CONMED Spotlight: Women In Leadership, Victoria Styles

I have strived to grow and develop throughout my professional career so far and it has led to me forming a strong passion for women in leadership and how it can truly innovate and drive a workplace forward. As women, we may not always realize our full potential, but once it is unleashed, it has a direct route to our success! When women become leaders, we provide a different set of skills and imaginative perspectives which drive effective solutions. CONMED believes in the power of engaged talent, and we are fortunate to have many amazing female leaders supporting our organization. Read below to learn more about Victoria Styles, Vice President and General Manager of CONMED Advanced Endoscopic Technology (AET).

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what has contributed to your success so far at CONMED?

I came to CONMED through an acquisition as a Territory Manager. I actually had left a management career in another industry to concentrate on starting a family and focusing on what I could accomplish in the medical device field. Clearly, management was my path and CONMED helped me recognize that. The support that CONMED and its leadership gave me over the years is one of the reasons for my success. The trust and ability to make decisions regarding “my business”, whether that be my territory or my team, allowed me to grow as a professional leader while maintaining a work/life balance that suited my family. The other large portion of my success has been the team that has supported me.  I can not say enough about the amazing culture at CONMED and what our teams would do for each other.  It really is the foundation of the confidence and the drive that I have.  

As a female leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career?

I find this question interesting because it is asked often but it is something I struggle with answering. Growing up with three sisters and a set of parents that always encouraged us to try new things but held us accountable to those commitments, I never saw barriers because I was a female. Call it blind faith, but I always was a planner and would set mini-goals to reach the bigger ones. When I considered barriers, it was what I needed to do to overcome them, not what others would or could do to stand in my way.  I don’t have daughters but if I did, I would tell them to use their strengths to run through the barriers. You can’t get to the goal without getting past them so you have to deal with them with what you have…and not expect others to change the barriers to suit you.

How do you empower yourself and the women around you? 

Without a doubt, my family empowers me. People speak to knowing your “why”…They are my “why” AND my “how”. My husband and son have supported me through the whole journey. They have sacrificed a lot to do so! I would tell any female to find not only the why but know who is going to help you get to the how!  With that, I often see female WINNERS put so much pressure on themselves to be perfect.  Perfection is impossible, but self-pride is attainable! And if you have the right who to get to your “why” and your “how”…you will all be proud of what you have accomplished!

I hope that along the way, I have been a part of many people’s “how”…I would like to think that is what has made me successful!  

At CONMED, we embrace a people-first culture that starts with a mission to support our healthcare partners and the patients they serve, and we believe in the power of engaged talent. I am grateful to have strong female leaders across the company to look up to!

Interested in joining our team? Visit our Careers Page.

Published by: Rachel Dainelli,Talent Acquisition Manager at CONMED