60 seconds with Ethan Shum
Lightning Health
Global market access consultancy supporting the life cycles of health technologies
Tell us about your studies
I completed my undergraduate degree at UCL in Infectious diseases and Immunology. While I loved the science, I disliked the idea of being confined to a lab. Transitioning to a MedTech and Entrepreneurship master’s at KCL allowed me to launch a diabetes management start-up, exposing me to the world of medical devices and giving me hands-on business experience. Although the company shut down after graduation, it taught me invaluable lessons I could never have learned from textbooks or lectures.
"In a world where many graduate roles seem to expect candidates to have endless experience and be experts already, Lightning Health has been refreshingly different."
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What’s one skill or strength you bring to your role?
I think what sets me apart is that I bring a unique combination of clinical research and business expertise to my role. Having experience in lab-based research, I have a solid foundation in medical science, and co-founding a medical devices start-up has given me practical insights into innovation and commercialisation. This combination allows me to cover a wide range of topics and confidently take on projects across both the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors, bridging the gap between technical development and strategic execution.
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What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received since joining Lightning Health?
The best piece of advice I received was, 'Don’t be afraid to ask anyone a question—you’re not expected to know everything.' It may seem like a no-brainer, but this really stuck with me. In a world where many graduate roles seem to expect candidates to have endless experience and be experts already, Lightning Health has been refreshingly different. The senior team members have guided me from the ground up, and I’ve always felt supported. Whether it’s the managing directors, consultants, or other colleagues, everyone makes time to help. Because in the end, taking the time to support one another not only strengthens our projects, clients, and team but also enhances the overall quality of our work.