Sai Cherala ’26

The healthcare and public health sectors are undergoing significant change due to the impacts of COVID, the ever-changing political and policy landscape, a shift towards value-based care, increased emphasis on data analytics, and a heightened focus on AI. These developments have made it clear to me that I must deepen my understanding of management, finance, and strategy to create a meaningful impact. Emphasizing both business and society, Yale’s EMBA program offers leadership skills, business insights, and decision-making frameworks necessary to navigate the evolving landscape in my field.

Even in my first year in the program, the coursework has been invaluable. I’ve used insights from courses like Strategy and Operations Management to understand how to streamline processes and improve our work at my organization. Meanwhile, classes like Customer and Modeling Managerial Decisions have allowed me to make evidence-based decisions when evaluating health programs and initiatives. This has been especially useful in my role, where resource allocation and outcome management are crucial.

Beyond the classroom, I’ve participated in campus events, healthcare-focused conferences, and initiatives, including planning for my upcoming Global Network Week. These experiences have expanded my understanding of healthcare challenges and solutions and grown my connections across other sectors that can influence this work.

I aspire to be an ethical and transformational leader who inspires change and innovation while maintaining a deep sense of social responsibility. Through my leadership development courses in the EMBA program, I’ve learned that my strength lies in my ability to build strong relationships and foster collaboration, both crucial skills in a healthcare environment. I also discovered that I tend to prioritize consensus-building, which can sometimes delay decision-making in fast-paced situations. I’ve learned to focus on balancing empathy and efficiency, understanding when to move decisively while still engaging my team and community.