Podcast Summary: WORK Conversations: Meet Danielle Fette
Podcast: Work with Erika Ayers Badan
Host: Erika Ayers Badan
Guest: Danielle Fette, Co-Founder and CEO of FET Tech
Episode Date: February 9, 2026
Overview
This episode features a candid and energetic conversation between Erika Ayers Badan and Danielle Fette, CEO of FET Tech, a medical device company creating regenerative medicine products. Danielle shares her journey from aspiring medical student to entrepreneur, the challenges and ethics of the medical device field, and practical advice for anyone navigating tricky work cultures or considering a major career shift. The discussion is filled with humor, reality checks, and authentic takes on leadership, personal growth, and innovation in healthcare.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Danielle’s Background & FET Tech’s Mission
- Danielle introduces herself as the CEO and co-founder of FET Tech, focusing on regenerative medicine devices that promote natural healing after burns or surgeries.
"We invent products that they use in the hospital, in the OR, to help heal patients naturally, like after a burn or in surgery, that kind of thing."
(Danielle, 00:17) - The company started small, even developing products on Danielle’s kitchen counter on weekends.
"Literally on my countertop this weekend."
(Danielle, 00:34) - Their core product uses all-natural ingredients found in the body to trigger healing responses, aiming to improve outcomes and reduce scar tissue.
"If we put our powder or gel that we invented, it would say, you know what? Don’t do that. Instead, stem cells, come over here and let’s tell you what you need to do to rebuild that house that just broke."
(Danielle, 01:12)
2. Origin Story: From Employee to Entrepreneur
- Danielle and her husband, an engineer, left their previous employer after clashing on patient-first values versus profit motives—a departure that led to starting FET Tech with settlement money.
"They didn’t put patients first... So they let us go. And with the money we made from that lawsuit, we started our company."
(Danielle, 03:15) - She looks back on this defining moment with gratitude:
"I’m grateful it happened, else we wouldn’t be here today… looking back, though, it’s so clear. I’m like, wow, how could we not have done this?"
(Danielle, 03:40)
3. Company Culture & Work-Life Balance
- Danielle and her husband prioritize staying off the road and being present at home; they delegate operational tasks to a trusted team.
"My husband and I are home quite a bit, and we outsource a lot and have a really good team to help us do the things that we don’t want to do."
(Danielle, 04:29)
4. Industry Insights: Medical Device vs. Pharmaceutical Sales
- Danielle distinguishes between medical device and pharmaceutical sales, highlighting the clinical and technical demands of medical device sales.
"In my mind, growing up, medical device was more prestigious. You can make more money. There’s more opportunity... people in pharmaceuticals stay in the drug area. And then people – medical device stay in medical."
(Danielle, 06:02) - She describes her approach as education rather than sales, focusing on relationship-building and helping, not just pushing products.
"I don’t even like the word selling because to me, it was an education role... I was really good at building relationships, but I was also really good at identifying who I would click with and how I could help them."
(Danielle, 05:02 & 11:44)
5. Advice for People in Sales & Career Growth
- Danielle advises salespeople to focus on relationships and not waste time forcing connections that don't fit:
"If the relationship’s not there, move on... You have to check your ego and say, if this doesn’t feel right, energetically, let’s go to somewhere that does feel right."
(Danielle, 11:52) - On professional happiness:
"People spend so much time... banging your head against the wall... and you’re like, this can’t work. Go on to the next thing. And there’s something very freeing in that."
(Erika, 12:13–12:30)
6. Challenges & Rewards of Leading a Healthcare Startup
- Danielle notes the ethical and emotional weight of decisions, given their products' direct impact on patient lives:
"Not wanting to make a mistake because you know that there’s people’s lives at risk and one bad decision can set you back. So I’ve learned to really slow down in my decision making."
(Danielle, 10:56) - The company’s "North Star" is helping patients, not just achieving an exit or acquisition—even if selling could be financially attractive:
"We have a moral obligation to do it ourselves for as long as possible because we can move so much faster than other companies."
