7 Lessons I Learned as a Multi-Award-Winning Digital Product Manager in Health Tech
7 Lessons
Success in health tech requires a unique combination of innovation, empathy, and resilience. Over the years, my journey as a digital product manager, AI strategist, and founder of Let's Integrate App has been a constant evolution of lessons learned from scaling tech solutions, solving human-centered problems, and juggling the pace of a rapidly growing industry.
Through the lens of helping start-ups, solopreneurs, and small businesses scale, I’ve discovered invaluable insights that could help others carve their own path in health tech. Here, I'll share key lessons learned with actionable strategies to help you create better solutions, prioritize empathy, and drive growth.
1. Empathy is the Cornerstone of Innovation
When we talk about innovation in health tech, it's easy to get enamored with cutting-edge technologies. AI, IoT, and telemedicine are all game-changers, but technology means little without a deep understanding of the end user. One of the earliest lessons I learned is that technology should serve the person, not the other way around.
Example from the Field:
During the development of Let's Integrate App—a platform enabling seamless integration of health tech solutions for small businesses, I prioritized frequent user feedback sessions. At one point, we scrapped a feature we thought was innovative because users found it unnecessary. Trust me, it's better to pivot early than pour resources into a tool no one uses.
Actionable Insight:
Conduct user interviews before coding begins.
Use empathy maps to uncover not just what users say, but how they feel.
Prioritize solving their core problems over chasing technological trends.
2. User-Centric Design is Non-Negotiable
Health tech exists to bridge gaps and improve lives. If your product isn’t accessible, intuitive, or efficient, it won’t gain traction. Design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about building a seamless experience that patients, doctors, and administrators can adopt effortlessly.
Lesson Learned:
During one project, a client in telehealth aimed to increase engagement among seniors. They struggled with onboarding, as the interface was complex and overwhelming. By simplifying workflows and employing icon-based navigation, they achieved a 40% higher adoption rate.
Actionable Insight:
Follow the KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Simple, again).
Test prototypes with diverse focus groups, including non-tech-savvy users.
Leverage accessibility standards and consider larger typography, intuitive navigation, and auditory feedback.
3. Prioritize Agile Over Perfection
Health tech is a sector that demands speed, but not at the expense of precision. Striking a balance between agility and quality has been one of my biggest takeaways. Early in my career, I made the mistake of aiming for polished perfection before releasing a product. This approach led to delays and missed opportunities.
Instead, adopting an agile methodology allowed me to launch minimum viable products (MVPs), gather real-world data, and improve iteratively. For example, when piloting Let's Integrate App, the MVP lacked frills but delivered its core value—helping businesses seamlessly integrate third-party APIs for health data. Feedback from these early users helped us shape a robust platform.
Actionable Insight:
Focus on shipping features that directly address core user needs.
Don’t be afraid to iterate rapidly; value can increase exponentially with each update.
Remember, done is better than perfect.
4. Scaling with Technology Requires a Human Touch
Scalability is every start-up’s ambition, but in health tech, growth must be handled with care. It’s tempting to throw automation and AI at problems, but without human oversight or personalization, you risk alienating users.
Lesson Learned:
One start-up I worked with struggled to implement customer support automation. While AI reduced response times, patients felt frustrated by the lack of empathy in responses. We introduced hybrid systems where chatbots handled common inquiries, and critical cases were escalated to human agents.
Actionable Insight:
Use AI to handle repetitive tasks but maintain a human presence for complex issues.
Scale without losing sight of the individual—offer customized reports or responses.
Build tech that adapts to user needs rather than forcing users to adapt to it.
5. Data Is Power, but Privacy Is Paramount
The health tech sector deals with an immense amount of personal data, from electronic health records to wearable device readings. While data-driven insights are invaluable, the responsibility of keeping this data secure and respecting privacy cannot be overstated.
Lesson Learned:
During the development of Let's Integrate App, we faced questions about data encryption and compliance. Establishing transparency with users was critical. By incorporating robust encryption standards and educating users about how their data was protected in our privacy we policy, we built trust that became a selling point. Our next step is to update it in October, now that our website features a Chatbot. We will include an explanation of how we use the Chatbot in our privacy policy.
Actionable Insight:
Design with compliance frameworks like HIPAA or GDPR in mind.
Be proactive in communicating how you protect user data.
Reassure through transparency—clearly state what data is collected, why, and how it is stored.
6. Collaboration Speeds Up Success
No one succeeds in health tech alone. Whether you’re a solopreneur or leading a team, cross-industry collaboration can open doors to fresh perspectives and opportunities. I've forged partnerships with developers, clinicians, and entrepreneurs who challenged my thinking and enriched my approach.
Example from My Journey:
On a recent project, I collaborated with a behavioral psychologist to refine AI algorithms used in mental health assessments. Her insights helped ensure the tech was empathetic while maintaining clinical accuracy.
Actionable Insight:
Build multidisciplinary teams that bring diverse expertise to the table.
Seek out partnerships outside the tech world—clinicians, social scientists, and patients all have unique input.
Consider co-creating with users for an even greater depth of understanding.
7. Patience and Resilience Are Key Ingredients
If there’s one universal truth in health tech, it’s this—progress takes time. Regulatory hurdles, funding challenges, and product validation can slow you down. Early in my career, I thought I could bypass hurdles by working harder. Now, I understand that resilience and patience are part of the process.
Actionable Insight:
Celebrate small wins to keep your momentum.
Focus on long-term impact rather than short-term profits.
Surround yourself with mentors or peers who’ve weathered similar storms.
Wrapping It Up
Building in health tech is not for the faint of heart. The responsibility to innovate while prioritizing users, privacy, and accessibility sets a high bar. But the rewards? They’re unparalleled.
Whether you’re a start-up founder, a solopreneur, or part of a growing small business, start by embedding empathy in your tech, harness the power of design, and scale with thoughtful innovation. Above all, remain resilient. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact on lives.
Your product could be the next big breakthrough AND it starts with how you approach today’s problems.