"Speaking up and listening up" - Rima Alameddine of Becton Dickinson
In this episode of the Land and Lead Podcast, Dr. Josh Elmore speaks with Rima Alameddine, Worldwide President of Peripheral Intervention at Becton Dickinson, about leading complex global businesses through continuous transformation. Rima reflects on her 27-year career across healthcare organizations including BD, CR Bard, GE Healthcare, and Fresenius, and her path through multiple leadership transitions shaped by acquisitions, portfolio shifts, and global market dynamics.
Rima shares that she never planned her career step by step. Instead, she focused on excelling in each role, developing her teams, and aligning deeply with the values and purpose of the organizations she joined. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes clarity of vision, disciplined prioritization, and intentional listening as core leadership practices; especially in fast-moving, resource-constrained environments.
She introduces the distinction between “why-notters” and “yes-butters,” highlighting the importance of identifying who drives momentum versus who stalls change. Rima also discusses the nuances of transitioning as an internal leader versus a newcomer, noting how reputation, context, and bias shape a leader’s freedom to act.
The episode closes with practical guidance for leaders in high-stakes roles: grant trust early, stay anchored in personal and organizational values, build learning systems that enable adaptation, and lead with both confidence and humility.
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