Hayley Warren is the Winner, Telstra Business Women's Awards 2013 and a Young Global Leader for the World Economic Forum.

Working in the fast-evolving world of medical devices has thrown up many challenges for Hayley Warren, who started her Subiaco-based company, HALO Medical Devices, while still a physiotherapy student.

Hayley developed a new goniometer, a tool used by therapists, doctors and veterinarians to measure joint movement and help recovery from injury. Hayley’s device uses laser beams, an advance that should overcome many of the shortcomings manual devices present.

The business gained national attention when she won the People’s Choice Award with her device on the New Inventors program on ABC-TV in 2010. She’s since been named WA Innovator of the Year in the Startup category and attracted private capital and a Federal Government grant to take her product to the world.

Hayley believes in helping female founders get to where they need through providing support from my experience, my network and to open doors where I can, so that they can achieve what they want, faster and with greater success. We sat down with Hayley to learn more about the world of Health tech and her entrepreneurial journey.

How did you venture into entrepreneurship?

I saw a problem and wanted to fix it.

It was a problem close to heart, that was affecting the level of care patients were receiving. I believed in offering the best care possible, to everyone in the health field, hence developed a medical device that would serve to give accuracy, and accessibility to every patient while they were under rehabilitation from injury or disease.

What were you doing before you started your business?

I was a 4th-year student of Physiotherapy in Western Australia.

What has been your biggest failure and learning experience?

Not being clear on what it is I wanted to design BEFORE I sat down to design it with engineers. This meant I overspent and took a lot longer to reach the market. If I had known what I wanted and researched the best people to do that with me, I would have saved 8 months and around 100K.

What is one piece of advice you wish you knew sooner?

I wish I knew to have the skill of confidence and the knowledge that I could do what I did if that makes sense. Today I have taken an idea, started a company and made it into a global success. I wish I knew to have the confidence to back myself before and know how well lit would turn out.

Always stay true to what you know, your WHY and not to veer off path for others.

What are your top 3 industry-specific tips for someone who is just starting out?

Validate your idea, take the time here and work out if there is a problem you are solving. Learn to be agile and evolve with your idea and company as the information from the market comes up to direct you. Never forget your customers, who they are, and what they want.

How do you set and measure goals for the New Year?

Well, I take a week in Thailand at a fitness camp where we train in the mornings and I think and plan the next 12 months in the evenings. This is the way I normally set goals. Finding some quiet space at home, writing down what you want to set up for the next 3, 6, 12 months is key. Just write them down wherever you are. I measure through achieving. I set the goal, set up steps on how to get there, and once achieved consider it achieved. Without writing up the steps to get there…..I simply don’t arrive to meet the goal, so that step is a must for me.

Why did you choose to be a mentor on the Tech Ready Program? 

I believe in helping female founders get to where they need through providing support from my experience, my network and to open doors where I can, so that they can achieve what they want, faster and with greater success. Tech Ready Women embodies my belief, which made it an easy decision to become apart of.