Demystifying Health

Dr. Sumbul Desai, VP at Apple Health shares with Aindrisha Mitra how her steadfast vision to make an impact sent her on a winding career path to success

- Aindrisha Mitra

No risk, no gain is a mantra Dr. Sumbul Desai swears by. She believes in getting 'comfortable with being uncomfortable'. As a woman in STEM, her journey has been one for the books, considering the different trajectories her endeavours have taken. At Apple, she oversees the company's global healthcare initiatives involving clinical product development, innovative partnerships and medical research. She is also a mother, and strongly believes in women reclaiming their voices in every space. Especially, in leadership positions. "We are never finished products as women. And our superpower is this ability to constantly push and evolve and reflect on whether we belong somewhere or if we're doing it right," remarks Dr. Sumbul, in a hearty chat with ELLE India where she talks about her life, career choices, the India connect and more.

ELLE: TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR UNCONVENTIONAL CAREER PATH AND YOUR FORAY INTO MEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE?

DR. SUMBUL DESAI (DR. SD): Interestingly, both my culture and my family played big roles in shaping my career decisions. As a first-generation Indian growing up in the United States, I was expected to pursue medicine or engineering, which were stable professions to my parents. However, journalism was my first love.

To make both parties happy, I enrolled in an engineering school with a major in computer science and a minor in communications. In my third year of college, I landed a broadcast internship with ABC news. 1 worked weekends at a local TV affiliate in Albany, New York for the 'Good Morning America' Sunday show. The gig inched me closer to my dreams, eventually turning into a job offer.