A Splash of Neon in the Darkness

I was on the verge of failing third grade when my teacher, a man whose vibrant neon outfits reflected the brightness of his personality, gave me a chance to write an extra-credit essay. It was a last-ditch effort to pull my grade up.

But how could I even accomplish that when my alcoholic mother dragged me to parties and got blackout drunk every night? I usually ended up sleeping on some stranger’s sofa and, more often than not, missing school.

The night before my essay was due, I begged my mother to stay home and let me work on it. She promised we would only stay out for a little while—a promise I knew she would break. I found myself in a dark corner on a dirty shag carpet, writing about why I couldn’t possibly complete the extra-credit essay. I described everything I observed around me, from the loud pop music blaring in my ears to the cursing and shouting coming from the kitchen.

I awoke the following morning in that same corner, already late for school. I grabbed my notebook and walked a couple of blocks away to a house we had been evicted from a few months earlier. Although we no longer lived there, I guess the familiarity of that house made me feel comfortable enough to walk up to the front door and ring the bell. I told the woman who answered that I used to live there and asked if she could give me a ride to school. To say she was taken aback by my request would be an understatement, but she did drive me to school that day and met with the principal, who explained a little about my home life.

After school, Mr. Foley told me how powerful my essay was. I can close my eyes today and picture him wearing a neon orange shirt with a wide smile to match, encouraging me to keep writing. That was the first time in my life I realized my voice mattered. That I mattered.

Mr. Foley didn’t just help me pass third grade that year; he taught me the importance of seeking out slivers of brightness in the darker corners of life. After 18 years of covering the medtech industry, I also see parallels between Mr. Foley’s teaching style and the leadership style of the industry’s best leaders.

In medtech, leadership isn't just about managing teams or driving innovation—it's about being a guiding light for others, much like Mr. Foley was for me in third grade. Effective leaders in the medical device industry do more than just oversee; they mentor, inspire, unite, and support their colleagues through the triumphant moments as well as the challenging moments. They understand that behind every professional is a person who might be dealing with unseen struggles. Just as Mr. Foley's encouragement helped me see my own potential, business leaders have the power to uplift their teams, creating environments where everyone feels valued, heard, and motivated to shine.

Under that type of leadership, colleagues are more likely to carry that spirit forward in their interactions with peers. Even small gestures—words of encouragement, a sympathetic ear, or a simple act of kindness—are opportunities to be a splash of neon in someone else’s darkness, just as Mr. Foley was for me.