16 Years at ZS: A Journey of Learning, Growth, and Gratitude

A few days ago, LinkedIn reminded me that I had completed 16 years at ZS. My first instinct? “Do the number of years really matter?” After all, I’ve always believed that impact matters more than tenure.

But then I paused. 16 years is a long time. It’s the time it takes for a newborn to be old enough to get a driver’s license in the U.S. And in these 16 years, life happened - I moved to the U.S., got married, became a father, bought a home, built lifelong friendships, and found purpose in my work. Through it all, ZS provided the professional stability and growth that allowed me to embrace these personal milestones.

From Curious Kid to a Career in Technology and Healthcare

As a child, I was endlessly curious—always trying to understand how things worked. That curiosity led me to math, physics, computers, and spirituality (which, strangely, I’ve always found interconnected).

I was fortunate to be exposed to coding in 4th grade and to AI during my engineering days—long before it was a buzzword. It helped me appreciate not just algorithms but also human decision-making, biology, and structure in thought.

Despite my love for technology, my entry into management consulting was accidental. But it was here that I realized something important:

??????????? Technology is just a tool; the real power lies in how and where it is applied.

That shift in perspective led me to work with global pharmaceutical companies, helping them optimize sales, marketing, and market access strategies for life-saving medicines. But something kept nagging at me—why was our focus always on treatment rather than prevention?

From Pharma to Health Insurance & Providers: The Bigger Picture

The more I understood the healthcare ecosystem, the more I realized that the challenge wasn’t just about new drug discoveries (which are, of course, vital). It was about affordability, accessibility, and experience.

Wouldn’t it be better if we prevented a pre-diabetic from becoming diabetic rather than relying on lifelong medication for managing symptoms and slowing progression?

Wouldn’t it be great if the healthcare system rewarded keeping people healthy, not just treating illness?

How do we make it desirable and affordable for healthcare consumers while making it organizationally viable and financially sustainable for all healthcare entities?

What part could we play as a firm? What part could I play as an individual?

This led me to explore value-based partnerships between pharmaceutical companies and insurers. But I soon realized that systemic change requires more than good ideas—it requires deep, structural shifts.

Recognizing this, I transitioned my focus in 2019 to serving health insurance and provider organizations, working on ways to improve patient experience, access to care, and affordability.

Gratitude & Looking Ahead

Through every pivot, every challenge, and every learning moment, I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by incredible people—colleagues, mentors, clients, and friends who’ve supported me, challenged me, and shaped me.

ZS has been more than a workplace—it’s been a platform for impact, and I am grateful for the journey so far.

But I am far from done. The real measure of my success isn’t in titles or tenure—it’s in the relationships I’ve built and the people who’ve enriched my journey.

Healthcare is complex. Life is complex. But if we work together, we can make this world a healthier, more compassionate place.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of my journey. Here’s to learning, evolving, and making an impact—one step at a time.