Her Story
About Kate
Kate Gunderson is an ophthalmic clinical strategy and education leader with more than two decades of experience spanning the clinic, the operating room, clinical training, and the medical device industry. She currently serves as a Senior Clinical Specialist at RxSight, Inc., where she directs clinical execution across a multistate territory, develops and mentors Clinical Training Specialists, and partners closely with sales, product, and marketing teams to strengthen surgeon adoption of advanced ophthalmic technology. She supports more than 80 surgeons throughout the Upper Midwest and has consistently exceeded her procedure-volume goals, reflecting her hands-on approach to leadership built on clear expectations, steady coaching, and strong clinical-commercial partnerships.
Gunderson's path into ophthalmology was anything but linear. She began her career as a Certified Veterinary Technician after training at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, then moved into human healthcare as an Emergency Medical Technician before finding her long-term calling in eye care. Starting at the front desk of a private ophthalmology clinic, she spent roughly fifteen years working her way up through clinic management and hospital diagnostic units, eventually earning her Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) credential through a program affiliated with Regions Hospital. Five years ago, she carried that clinical foundation into the medical device industry as a clinical trainer, progressing steadily into the senior clinical leadership role she holds today.
Throughout her career, Gunderson has been guided by a consistent purpose: helping others, whether patients, surgeons, or the colleagues she mentors. She credits her parents for instilling the confidence that has carried her through each career transition, and she now works to pass that same belief in capability on to the next generation of women in her field. Grounded in authenticity, hard work, integrity, and impact, she encourages younger professionals not merely to seek a seat at the table but to aim for ownership and leadership outright. Outside of her professional work, she channels that same commitment to service through volunteer work with Union Gospel Mission and Lasagna Love.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kate
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute much of my confidence and success to my parents and the way I was raised. From an early age, they instilled in me the belief that I was smart, independent, and capable of accomplishing whatever I set my mind to, while always reassuring me that they would be there if I needed support. I now make it a point to pass that same confidence on to the next generation, and I believe women will increasingly move from simply participating in male-dominated industries to leading and dominating them.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The most memorable piece of career advice I ever received was that there are no friends in this business. Rather than accept that mindset, I chose to flip it and make being a genuine friend and colleague part of who I am professionally. I've found that success comes from staying true to yourself, even in competitive environments — colleagues, physicians, and other medical professionals can recognize authenticity, and that authenticity is what builds real trust and lasting professional relationships.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to women entering a male-dominated industry is simple: don't just want a seat at the table — want the table. I encourage women not to focus only on fitting into spaces traditionally occupied by men, but instead to think bigger, exceed expectations, and pursue leadership and ownership while staying focused on their long-term goals.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The eye-care industry is a highly specialized and relatively small professional community, and one of the biggest challenges is limited upward mobility once someone reaches a senior level within a company. Moving to a new organization or advancing further often depends on new technologies, products, or market developments creating fresh opportunities. Because of this, professionals tend to stay with the same organization for extended periods, which makes career expansion and movement more difficult.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My core values are authenticity, hard work, integrity, and positive impact. I believe in working hard even when the reward isn't immediately visible, trusting that consistent effort eventually pays off. It's just as important to me that my character and my work speak for themselves, even when I'm not in the room.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.