Visionary Voices Atlanta - Suhas Uppalapati
Mr Uppalapati is a seasoned business leader with experience in various industries, including healthcare, insurance, technology, and more. Mr. Uppalapati owns multiple businesses, held several senior executive positions, and served on prestigious boards. He has gained significant experience applying an outsider’s perspective to companies across a range of industries and creating disruptive changes through technology and data analytics.
Event Summary
Hosts:
- Dhruv Rajaganesh
- Kabilesh Yuvaraj
- Praveen Patibandla
Q&A
- Can you share a brief overview of your entrepreneurial journey, including any challenges you faced early on?
- MS in Comp Sci from George Mason University
- MBA from Duke University – The Fuqua School of Business
- Director of Statewide Planning
- CEO of Mavin’s Group, a consultancy company
- Faced the stock market crash of 2008 right after entering.
- This was when most of the talented workers got laid off, so he took advantage and hired them when they needed work.
- Now, he is the CEO of AmeriPro Health, one of the leading medical transportation companies that transported the most COVID patients in the southeast region of the US.
- Healthcare is a rapidly evolving industry. How do you encourage innovation within AmeriPro Health, and what role does it play in staying ahead of the curve to meet the changing needs of the healthcare landscape?
- Utilizing AI to help with the fastest routes and clashing routes with other ambulances.
- Going above and beyond to garner masks during shortage for employees during Covid.
- For the high schoolers in the audience who aspire to become entrepreneurs, what advice do you have for them as they embark on their entrepreneurial journey? Are there specific skills or mindsets they should develop?
- Don’t enter the entrepreneurial industry just because you want to make money.
- Have a passion because if there is a passion and desire, the money will follow.
- How do you differentiate your business from competitors?
- Don’t focus on your competitors; only focus on your customers.
- If the customers are happy, you will always be ahead of your competitors.
- What are some important leadership qualities or behaviors high school students should have?
- Strong communication skills, diligent work ethic, assertive personality
- Focus on learning more from outside of the school.
- During Mr. Uppalapati’s MBA, he gained 60% of his knowledge from school but 40% from meeting other people and developing connections.
- Interact with classmates to learn from their vast experiences