t want to portray myself as somebody who’s all work and no fun. But what I’m trying to say here is that you need to be passionate about what you do. You cannot settle. And that’s also what Steve Jobs said—if you’re not happy somewhere, just don’t settle. Because we work so much. The amount of stress and demand and deadlines is so high that if you don’t have a true passion for what you’re doing, it’s a disaster waking up in the morning. On Sunday night, you don’t want Monday to come because you don’t want to start another working week. If that’s how you feel, you’re in the wrong spot.” 
  • Dare to Lead by Brené Brown. “Don’t be afraid to share your insecurities and have difficult conversations with people. One of the most difficult things to do, especially if you manage people, is to give negative feedback. This book really teaches you to sit down and have those difficult conversations out in the open. Because letting things pass will end up eroding team spirit. I try to address challenges as soon as they arise. Because the more time they pass, the more problematic they become, and the more urgent they become. If you tackle something head on, and are straightforward and transparent about it, then chances are that you can solve it sooner rather than later.”

“Success is a habit—nobody is successful just by talent. Just like when you’re preparing for a presentation, you have to rehearse each slide, work on your performance, and know exactly what you’re going to say, word for word. You need to find your own way of being organized. Creating a mindset and structured routine for success is extremely important.”

Connect with Davide and Kyler on LinkedIn.

For more insights into the key to success in content marketing:

To read the full transcript, click on page number 2 below.

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