Singapore, UCLA-NUS EMBA (Class of 2024/2025)
Charmaine Lim
Senior Regional Manager, APAC Strategic Marketing
Teleflex
Expanding Leadership in MedTech: How Charmaine Lim is Shaping the Future of Healthcare Innovation with the UCLA-NUS Executive MBA
With over a decade in medical technology (MedTech) sales and leadership, Charmaine Lim has built a career around driving sales strategy, leading high-performing teams, and improving healthcare outcomes. As a Regional MedTech Leader, she has developed a deep understanding of customer engagement, negotiations, and business growth in the medical devices industry.
As she set her sights on senior leadership, Charmaine recognised the need for broader business exposure to navigate the evolving complexities of the healthcare sector. The UCLA-NUS Executive MBA provided the ideal opportunity to gain global perspectives, sharpen strategic decision-making, and expand her network across APAC and the U.S.
She says returning to NUS felt nostalgic, while UCLA offered a world-class experience in the influential global economy. The EMBA stood out for its strategic insights, international perspectives, and exposure to diverse markets, which she knew would prepare her for the next career stage. The experience has strengthened her ability to navigate the intersection of business, healthcare innovation, and market expansion, equipping her with the skills to lead in an increasingly competitive and complex industry.
Expanding Leadership Beyond MedTech
Charmaine’s leadership journey began at Medtronic, where she led high-performing teams and focused on customer engagement and negotiations. While these experiences honed her ability to drive business impact, the EMBA expanded her approach by exposing her to diverse teams, data-driven decision-making, and adaptability—all critical skills for leading in an evolving global environment.
“My focus at Medtronic was on customer engagement and negotiations,” she says, “but the EMBA broadened my leadership approach. It helped me understand how to lead in complex, fast-changing environments, where cross-functional collaboration and agility are key.”
The program’s Capstone project tested her ability to make decisions as a leader where tight deadlines required swift decision-making. Collaboration brought diverse ideas, she recalls, but quick consensus was crucial. “When a teammate had the right approach, I focused on aligning the team, swiftly delegating tasks, and driving execution—ensuring we met milestones without compromising quality.”
This hands-on experience reinforced the importance of decisive leadership, strategic alignment, and effective delegation. All of these are essential skills for executives managing high-stakes business challenges.
Shaping MedTech Strategy for Market Expansion
Beyond leadership, the EMBA’s rigorous coursework provided Charmaine with practical frameworks she now applies to real-world business scenarios in MedTech.
She explains how strategy class sharpened her ability to pivot when current plans fall short, while globalisation class highlighted the need for tailored structures in APAC healthcare, such as localisation. Marketing, she adds, reinforced the 4Ps of marketing, helping her plan medical device launches more effectively.
With APAC’s healthcare landscape evolving rapidly, these insights have been critical in refining product launch strategies, assessing market potential, and aligning go-to-market plans with economic and regulatory landscapes. The diverse cohort, she notes, provided insights into different economies and healthcare reimbursement systems, which helped her assess market potential from a more global perspective. “This global perspective has refined my approach to healthcare innovation and expansion,” she says, “allowing me to prioritise launch strategies based on economic and regulatory landscapes.”
By integrating these learnings into her current role at Teleflex, she is driving data-driven decision-making and MedTech product differentiation across APAC.
Breaking Barriers: Women in MedTech Leadership
MedTech leadership has traditionally been male-dominated, but Charmaine believes women must own their narrative. While men have historically occupied senior leadership roles, she acknowledges that shifts in the industry have created new opportunities for women to step into them.
“The EMBA broadened my global perspective,” she explains, “equipping me with strategic insights and the confidence to navigate industry challenges and contribute as a strong, capable leader in MedTech.” With this perspective, she continues to advocate for diversity in leadership so she can mentor and support more women in the industry.
Balancing an EMBA with Career Growth
Taking on an Executive MBA while managing a demanding career was no small feat—especially as Charmaine transitioned to a new leadership role at Teleflex midway through the program.
“Starting a new role as APAC Senior Strategic Marketing Manager during the EMBA was challenging,” she admits. “Balancing both was tough, and I wouldn’t recommend switching jobs during the program.”
However, the support of her employer and colleagues played a key role in helping her manage both responsibilities. “Thankfully, Teleflex supported my journey, allowing time off for readings and projects, which made a huge difference.” Indeed, a strong support network is crucial when balancing professional growth with academic commitments.
Driving Healthcare Innovation in APAC
Beyond leadership development, Charmaine is motivated by a larger purpose—making medical technology more accessible and accelerating its adoption across APAC.
“By highlighting product differentiation,” she explains, “I hope to improve patient outcomes—faster recovery, less pain, minimal scarring—ultimately enhancing quality of life and advancing healthcare standards in the region.”
The UCLA-NUS EMBA has given her the strategic vision, global network, and business expertise to realise this goal. With a sharpened ability to analyse market dynamics, navigate regulatory complexities, and implement innovative go-to-market strategies, she is poised to drive meaningful change in healthcare innovation and MedTech adoption across Asia-Pacific.
The Lasting Impact of the EMBA
For Charmaine, the UCLA-NUS EMBA experience went beyond an academic pursuit. It significantly expanded her leadership vision, strengthened her confidence, and refined her strategic approach to market growth. “The EMBA pushed me to be comfortable with discomfort,” she reflects, “whether tackling unfamiliar challenges or engaging with diverse minds. I’ve become more confident in connecting with leaders from different industries, adapting to various perspectives, and leveraging new forms of intelligence to drive impactful conversations and decisions.”
With this renewed strategic mindset, she is advancing her career while shaping the future of MedTech in APAC—ensuring that healthcare innovations reach more patients, improve outcomes, and elevate healthcare standards across the region.
Like Charmaine, are you ready to take the next step in your leadership journey? Learn more about the UCLA-NUS Executive MBA today.