Vendela Dubin isn’t just “in” medical device sales, she’s six years deep, a full-line rep, and she hits quota every year. And while she’s doing that, she’s also a wife and a mom, proving something a lot of people still don’t believe: you can build a real life and a real career in this industry.

How Vendela Broke In: The “Traditional” Route That Still Works

In college, Vendela met someone in medical sales who told her, “If you want in, go to Xerox or ADP first.” So she did. She started at ADP, where she learned the unglamorous foundation that makes or breaks reps:

• Cold calling (a lot of it)
• Handling rejection daily
• Staying consistent with activity
• Learning how to be consultative, not just “salesy”

Then after about a year and a half, she pivoted into medical device landing at Zimmer Biomet and eventually moving into Hologic (women’s health), where she found a lane that matched her life.

The Truth About “Strategy” in Medical Device Sales

Vendela said something most new reps learn the hard way: in a med device, you can’t just blast volume like you did in ADP. The pool is smaller. The stakes are higher. One bad approach can burn a relationship.

So strategy looks like:

• Doing homework before outreach (who schedules? do they actually do the procedure?)
• Building touchpoints that add value (not “just following up”)
• Protecting time so you can cover cases and still prospect
• Knowing when an “opportunity” is actually a time drain
  
  

Her best example? The surgeon who said they’d do a ton of cases… then did a handful and went radio silent. Early-career Vendela would’ve chased hard. Current Vendela checks in occasionally and moves her energy where the ROI is real.

Being a Woman in Medical Device Sales: You Don’t Need to Be “One of the Guys”

Vendela made it clear: you don’t have to be a man to win in this industry. But you do need to be smart about your lane.

Her take: certain specialties are more family-friendly than others. For example, trauma can be brutal if you’re a mom (or want to be one). Women’s health? Often more scheduled, more predictable, and easier to plan.

Having a Baby While Staying a Top Rep

Vendela didn’t sugarcoat it: being a mom changes everything. You don’t have the same 24 hours anymore. But she also said the real shift is powerful, she’s doing more in less time because she has to.

She told her company early, planned ahead, and took six months off for maternity leave. Coming back, she became even more intentional:

• Saying “no” when needed
• Operating on ROI (in workouts and work)
• Tightening her messaging and follow-up

And she also pointed out something huge: being pregnant and being a mom can actually help relationships, people connect, conversations deepen, and surgeons see you as responsible and real.

What Vendela Would Tell Any Woman Trying to Break In

Don’t put yourself in a box. Do the research. Look at the team you’re joining. Are there women there? Do they have kids? Are they thriving? Then go learn from the best performers and implement fast.

Final Thoughts

Vendela Dubin is proof that medical device sales isn’t just for single guys grinding 24/7. If you choose the right specialty, stay sharp with your time, and keep leveling up your skill set, you can build a career that pays well and a life that actually feels like yours.

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All the best,

Jacob McLaughlin