Read the Conversation
Meeting highlights:
- Strategic Expansion & Footprint: Edwards Lifesciences has led a significant global expansion in Costa Rica, establishing the country as a key hub for cardiovascular device manufacturing.
- Heart-Centered Mission: The company remains focused on treating heart disease, aiming to be the best in solving complex cardiac conditions through continuous innovation.
- Human-Centric Leadership: Fostering open communication and creating direct channels for employee feedback across all levels.
- Culture of Unlearning & Relearning: Unlearning outdated practices and adopting new ones to stay relevant in today’s fast-evolving healthcare environment.
- Purpose-Driven Impact: Patient-centricity, innovation, and talent empowerment are central to Edwards’ purpose and long-term global success.
EF: Could you elaborate on how Costa Rica has become a strategic hub for Edwards Lifesciences, and what lessons have been learned from successfully driving the project forward?
GC: Costa Rica has emerged as a global hub for medical device manufacturing, and Edwards Lifesciences is proud to be at the forefront of cardiovascular disease treatment within this dynamic environment. Our success comes from a focused, strategic approach that prioritizes solving complex health challenges and creating value for patients worldwide. Heart disease has always been our central focus, and we are committed to pioneering therapeutic solutions and setting new standards in the field.
Our journey in Costa Rica began in 2017, following an extensive search for a new manufacturing location. The decision to establish operations here was driven by several compelling factors. Costa Rica offers a highly skilled workforce, robust industrial park infrastructure, and a culture that supports innovation and excellence in the medical device sector. The country’s favorable business ecosystem, supported by dedicated entities and organizations that facilitate pre- and post-establishment activities, chambers and the Medical Device Cluster that build synergies and collaboration, facilitates foreign investment and operational success. Exceptional universities and workforce development opportunities, combined with a strategic geographic location and comprehensive trade agreements, further reinforced our choice.
Since our inception in Costa Rica with just 40 employees, we have experienced remarkable growth. Today, we operate two advanced manufacturing facilities and employ 2,500 talented individuals. Our state-of-the-art heart valve manufacturing site and our sub-assemblies facility in La Lima Industrial Park have grown from 50,000 square feet to over 250,000 square feet. This reflects our commitment to technological advancement. We have successfully transferred both transcatheter and surgical valve platforms to Costa Rica and introduced our latest tissue treatment technology.
The key drivers of our success include our strategic location, a dedicated and skilled workforce, world-class infrastructure, and the outstanding environment provided by La Lima Industrial Park. Costa Rica’s political stability, business-friendly climate, and proven track record in the medical device sector have created the ideal foundation for our continued growth and innovation.
EF: What are your current priorities, and how can you reach the next level?
GC: Our top priority is to serve patients, ensuring they remain at the center of everything we do. We are committed to delivering high-quality heart valves to meet global demand, guaranteeing timely availability. Equally important is our investment in talent, as engaged and empowered employees are essential for achieving global leadership. Additionally, we are dedicated to advancing Edwards' global strategy, which emphasizes the strategic role of Costa Rica. By introducing new technologies, capabilities, and products for local manufacturing, we aim to support this vision. Achieving these goals requires flexible processes and a proactive approach to leadership.
EF: Edwards Lifesciences is recognized for its community engagement and sustainability efforts. Is there a specific initiative that you take pride in?
GC: At Edwards, our foundation is our credo, which emphasizes the importance of being trusted partners. This means we build trust with our patients, clinicians, doctors, technologists, the communities where we operate and our employees. Given how we embody our credo and values, we believe that Costa Rica is the ideal place to be, as our values align perfectly with the local culture. Every year, more than 90% of Edwards Costa Rica employees participate in community activities, reflecting their strong commitment to the communities in which we operate. Around the world, Edwards is committed to combating heart disease. Supporting that cause here in Costa Rica, we offer heart screenings to help individuals identify underlying heart conditions. For instance, a few months ago, we collaborated with the local municipality to set up a heart screening station in the central park of Cartago. Nearly 700 people participated in the screenings, and about 10% were found to have a condition of which they were previously unaware. Among the seventy individuals identified with heart conditions, we discovered four who had critical issues that would have worsened within the next 48 hours. This work holds deep meaning for us. It goes beyond simply providing high-quality products; it is about educating the community and ensuring access to timely healthcare. As a Costa Rican from Cartago, I take great pride in being part of an organization that has a profoundly positive impact on our community.
