Healthcare, Here We Go Again—Now with More Passport Stamps!

It’s that time of the year—no, not another marathon, another mountain trek (though Kilmanjaro you are on my mind). This time, its about a move back home.

A few weeks ago, I joined?Cigna Healthcare?as?CIO for the HealthPlan. After years of hopping between industries, continents, and cuisines (more on that in a minute), I’m back in?US healthcare—because apparently, I enjoy solving?complex, never-ending puzzles.

My early days at?Kaiser Permanente?fresh out of college showed me how technology can actually change lives—sometimes in ways you can measure and sometimes in ways you just feel. Coming back to the industry at?Cigna, now on the?other?coast, feels like a mix of?déjà vu and a whole new adventure.

But let’s be real—healthcare is still?a paradox. Every PowerPoint deck now mentions?AI at least 16 times per slide, yet we’re still dealing with?disconnected systems, frustrating patient experiences, and a value chain that requires an advanced degree (or divine intervention) to navigate. So, here I am, taking another shot at making a dent.

The move to?New England?comes with its own perks—closer to my daughters,?fall colors that look Photoshopped, small-town charm, and of course,?being back on U.S. soil. After living and working across?Asia, Europe, and the U.S., I’ve learned that every place teaches you something—whether it’s about?leadership, negotiation, or the right way to order coffee without offending someone.

Speaking of global lessons, I’ve been incredibly lucky to?work, eat, and debate across cultures:

???? Crispy Swiss r?sti—because who doesn’t love golden perfection?

???Sushi in the alleys of Ginza?(sitting next to a chef who had apparently been making the same type of fish for 40 years).

???Fondue on top of the Swiss Alps?(because nothing says "athletic" like melted cheese).

???Hot chicken in Nashville?(and a subsequent near-death experience).

?? Delicious dosa crepe from Andhra (well, who can beat Mum’s cooking?)

???Guinness in Temple Bar?(arguably the best work meeting setting).

???Tapas in Barcelona?(which somehow turned into a 3-hour debate on product roadmaps).

???The best Indian biryani... in London?(fight me on this).

???Glühwein in a Berlin Christmas market?(because nothing fosters deep strategic discussions like spiced wine in the freezing cold).

and a ??Black coffee everywhere?(because dairy is for the weak).

Through all these experiences, I’ve learned that while?technology unifies us—customer experience is king, data is gold, and tech debt is forever—culture defines how we create, lead, and collaborate. There’s no podcast, management book, or blog that can fully prepare you for:

???The formality of a Japanese boardroom.

???The whiteboard-fueled chaos of Shenzhen, Berlin, or Hyderabad.

???The passionate (and loud) product debates over tapas in Spain.

??The Swiss business meeting where efficiency is an art form.

???The all-night hackathon overlooking the Liffey in Dublin, where caffeine and code flow equally.

Thank you Walter Hess , Walter Oberh?nsli and DocMorris for giving me the opportunity to work in Switzerland, arguably the most scenic place in the entire world.

All of it has shaped how I think, lead, and—let’s be honest—how quickly I reach for coffee in different time zones. Hopefully, it has also made me?more mature, more empathetic, and better at decoding meeting etiquette?(or at least better at pretending).

So, with all of that in my back pocket, here’s to?bringing global lessons back to U.S. healthcare?and seeing what impact we can create.?Let’s go.

To my new colleagues and friends at The Cigna Group Cigna - thank you for the great welcome. You guys/gals?have made onboarding into an art form.