The Path to Dentistry—Then Beyond
Initially, Zanganeh chose dentistry as her career path, enrolling in university studies with the goal of becoming a dentist. But as she progressed in the field, she found it unfulfilling and creatively stifling. “I realized I didn’t want to spend my life looking into people’s mouths,” she later told Forbes with a laugh. The decision to leave dentistry might have seemed like a detour at the time, but it was the first of many bold pivots that would define her career.
She eventually moved into the field of medical technology, which proved to be a far more natural fit. In 1997, she joined the California-based company Computer Motion, a pioneer in the development of robotic surgical systems. It was there that she first found her true calling: not merely in practicing medicine, but in transforming how medicine is delivered through technology.
Breaking Barriers in Robotic Surgery
At Computer Motion, Zanganeh quickly distinguished herself. At just 28 years old, she was put in charge of the company’s business in Europe and the Middle East—a major leadership role for a woman in a field then dominated by men. Her sharp mind, attention to detail, and cross-cultural fluency gave her an edge in negotiations and strategy. She also possessed what colleagues described as an extraordinary visual memory, allowing her to absorb complex data and patterns with ease.
One of the people most impressed by her capabilities was Bob Duggan, the CEO of Computer Motion. The two would go on to become not only professional partners but also romantic partners and eventually spouses. Duggan later described their dynamic to Forbes: “We’re a perfect match. I’m a visionary, and she knows every detail. It’s like having two minds on one mission.”