EF: How do you view the role of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in the healthcare industry?
GC: The world must refine its approach to artificial intelligence and technology. Reflecting on the emergence of robotics in the 1980s, there were widespread concerns about technology replacing jobs. However, this outcome has not fully materialized. Today, we employ 2,500 individuals because there remains no substitute for the unique value that people provide. This principle is equally relevant to AI.
Our focus should be on educating and preparing our children, students, and workforce to leverage technological advancements. By simplifying tasks, technology can free up time for activities that generate true value. I remind my team that while their hands may save lives, it is their hearts and minds that make the real difference.
We need to embrace AI and technology responsibly. In our industry, we are committed to transforming the healthcare landscape by using knowledge to better serve patients. This enables us to utilize analytics and connectivity to develop more personalized treatments, moving away from generic solutions.
The key discussion centers on accelerating process improvements through the adoption of new technologies. This is one of Edwards’ core strengths: effectively leveraging technology to benefit both our patients and our strategic objectives. AI presents exciting opportunities, but our primary goal must be to determine how it can best serve patients. This underscores the importance of education, process optimization, and purposeful implementation. If we aim to shape the world, we must do so with intention, maximizing the benefits that technology can offer.
EF: As you celebrate your fifth year as the general manager of Edwards, what message would you like to share with your team?
GC: For the past five years, I have had the privilege of leading Edwards Costa Rica. Reflecting on our journey is vital for continued success. I regularly remind my team of the importance of evolving beyond what I call the "Peter Pan syndrome," where companies risk remaining in a perpetual state of immaturity. As we have grown, it has been essential to adapt our processes, systems, and mindset to match our current scale and ambitions. The challenges of the pandemic tested our resilience, yet we continued to operate, train employees, and produce heart valves. Despite travel restrictions, we adapted our approach and proved that, with mutual trust and commitment, we can overcome any obstacle.
I am proud to be part of an organization that values continuous improvement. We recognize our imperfections and remain open to feedback, which is crucial for growth. Our workforce is young, with an average age of twenty-five, and many are eager to further their education. To support this, we bring educational opportunities directly to our site. Recently, we celebrated our first high school graduation for employees who returned to complete their studies, an event that was both inspiring and meaningful for our community.
It is essential to listen before acting and to be willing to unlearn outdated approaches in order to meet today’s challenges. Our ability to adapt and evolve will determine our continued success.
EF: Do you have a final message to share?
GC: It has been a privilege to share our experience in Costa Rica and to witness the incredible growth of the medical device sector in the region. The dedication of my team inspires me every day, as does the impact we have on patients' lives around the world as we contribute to the future. As a Costa Rican, I feel fortunate to lead an organization like Edwards in Costa Rica, which has a culture that will make a difference here.
EF: As VP of the Medical Devices Cluster and Free Trade Zone Association and as board member of the CICR, you play a pivotal role in steering Costa Rica’s life sciences sector. How do you see your leadership influencing the country’s position as Latin America’s top hub for medical devices, and what drives your commitment to advancing Costa Rica’s life sciences sector?
I am a believer that collaboration, diversity, and inclusion are key drivers for success. When you can get companies in the market that are competitors sitting at the same table, working together for better business conditions and operating environments, giving back to the community and country and building capabilities for the present and future, it makes me think we can have a better world.
That is what I try to contribute to these groups, to help build synergies and an ecosystem that brings different players to work together for the benefit of the industry, the country, our organizations, employees and patients we serve.
