Ram Rajaraman (#022)
I cannot emphasise enough that “feedback is a gift”
Company: CHAI Analytics
Headcount: 3
Stage: Pre-seed
Warm intro from Daniel Botcherby (#017)
Tell us your story
I trained as an electrical engineer and had a career that used that skillset across multiple industries including finance, oil & gas and aerospace. I eventually settled into the healthcare sector where I’ve spent the last 13 years.
I realised that my career has been dominated by a common theme: the importance of data. Specifically, I’ve come to appreciate that in any industry, data can and should play a central role in decision-making and demand prediction. At GE, I realised that drawing inspiration from other industries’ use of advanced AI-driven analytics could transform the healthcare sector. At the same time, I saw first-hand the challenges this presented and the waste that resulted from low quality data, lack of open sharing of data, taking the wrong analytical approach and over-engineering a solution.
I founded CHAI Analytics to address these challenges. Since the very beginning, we have made it our mission to unlock the value of data and to propel data-driven decision-making into the NHS and wider healthcare sector.
Our vision? To be the enablers of sustainable analytics by designing and developing long-lasting, cost-effective analytic solutions using only fit for purpose analytics and AI / ML approaches. The result? Data-driven decision-making which enables efficient, effective, and sustainable improvements to care.
Tell us a story that has really resonated with you
I’ve always been fascinated by leadership and its different styles, and have studied works ranging from Sun Tzu’s ‘The Art of War’ to Harry Potter’s growth as a leader through the J. K. Rowling series.
As random as it may seem, Harry Potter’s evolution as a leader emulates a style known as ‘servant leadership’, which really resonates with me. A servant leader leads with a primary focus, while being the servant of the people they lead; servant leaders have a desire to serve first and lead second.
What can't you stop thinking about?
How to grow as an individual, whilst also helping the people around you to grow, so you can collectively make an impact in the world. Achieving this is not easy but is the mantra that drives me every day. We build products that make small or big differences and try to grow as individuals, encouraging others to grow with us.
If I could tell you just one thing...
I cannot emphasise enough that “feedback is a gift”. I think that everyone, no matter how successful or accomplished, should seek out honest and constructive feedback. Don’t expect it to always be positive - unflattering feedback is constructive too. In the words of Warren Buffet, “honesty is a very expensive gift; just don't expect it from cheap people.”
Any young or growing company is constantly evolving, learning and pivoting to meet the new demands of an ever-changing landscape - 360-degree feedback from all sources, including users, peers, family and friends, is key to this.
If you could get a warm intro to anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
I would love a warm intro to Warren Buffet! He is a subscriber to, and practitioner of, the principles of servant leadership, the type of leader I hope I am and aspire to be.