Home: Livingston, NJ. Birthplace: Kerala, India. Profession: Drug development leader and business owner. Organization: Adagia Pharma Consulting LLC. Pronouns: She/her. Alma mater: Dalhousie University, Canada. Languages spoken: English, Malayalam, Hindi and Tamil.
What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Leaving India to pursue a life in North America. Hobbies: Traveling, puzzles. Recent travel or adventure: Trek in the Himalayas. Last book read: Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir. Recently viewed and recommended: Adolescence.
Moral compass: Treating people fairly, not causing harm and doing the right thing even when it is not easy. How do you define a perfect friendship? Trustworthy, comfortable, respectful of differences and without judgment. What natural talent have you neglected? Drawing. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Filmmaking.
What three emojis best describe you? 🤔🧩🫶.
What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Online shopping. What is at the top of your bucket list? Trip to New Zealand to see locations from The Lord of the Rings. How do you relieve stress? Walking.
What was your favorite college course? Human behaviour. What was your favorite childhood toy or game? Cricket. What movie have you repeatedly watched? Casablanca. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Stay grounded in who you can become, not who the world expects you to be. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Lean in. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? Genetic engineering for personalized medicine and disease prevention. What world event has had the greatest influence on your life? The digital revolution, including smartphones and the internet.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Bringing therapies to patients with rare neurological diseases with high unmet needs. What change would you like to see in the world? A world that is more honest, more humane and fairer. What message do you want to send out into the world? Be kind by choice, not convenience. What widely held belief do you reject? The belief that climate change is not real. What mega-trend most excites you? Artificial intelligence.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? From roots to research. Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? Nelson Mandela. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? Astronaut. What advice would you give your younger self? The detours matter just as much as the destination.
Personal mission: Bringing medicine to people in need. Personal motto: Learn, build, evolve. Favorite quote: "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity" (Albert Einstein).
