Press room

Eden Prairie, Minnesota (March 8, 2023) – Starkey Chief Audiology Officer and Executive Vice President of Product Strategy, Sara Burdak, Au.D., has been named a 2023 Women MAKE Awards Honoree by the Manufacturing Institute. This national award program honors women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their manufacturing careers, and who inspire the next generation of female talent to pursue a career in the industry.

“On behalf of Starkey, I want to congratulate Sara on this well-deserved recognition,” said Starkey President and CEO, Brandon Sawalich. “She serves as an excellent role model who is committed to inspiring and supporting women at every stage in their careers, not only within our organization, but across the industry. When it comes to helping people hear better, so they can live better, Sara’s leadership is an integral part of our continued success.”

Dr. Burdak joined Starkey as an audiologist on the Hearing Research and Technology team in 1999. For over two decades, she has worked to bring impactful programs to Starkey’s global customer base. She is responsible for developing and aligning Starkey’s global audiology strategy, as it relates to education and training programs, clinical research, and government services work. Bringing her clinical and educational background to the manufacturing space, Dr. Burdak has been able to pursue her passion for supporting the professional growth of women in the industry, as well as audiology students. Highly regarded by her team as a thoughtful and effective leader, she provides the perfect blend of science, technology, education, and caring service to others.

“This award holds a special place in my heart, as supporting the professional growth of women is a passion area of mine,” said Dr. Burdak. “While anyone can become a great leader, regardless of their background, I am incredibly proud to oversee a team of leaders who are predominantly female. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for them, as well as all the women in our industry!”

Starkey is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Founded by Bill Austin in 1967, Starkey is known for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Led today by President and CEO Brandon Sawalich, Starkey is the only American-owned provider of hearing technologies. The company has more than 5,000 employees, operates 29 facilities and does business in more than 100 markets worldwide. Learn more at starkey.com.