South Asian Trailblazers: Vas Narasimhan (CEO of Novartis) and Srishti Gupta (Leader in Health & Ed)

To kick off Season 7 of South Asian Trailblazers, power duo Dr. Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis, and Dr. Srishti Gupta Narasimhan, Physician Leader in Health & Education, join Simi all the way from Basel, Switzerland for a LIVE recording at Novartis Headquarters in Cambridge, MA.

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Vas Narasimhan and Srishti Gupta Narasimhan are two incredibly accomplished individuals...who also happen to be married. In this conversation, Simi delves into how Vas and Srishti first met at Harvard Medical School, Srishti’s two decades at McKinsey and board service in biotech, and Vas’ varied leadership roles at Novartis leading up to the moment he was named CEO of the world-renowned pharmaceutical company. It’s an extraordinary journey that encompasses multiple moves across the world — with Srishti and Vas rising in their respective careers, while also supporting each other’s unique aspirations and building a family. For all the reasons you can guess, it’s one of our most special episodes yet. More on their individual journeys below.

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About Srishti: Dr. Srishti Gupta Narasimhan is a physician leader whose career spans the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Today, Dr. Gupta dedicates her time to board service. She serves on the boards of Idorsia Pharmaceuticals, a leading biotechnology company; the Norrsken Foundation, the largest ecosystem connecting social entrepreneurs across Europe and Africa; and the BackPack Foundation, which advances higher education for women in science and leadership. She also supports STEAM experiences and scholarships for underserved students and mentors founders in health and education. 

Previously, Dr. Gupta spent nearly two decades at McKinsey & Co. A Senior Expert in the Global Health Practice, she worked to harness the power of public-private collaboration to tackle challenges including child mortality, vaccine access, and family planning. She has also held various roles supporting McKinsey’s talent programs including Global Director for McKinsey Alumni & Strategy, Director of Global Programs, and Director of Diversity and Inclusion. Throughout her career, she has worked as a physician and public health consultant in diverse market contexts including the United States, Peru, Tanzania, India, Botswana, and Indonesia. She holds a B.A., M.A., MPP, and M.D. from Harvard University and an M. Phil from the University of Cambridge. 

About Vas: Dr. Vasant Narasimhan is the CEO of Novartis, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Since becoming CEO in 2018, Vas has led a strategic and cultural transformation to build a fully focused medicines company—one that delivers high-value medicines that alleviate society’s greatest disease burdens through technology leadership in R&D and novel access approaches. He leads a company of more than 105,000 associates that does business in more than 140 countries and that reached 743 million patients with its medicines in 2022.

Since joining Novartis in 2005, Vas has held a range of leadership roles, including Global Head of Development for Novartis Vaccines, and Global Head of Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer. In recognition of his sustained efforts to improve human health, he is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine in the US. In 2023, Vas became chair of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Vas lives in Basel, Switzerland, with his wife and two sons. He holds a B.S. from the University of Chicago and an M.D. and MPP from Harvard University.

This live recording was hosted in partnership with Novartis, Scrumptious Wicks, Prana Kitchens. Editing by Ravi Ray Audio. Video by MishMedia+.