Name and how long you have been in the industry
Trish Gower, just a little over a year in the HTM world—still fresh, but soaking it all up like a sponge!
How did you get into the industry?
Actually, funny story—my oldest daughter is the Business Manager at Twilight Medical, and when the owner, Travis Turner, said he needed a salesperson for parts, she didn’t even hesitate: “I know just the person!” she told him. I stepped in, and it’s been a whirlwind ever since.
But truth be told, my connection to the medical field started long before that. When my youngest daughter was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 15, I became all too familiar with infusion pumps, CT machines, and IV poles—not as a technician, but as a mom fighting cancer alongside her child. That experience gave me a deep respect for the machines—and the people behind them—who keep patients safe. Today, two of my daughters are nurses, and one is now in CRNA school, and I feel like I’ve come full circle serving this industry from a different angle.
What milestones or contributing factors helped elevate you to where you are today?
I’ve spent the last two decades selling high-ticket products, leading teams, and coaching women in business. Before Twilight, I worked as a business coach and ran my own successful children’s e-commerce brand—so when it came to sales, relationship-building, and creating systems, I had the foundation.
But honestly? Getting my hands into the world of HTM and learning to translate my experience into something this industry needs. I’ve spent this year helping to build out Twilight’s Salesforce platform, organizing the parts side of the company, and creating streamlined processes to support our techs. I’m the oldest woman on our team, at fifty, and I’ve kind of the unofficial “team mom.”
What roadblocks did you have to overcome?
Honestly? Imposter syndrome was a big one. Coming into a technical, male-dominated industry where acronyms fly like confetti, I had moments where I thought, “What the heck am I even doing here?” But I pushed through by asking questions, being willing to look silly if it meant learning, and leaning into the skills I did have—communication, empathy, and problem-solving.
On the personal side, I’ve navigated some tough seasons—raising three daughters and a son, supporting a husband with ASD, running a business during all of that, and being the steady one when life felt anything but. Those battles gave me resilience that make me who I am today.
What do you feel makes a great leader in this industry?
If I were just giving you my knee-jerk reaction, it would be this: Great leaders in this industry are never too big to learn from the ones coming up after them. They’re willing to try new ideas, adapt to new technology, and not be a stick in the mud. They can admit when they’re wrong and will go the extra mile for the people who look up to them. To me, that’s what real leadership looks like.
What advice to you have for the other women in HTM?
Don’t wait to feel “qualified” before you raise your hand. This industry needs your voice, your instincts, and your people skills—just as much as it needs technical know-how. Find your lane, own your strengths, and never be afraid to ask the question no one else is willing to. You belong in the room, and sometimes, being the only woman there is exactly what is needed.
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