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[Medtronic]

Winston R. Wallin

Interview:
1+ hours (Conversazione) and 75 minutes (audio), October 21, 1997 (Conversazione) , April 3, 1998 (audio interview), Metropolitan Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Interviewer: David Rhees

Interview Excerpt:
Audio MP3 File | Excerpt Transcript

Subjects Discussed: (Conversazione) One in a series of informal talks on the medical device industry sponsored by the Bakken Library and Museum.

(Audio interview) Education, family, early career, impressions of Pillsbury Company; challenges as operating head of Pillsbury; early impressions of Medtronic; work on the board; diversification; role of technology and research and development; increased strategic planning; Medtronic’s culture and atmosphere; impact of layoffs; quality control; liability issues; sales force; relationship of company with medical community; advantages and disadvantages of pioneering technology; acquired companies; Food and Drug Administration; Medtronic’s relationship with colleges and universities; reason for large number of medical device companies in Minnesota; thoughts on his management style.

Sound Recordings:
Audio interview
User copy: 2 60-minute cassettes
Original: 2 60-minute cassettes
Conversazione
User copy: 1 90-minute cassette
Original: 1 90-minute cassette

Restrictions on Use: None

Transcript: 19 pages (Conversazione) and 21 pages (audio interview)

Accession Number: AV 2001.104.15

 
Biographical Information

Winston R. Wallin was born in Minnesota and graduated from a Minnesota university. He was a grain trader, executive, and board member for a major Minnesota food company. From the late 1970s until the mid 1990s, he was a board member, and served the last five years as a chief executive, of Medtronic.

Winston R. Wallin