Preventing Hospital Infections at the Source – Without Another Silver Coating

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Dr Georgia Fleet, CEO and co-founder of Zonova, about the science and business sides of stopping hospital-acquired infections.Zonova is a medtech company whose aim is to prevent healthcare-acquired infection, thereby reducing over-reliance on antibiotics. Georgia founded the company in 2023 after completing her doctorate at UCL, and the business now has a dedicated lab and a team working to bring their antimicrobial technology to market.In their conversation, they discuss:Where hospital-acquired infections come from: not hospital failings, but the devices themselves, which are sterile in the pack and no longer sterile the moment they are opened.Zonova's antimicrobial technology which embeds into medical devices, differentiating it from the typical silver coating solutions.The pivot from manufacturing to intellectual property licensing, and how it brings revenue forward and speeds up regulatory approval.Growing the company: applying for patents, navigating FDA requirements, choosing to work in-person, and Georgia's shift from solitary scientist to leadership. Zonova: https://zonovatech.com/Menkus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/Supported by Norman Broadbent: https://www.normanbroadbent.com/Belden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, the strategy firm for businesses with a broader purpose. His McKinsey training combined with more than 30 years working at Board and ExCo level gives him both the analytical rigour and the relational experience that complex, high-stakes leadership situations demand.Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a weekly podcast. It explores how senior leaders bring purpose to life through strategy and reflects the same questions that drive the consulting work.