Being an Engineer S7E15 Mustafa Poonawala | Diagnostic Clinical Trials, Prioritization, & Decision Latency in Engineering
Mustafa Poonawala is a globally recognized leader in medical device and diagnostics innovation, known for his ability to translate strategy into execution across R&D, clinical operations, and portfolio management. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he has built and led world-class engineering and program teams, guided products from early development through regulatory approval, and driven large-scale organizational transformation in highly regulated environments.
Currently, Mustafa is the CEO of DynaMill Research, a specialized Clinical Research Organization focused on helping diagnostics companies dramatically reduce cycle times and improve cost predictability. DynaMill’s approach blends agile program management, end-to-end digital clinical workflows, predictive enrollment strategies, and deep partnerships with multi-site clinical networks. The goal is simple but ambitious: help diagnostic innovations reach patients faster without sacrificing rigor or quality.
In parallel, Mustafa is Managing Partner at Steps Program Management, where he has spent nearly a decade advising organizations on agile transformation, PMO maturity, and portfolio optimization—particularly within medical device R&D. His work emphasizes lean, value-driven processes, difficult prioritization, and delivery predictability, all grounded in real-world execution rather than theory.
Previously, Mustafa held senior leadership roles at BD, Hospira, OBS Medical, and Boston Scientific. His experience spans implantable and disposable devices, complex electromechanical systems, software and cybersecurity for safety-critical systems, and large-scale diagnostics portfolios exceeding billions of dollars in revenue. With a PhD in Software Engineering focused on safety-critical systems, Mustafa brings a rare blend of deep technical rigor, business acumen, and servant leadership to every challenge he tackles.
LINKS:
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafap
Guest website: https://dynamillcro.com
Aaron Moncur, host
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