mgoconnor

Serve as the critical link between the academic research realm and the practical world of commercial technology applications. One of my key responsibilities is identifying non-dilutive funding opportunities, such as grants and contracts, which are essential for advancing research without diluting the ownership stakes of the original inventors and early investors. This aspect of my role is crucial in maintaining the financial integrity and independence of the research projects, allowing more room for innovation and less pressure for immediate commercial returns. I play a significant role in interfacing technology transfer offices, critical hubs for moving inventions from the lab to the marketplace. This involves negotiating licensing agreements, securing patents, and ensuring that intellectual property rights are protected and effectively managed. Additionally, my work with VIC's Opportunity Assessment team is vital for evaluating the commercial viability of projects. I assess potential projects to determine their market potential, feasibility, and alignment with current market needs. By analyzing market trends and potential customer bases, I ensure that only the most viable and innovative projects are pushed forward. This comprehensive involvement in technology transfer's strategic and operational facets equips me with a deep understanding of the entire innovative lifecycle. It ensures my contributions are technically sound and market-relevant, bridging the often-insurmountable gap between brilliant academic innovations and their practical, commercial application. My work is integral to creating a pipeline of technologies that are both visionary in concept and grounded in commercial viability, thereby enhancing the impact and reach of their innovations in the market. • Identified and Secured Funding Opportunities (grants and sponsored contracts) to advance academic research while preserving inventor and early-stage investor equity, enabling sustained innovation without pressure for premature commercialization. • Partnered with technology transfer offices to move innovations from lab to market by supporting patent strategy, negotiating licensing agreements, and ensuring effective protection and management of intellectual property assets. • Collaborated with the VIC Opportunity Assessment team to evaluate commercial viability by analyzing market trends, customer needs, and feasibility, advancing only high-potential, market-aligned technologies into the innovation pipeline.

As CEO of ProMedOvation, I set the strategic vision and lead a specialized consultancy grounded in Project, Program, Portfolio, and PMO (Pro) leadership, deep medical device lifecycle expertise (Med), and sustained innovation excellence (Ovation). I have more than 35 years of experience in medical device development, spanning concept ideation through product development and commercialization. My background includes many years in Medtronic’s Corporate Innovation organization, where I advanced enterprise innovation practices, portfolio governance, and cross-functional execution. Through ProMedOvation, I partner with organizations to improve project, program, portfolio and PMO management, accelerate innovation, strengthen delivery discipline, and successfully bring complex, regulated medical technologies to market. • Founded and scaled ProMedOvation, delivering project, program, portfolio, and PMO transformations that improved on-time delivery and strengthened governance across complex, regulated medical device portfolios. • Developed and Executed Training Programs in large to medium sized corporations. • Applied Enterprise Innovation Practices to enable higher-value pipelines, increasing funded innovation throughput by and accelerating decision-making across cross-functional leadership teams.

Cranial and Spinal Technologies (C&ST), Enabling Technology (ET), Robotics, Program Management Office (PMO) The Senior Director, Program Management leads the strategic planning, execution, and oversight of complex, cross-functional programs that drive innovation and support product development across global business units. This role is responsible for aligning initiatives with corporate priorities, managing external partnerships and collaborations, and ensuring regulatory and scientific rigor. The senior director provides leadership to multidisciplinary teams, influences R&D strategy, and plays a key role in shaping Medtronic’s innovation pipeline through data-driven insights and breakthrough research. Collaborate closely with Operations, Quality and R&D Vice Presidents on the development and implementation of numerous programs. Provide program management support to Operations, Quality, and R&D in areas of robotics, AI, navigation, software, CAPA, and design controls. Provide strategies for organizing and managing the team. Core team Leader, PMO leader and PMO Council member. • Developed a successful Spinal Robotic Remediation Program resulting in over 10% improvement of manufacturability, over 15% reliability increases, and cutting costs over 8%. • Completed project 4 months ahead of schedule. Worked with Quality VP and R&D VP. • Created and implemented a Spinal Robotic Workstream on Customer Satisfaction under the Patient Safety Quality Improvement Plan (PSQIP) and Patient Safety Advisory Panel (PSAP). • Set up new training on Spinal Robotic Workstream within one year. • Increased members of Global Project Management Community of Practice (CoP) to over 4,000. • Managed five workstreams in career, networking, training, best practices, and communications.

Corporate Science, Technology and Clinical Affairs (CSTI), The Director of Strategy and Project Management / Chief of Staff at Medtronic serves as a strategic partner to executive leadership, driving key business initiatives, aligning cross-functional priorities, and ensuring effective execution of enterprise-wide projects. This role leads strategic planning efforts, manages high-impact programs, and acts as a central liaison across teams to optimize decision-making and operational performance. This role leads the technology portfolio for all the businesses and participates in mega trends as needed. As Chief of Staff, the director supports executive communication, R&D Council, R&T Council and PMO Council, governance processes, and organizational alignment, enabling leadership focus on strategic goals and business growth. This role is also instrumentation in strategic partnerships of external vendors, academia and private/public partnerships. • Chief of Staff, $80M budget, led R&D Council of over 30 leaders as Program Manager of a $1M budget. • Grew corporate revenue as Director in charge of four innovative incubation programs, technology / innovation strategies, technology portfolio, strategic partnerships, and targeted innovation. • Contributed CS&T group to overall company objectives by 25% through aligning CS&T strategy, initiatives, and business with organizational goals and providing smooth and consistent support for the CS&T leadership team. • Champion for Project Management Rigor for Innovation (PMRI), increasing membership growth by nearly 3,000. PMRI offers consulting, training, office hours, networking, PM day and PM roundtables. • Member of PPP Teams (Public Private Partnership).