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Ashanthi Mathai
Serendib LLC | Founding CEO, Pocket Naloxone Corp.
Professional Background
Ashanthi Mathai is an accomplished professional and entrepreneur with a profound commitment to healthcare innovation and public health improvement. With extensive experience and a background in pharmaceutical marketing, healthcare management, and social impact initiatives, Ashanthi has made it her mission to address critical health issues, particularly the opioid crisis in the United States.
As the co-founder and former president of Pocket Naloxone Corp., Ashanthi has been directly involved in pioneering efforts to develop an over-the-counter version of Naloxone—the essential antidote for opioid overdoses. Understanding the urgent need to combat opioid-related deaths, which occur every six to seven minutes in the U.S., her work aims to ensure that life-saving medication is accessible to all.
Prior to her current role, she served as the Vice President of Marketing at Specialists On Call, Inc., where she executed a comprehensive marketing strategy that significantly boosted traffic to the organization’s channels. Through the implementation of a well-defined integrated demand and lead generation plan, the company experienced a remarkable sixfold increase in traffic within a matter of weeks. Her strategic leadership involved building a robust marketing function, recruiting skilled staff, and forging key partnerships that fostered industry-wide discussions.
Ashanthi’s journey into healthcare began with her tenure at Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, where she led vital projects focusing on customer segmentation, strategic forecasts, and brand performance metrics. Her thorough understanding of pharmaceutical marketing and customer insight has equipped her with the capabilities to drive substantial growth in various organizations across the healthcare spectrum.
Education and Achievements
Ashanthi’s educational credentials reflect her dedication to excellence and innovation. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (summa cum laude) from Princeton University, followed by a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering at Stanford University. At Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, she further expanded her professional expertise through an MBA, where she focused on Product Innovation & Manufacturing, Global Management, and Public Management.
Her dedication to impactful healthcare initiatives is exemplified by her founding of the non-profit organization So Others May See Inc. in Sri Lanka, which has positively impacted over 1.2 million lives by addressing visual impairments among children. This organization developed an innovative population health management model that provided screenings and affordable, custom-made eyeglasses for children and adults at an impressively low cost. Her initiative earned recognition from the Sri Lankan government in 2014, highlighting her commitment to improving healthcare access and quality.
Ashanthi's strategic insights and leadership skills have not gone unnoticed in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, where she has established herself as a prominent figure. She boasts an impressive resume of former roles, including consulting positions at Pocket Naloxone Corp. and Serendib LLC, showcasing her versatility and expertise in market analytics and brand strategy.
Notable Achievements
Throughout her career, Ashanthi Mathai has achieved numerous milestones that underscore her ability to enact positive change and drive industry advancements. Her leadership at Pocket Naloxone Corp. involved not only the development of a life-saving product but also strategic initiatives that engage healthcare stakeholders and foster collaboration. Her previous experience at SOC Telemed allowed her the platform to refine her skills in content marketing and lead generation, furthering the organization's influence in the healthcare technology field.
As Marketing Director at U.S. Pharmacopeia and a Director at AMM Consulting, Ashanthi honed her ability to operate at the intersection of technology and healthcare, applying her chemical engineering background to create practical solutions to complex health challenges.
In addition to her impressive professional journey, Ashanthi’s affiliation with organizations such as StartX, where she was a member, highlights her entrepreneurial spirit and her commitment to driving innovation in the startup ecosystem. Her role as Engagement Manager at The Advisory Board Company saw her manage essential projects that improved medical technology solutions—demonstrating yet again her capacity to leverage analytical insights for operational excellence.
Ashanthi Mathai's journey is a testament to her drive and passion for improving health outcomes in communities both domestically and internationally. Her focus on health innovation, leadership in marketing, and dedication to addressing health crises establish her as a noteworthy figure in the realm of healthcare and beyond.