357.US Surgical: Jose R. Aguirrechu on Sales Culture and Building a $550M Division

In this US Surgical Series episode, Omar Khateeb speaks with Jose R. Aguirrechu about the intense standards and culture that defined US Surgical. From scrubbing into surgeries as a young rep to leading major international expansion, Jose shares lessons on discipline, resilience, and competitive execution. A powerful look at how US Surgical helped drive minimally invasive surgery and shaped a generation of MedTech leaders.Episode Breakdown:00:00 – Introduction: Honoring Leon Hirsch & US Surgical legacy 00:33 – Jose Aguirrechu’s early life & path into MedTech 01:30 – The high-risk US Surgical hiring process (6-week training) 03:00 – Failing the first exam & getting a second chance 04:30 – Starting as a 24-year-old sales rep in South Florida 05:48 – First case in the OR: baptism by fire 07:30 – Transition into regional management 13:55 – Patients demanding “laser” surgery 15:00 – Building the first laparoscopic training programs 17:00 – Jungle warfare: Competing against Ethicon 18:48 – Winning accounts with value-based selling 20:17 – Adding value inside the OR (beyond the product) 22:00 – Technical selling before the internet era 23:36 – The intensity of the laparoscopic boom years 26:00 – Converting competitive accounts strategically 28:05 – Refusing to “split territories” with the competition 30:30 – Leon Hirsch’s brutal leadership expectations 31:02 – The 4-day Norwalk meeting: Learn the pitch or lose your job 33:24 – Expanding into Latin America 47:00 – The US Surgical alumni legacy in MedTech 49:05 – Hiring the top 3%: Building high-performance teams 51:36 – The sales bell curve & performance reality 52:25 – It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish 53:50 – From surgeon dream to international executive 54:20 – Final reflections on leadership, discipline & longevity 56:30 – Rewired, not retired 58:00 – Closing thoughts & series continuationAre you a medtech CEO in need of some marketing help attracting investors, growing sales pipeline, and more? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowMyMedtech.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book time for a free analysis.Subscribe to our Youtube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@thestateofmedtechSubscribe to our LinkedIn Newsletterhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/state-of-medtech-pod-7328860752952352770/Follow The State of MedTech onLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestateofmedtech/Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stateofmedtech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@stateofmedtechpodX https://x.com/stateofmedtechFacebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/stateofmedtechFollow Omar M. Khateeb onLinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/okhateeb/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/omar.m.khateeb/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@omar.m.khateebX ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https: https://x.com/OmarMKhateebFacebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/OmarMKhateebThis podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or medical advice. The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of State of MedTech LLC. Nothing discussed on this podcast should be interpreted as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any investment or security. Listeners should conduct their own due diligence and consult with a qualified financial advisor, attorney, or other professional before making any financial or investment decisions#medtech #healthcareinnovation #surgicalrobotics #medicaldevices #healthcareleadership