Chris Reese is the Senior Vice President of Sales at NeuroPace, a medical device company dedicated to improving the lives of people with drug-resistant epilepsy through advanced neurostimulation technology. With nearly two decades of leadership experience, Chris has played key commercial roles at leading medtech companies — including driving over $800 million in value during Vertiflex’s acquisition by Boston Scientific and leading US sales for the ENT business at Medtronic. A former US Marine, he brings a unique blend of military discipline, startup grit, and Fortune 500 expertise to his work, making him an influential mentor and champion for developing future medical sales professionals.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- [02:52] What NeuroPace does and who it ultimately serves
- [04:31] Why leading in a highly regulated medtech environment is more challenging and meaningful than other industries
- [07:23] How military service and early startup experience shaped Chris Reese’s leadership mindset
- [11:29] The underestimated challenges sales leaders face adopting new tools and technology in regulated industries
- [18:50] Chris shares how mentors and relationships shaped his career and why people-first leadership matters most
In this episode…
In highly regulated industries like medtech, growth rarely comes from moving fast and cutting corners. It comes from earning trust, aligning teams, and making smart decisions when the stakes are high, but what does that really look like in practice?
For Chris Reese, a sales leader in the medical device industry, the answer starts with people. He believes that sustainable growth happens when teams are aligned around purpose, patient impact, and mutual accountability. Chris shares how strong relationships, healthy tension across functions, and leaders who show up consistently create the conditions where both people and performance can thrive.
In this episode of In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results, Lisa Kilrea is joined by Chris Reese, Senior Vice President of Sales at NeuroPace, to discuss leading commercial strategy and growth in medtech. They explore navigating regulation without losing momentum, building trust across sales, marketing, and clinical teams, and developing leaders who balance empathy with high standards.
Resources mentioned in this episode
- Lisa Kilrea on LinkedIn
- WSI eResults
- Chris Reese on LinkedIn
- NeuroPace
- Evolve Your Success
- “How Great Leaders Build Trust in Uncertain Times With Dean E. Carter” on In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results
- “Driving Business Growth Through Inclusion and Purpose With Dan LaTurno” on In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results
- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick M. Lencioni
Quotable Moments
- “Ultimately, the success or failure I noticed early on came down to people.”
- “I’m not going to ask anyone on my team to do something that I either haven’t done or that I’m not willing to do myself.”
- “It’s not a job. It’s truly a responsibility. And there’s people’s lives that are on the line.”
- “You don’t necessarily need that in order to go to battle and win, but you need really good people.”
- “I stand on the shoulders of giants that have come before me and really helped me see perspective.”
Action Steps
- Lead from the front as a sales leader: Demonstrating the behaviors you expect builds credibility, trust, and accountability across your team.
- Invest in cross-functional relationships early: Strong alignment with marketing, finance, and clinical partners reduces friction and accelerates execution.
- Balance speed with compliance in decision-making: Thoughtful navigation of regulation protects patients while enabling sustainable commercial growth.
- Prioritize mentorship at every career stage: Guidance from experienced leaders shapes perspective, confidence, and long-term leadership effectiveness.
- Treat leadership as a responsibility, not a title: Recognizing the real impact decisions have on teams and patients drives higher standards and engagement.
Sponsor for this episode…
This episode is sponsored by WSI EResults Manufacturing Marketing — revolutionizing digital marketing for the manufacturing industry.
At WSI EResults, we help B2B manufacturers, OEMs, and industrial distributors elevate their digital presence through AI-powered, data-driven strategies designed to generate targeted, impactful leads.
From AI-powered SEO and content marketing to tailored campaigns built for the unique challenges of the manufacturing sector, WSI EResults delivers the tools and expertise to help your business stand out, grow, and thrive.
Learn more at wsi-manufacturing-marketing.com. Your blueprint for smarter, more effective manufacturing marketing.