For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, three Intuitive employees share how personal experiences, a passion for women’s health, and the power of community connect them to a common purpose. Meet Marissa Tirado, a Senior Group Marketing Manager and Board member of BLACK at Intuitive; Nicole Hurley, Senior Marketing Manager focused on breast surgery; and Stephanie Gilliard, a Senior Legal Counsel and Board member of BLACK at Intuitive, and a 10-year breast cancer survivor.
For many people at Intuitive, the connection to our mission is deeply personal. It might come from their own experience as a patient, a desire to make healthcare more accessible, or the opportunity to support people facing some of life’s most difficult moments.
This October, BLACK at Intuitive and Women at Intuitive (WIN), two of our employee resource groups (ERGs), are collaborating for the third consecutive year to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Through employee conversations, educational events, and fundraising initiatives, they’re bringing colleagues together to raise awareness and support people affected by breast cancer.
For Marissa, Nicole, and Stephanie, these efforts reflect something they value about Intuitive: the opportunity to contribute to a mission that extends beyond their day-to-day roles.
Opening doors and building community
Marissa has spent five years at Intuitive, where she helps lead the global strategy and launch of da Vinci instruments and accessories.
Her interest in healthcare began much earlier. After undergoing spinal surgery as a teenager, she recognized how fortunate she was to have access to excellent medical care—and how different that experience could be for others.
“I realized that although it was a very difficult experience, I was actually very lucky,” she recalls.
That experience helped shape her commitment to addressing disparities in healthcare, a purpose she now brings to both her professional role and her involvement with BLACK at Intuitive.
For Marissa, participating in the ERG is also a way to extend the support she’s received throughout her career. “I've been very grateful to have a lot of mentors who have seen things in me that I haven't seen in myself, and have really been there for me, and helped to open doors,” she says. “And I firmly believe that when someone opens the door for you, you need to make sure it stays open for the person behind you.”
That spirit of giving back is central to this year’s collaboration between BLACK at Intuitive and WIN. The groups are organizing activities that include a webinar featuring a surgeon and patient, employee conversations about navigating a breast cancer diagnosis, fundraising, and a wellness challenge.
The initiatives are particularly meaningful to Marissa because breast cancer disproportionately affects Black women, making awareness and access to information especially important.
But she also sees the collaboration as an example of what ERGs can offer employees.
“Being part of the ERGs gives you an opportunity to work on projects that you're really passionate about with a group of people who are really, really passionate about the same things as you.” Through her involvement, she’s developed leadership skills, built relationships, and found new opportunities to mentor others.
“You give a lot to the ERG, but you get a lot from the ERG,” she says.
Connecting innovation with a passion for women's health
For Nicole, Breast Cancer Awareness Month brings together her professional interests and a personal commitment to advancing women’s health.
After experiencing life-saving healthcare when her daughter was born, Nicole developed an even deeper appreciation for the impact of patient-centered care and especially for women’s healthcare. When she joined Intuitive in 2024, she was looking for a company whose mission aligned with her values.
“I was looking for a shift in my career to a company that’s really focused on patients,” she says.
Today, she helps support the introduction of the da Vinci SP indication for nipple-sparing mastectomy, an option for some patients facing a mastectomy.
“I feel like women’s health is an underrepresented community, especially in healthcare, and that’s what I want to do—help women.”
Nicole’s role gives her a close connection to the clinical side of Intuitive’s mission. But she believes that connection belongs to everyone at the company. “Even though you may not be on the commercial side and see the patient or be with the surgeon, everyone’s contributing to the impact on doctors and their patients.”
That’s one reason she’s helping support this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities.
The employee webinar will offer colleagues the opportunity to hear from a surgeon and patient, learn about the experiences of employees affected by breast cancer, and better understand resources available to those navigating serious health challenges.
For Nicole, creating space for these conversations is an important part of supporting one another.
“I think it’s an impactful way to let everyone know that even when you’re facing something very challenging, there are resources available to help you.”
She also values Intuitive’s support for employees who dedicate time to initiatives beyond their immediate responsibilities. “The fact that the company is supportive of these ERGs and supportive of employees taking the time to be able to listen and learn and develop—I think all of that leads to the culture,” she says.
And while these activities require time and effort, Nicole sees them as an extension of the reason she joined Intuitive. “At the end of the day, why do we get up in the morning? It’s to help the patients.”
Sharing a personal story to offer hope
For Stephanie Gilliard, Breast Cancer Awareness Month marks an especially meaningful milestone. This year, she celebrates ten years as a breast cancer survivor.
“I am officially a 10-year survivor, so that is pretty amazing,” she says. “And I’m very grateful.”
Stephanie was diagnosed after discovering a lump and seeking medical attention. She remembers how quickly life changed—and how important it became to gather information and understand her treatment options.
“When you’re armed with information, you don’t feel as afraid,” she says. “You gain hope in knowing your options.”
Her treatment included surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and medication. Throughout the experience, she continued balancing work and raising young children, relying on support from family, friends, and colleagues. “I accepted that I needed to ask for help. I didn’t have to manage this situation alone.”
That experience inspired Stephanie to support other people facing cancer. She spent six years volunteering with CancerLINC, an organization connecting patients with practical resources for challenges that arise alongside a diagnosis, eventually serving as chair of its board.
“Just because you’re diagnosed doesn't mean life stops,” she explains. “You’re still a parent. You’re still an employee. You’re still a daughter, sister, and friend.”
Today, Stephanie serves as Legal Counsel for the Intuitive Foundation, supporting programs that help expand opportunities for people and communities.
Her experience as a patient is an important part of why she chose to return to healthcare.
“One of the reasons that I chose Intuitive is because of its commitment to patient care, and at the end of every decision, there’s a patient on the other end.”
This October, she’s sharing her story to encourage colleagues to stay informed about their health, advocate for themselves, understand the resources available to them, and ask for support when they need it.
Her most important message is simple: “I think my biggest takeaway is hope.”
Finding purpose in supporting one another
Marissa, Nicole, and Stephanie bring different experiences to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but their stories share a common thread: the belief that information, compassion, and community can make a meaningful difference.
Together, they remind us that contributing to Intuitive’s mission goes beyond our individual roles. It’s also about the relationships we build, the perspectives we share, and the ways we support one another.
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