(Danielle, 09:28)
7. Philosophy on Success & Fulfillment
- Both Erika and Danielle address the fleeting nature of achieving goals and emphasize enjoying the journey:
"It’s not about where you want to be, it’s how you get there."
(Danielle, 13:01)
"The win is kind of fleeting. It’s like the journey... That’s the everything."
(Erika, 13:06) - Danielle notes that real value and satisfaction aren’t always linked to material success:
"I know so many, like, very wealthy, on paper, successful people that are just really miserable in life. And I never want to be one of them."
(Danielle, 13:48)
8. Handling Toxic Work Environments & Bad Bosses
- Danielle suggests people unhappy at work should first engage in self-reflection:
"It starts with self-reflection... Instead of blaming everyone else... You have to say, what do I want to do, what can I offer and how do I do what makes me feel good and make the move?"
(Danielle, 14:28) - She recommends constructive, curious conversations with difficult bosses—understanding the 'why' behind disagreements rather than reacting emotionally:
"I think the key is finding out why it’s triggering you, and what can you do differently about that?... You could have an honest conversation… find out the why behind things."
(Danielle, 17:24)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Building a Business from Adversity:
"They let us go. And with the money we made from that lawsuit, we started our company."
(Danielle, 03:24) -
On being an educator, not just a salesperson:
"I don’t even like the word selling because to me, it was an education role."
(Danielle, 05:02) -
On moving on quickly in business:
"If the relationship’s not there, move on... The doors will open for you."
(Danielle, 11:52 & 12:14) -
On life and career fulfillment:
"It’s not about where you want to be, it’s how you get there."
(Danielle, 13:01) -
On self-reflection versus victimhood:
"It starts with self-reflection... You have to say, what do I want to do, what can I offer and how do I do what makes me feel good and make the move?"
(Danielle, 14:28) -
On the clinical impact:
"I deal with tragedy every day... and you really learn that life is short. And I just posted something on Instagram like, enjoy the ride."
(Danielle, 12:37)
Noteworthy Segments & Timestamps
- [00:17] – Danielle explains what FET Tech does
- [03:15] – How Danielle and her husband were fired and started their business
- [06:01] – The difference between medical device and pharmaceutical sales
- [08:14] – On being an educator vs. sleazy salespeople
- [09:28] – The company’s commitment to patient-first innovation
- [10:56] – The weight of leadership decisions in healthcare
- [11:44] – Danielle’s sales philosophy and advice
- [14:28] – Advice for people stuck in toxic jobs
- [17:24] – Dealing with difficult bosses through honest conversations
- [19:25] – Danielle explains FET Tech’s product family and recent antiviral discovery
- [21:02] – How FET Tech’s product unexpectedly killed viruses in lab tests
- [22:42] – Advocating for yourself as a patient in the healthcare system
Product Highlights
- Rayagel — Liquid regenerative medicine product
- Stemces — Wound care solution
- Antiviral Company — Product discovered to deactivate “enveloped” viruses (e.g., COVID, HIV, flu) during safety studies
"We found out our product deactivated envelope viruses... all the viruses that we have problems with in the world are enveloped... Our product helps with cracking that shell."
(Danielle, 19:55 – 20:25)
Where to Find Danielle & FET Tech
- Company: FET Tech (main company and product line info)
- Product (on Instagram): Rayagel
- Personal: Danielle Fette on Instagram (private) and LinkedIn
Final Takeaways
- Innovation in healthcare requires patient-first values, resilience, and a willingness to pivot.
- Career satisfaction is not about the title or exit — it’s about impact, relationships, and enjoying the journey.
- Don’t bang your head against bad fits, whether in jobs, sales accounts, or management. Move on and find your tribe.
- Never underestimate the importance of self-reflection and honest dialogue in overcoming workplace challenges.