(March 18, 2024) “I dreamt of donning a suit and being a CEO, even as a child,” laughs Dr Astha Purohit – A doctor who studied at the Emory Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta before completing her Masters from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, she is currently the Director of Technical Operations at Walmart.
Her current role at Walmart is situated at the crossroads of technology and retail. She plays a pivotal role in the e-commerce team, focusing on enhancing the online shopping experience on walmart.com while leveraging advanced AI and ML models to refine how millions of products are presented on the website, aiming to drive a superior and easy customer experience.
Astha in Hindi translates to faith, and it was faith in herself that led the 37-year-old professional to success at such a young age. Armed with determination, hard work, and a sunny demeanor towards life, she is someone who strives to live life to the fullest, enjoying the small joys as much as the big victories!
Dr Astha Purohit
A picture-perfect childhood
Brought up in different cities in India owing to the job postings of her civil servant father, Rajendra Nri Singh, Astha grew up in Jodhpur, Salem, and Mumbai. From watching Jurrasic Park on VCR to visiting the temples of Rameshwaram and Tirupati and enjoying the ghee-soaked dosa of Salem, she grew up enjoying the myriad experiences different cities had to offer. Later on, as the family moved to Mumbai, she took in the hustle and bustle of the city as well as its unending energy.
She states, “Those years shaped my perspective on diversity, culture, and the importance of heritage. The memories of becoming an older sister to my brother Arpit, of exploring ancient temples, and of indulging in the local cuisine remain with me. It was a time of growth, discovery, and a deepening bond with my family, set against the backdrop of India’s incredible cultural tapestry.”
For many growing up in a middle-class Indian family in the 1990s, there were only two career options to pursue: medicine or engineering. She laughs, “Maths and I weren’t the best of friends, but I’ve always had this knack for digging deep into problems, unraveling them piece by piece. As a kid, I would often dream about walking the hallways of IIM-A, but I was a realist, so I decided to focus on biology.”
The focus paid off well, as she was ranked 182 in medical entrance and embarked on an incredible journey in medical school, where she says that she learned one of the most crucial life skills—interpersonal skills.
“There’s no better place to get a crash course in human interaction than the halls of a medical college,” she notes and adds, “Day in and day out, you’re learning how to really listen to what patients are telling you, not just hearing what their symptoms are but understanding their concerns, fears, and hopes. It’s about offering comfort, not just with medicine but with words and presence. All of this taught me a lot about empathy.”
Changing gears
It was during her internship year at medical school that her journey took an exciting turn, and Astha landed a prestigious rotation fellowship in pain medicine at the Yale School of Medicine. The fellowship at Yale reignited her interest in management, and she decided to pursue a Master’s in healthcare management and policy in the US.
She was accepted into the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta, a place where proximity to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—visible right from Rollins—constantly reminded her of the impact and importance of public health.
It was here that Astha realized that, being on the management side, the impact of her work would be far broader and wider. When her mother reminded her of her dream to get an MBA from a top school, wear a suit, and one day be a CEO, she got into her dream college, MIT.
She recalls, “Choosing MIT felt right, like a piece of a puzzle falling into place. It wasn’t just about the prestige or the academic rigor; it was about being part of a legacy that has shaped the world we live in.” The youngster’s two years at MIT were transformative in every sense of the word. The school also offered her the chance to travel and soak in diverse cultures, from a school trek to Morocco to a month-long project in Brazil, where she received a holistic perspective on the business and its growth.
She says, “The most transformative aspect of my time at MIT was the interaction. with my classmates. Being among 400 of the brightest minds in their 20s, each bringing their unique life experiences, stories, and aspirations to the table. incredibly enriching. These interactions further expanded my worldview.”
Setting out on a career path
Transitioning from this whirlwind of global engagements, she worked with McKinsey & Company’s New York office as an associate before working with firms like CVS Health and DoorDash. At Doordashan, Astha Purohit worked with the technologies of the day and, along with her team, pioneered the integration of automation and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML)-based models into the catalog management processes.
She reflects, “My tenure at DoorDash was a critical period of growth in my retail career, particularly in understanding the intersection of technology and customer service. It reinforced my belief in the power of AI to transform industries, and it honed my skills in leading teams through complex, pioneering projects. This experience was instrumental in shaping my approach to product management, team leadership, and innovation in the retail sector.”
Walmart’s position as the largest retailer in the U.S. presents unique challenges and opportunities due to its vast scale, and Astha’s role is a delicate balancing act ensuring that operations are nimble, quick, and agile while also being robust enough to support the diverse needs of customers across the country.
She adds, “The initiatives I lead are designed to deliver seamless service to every Walmart customer without compromising on reliability or efficiency. In essence, my work is about harnessing cutting-edge technology to make shopping on walmart.com as intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable as possible ensuring Walmart remains at the forefront of retail innovation.”
A role model
The landscape for Indians going abroad has undergone significant transformations from when the youngster first ventured overseas to the present, where there is a burgeoning and vibrant Indian diaspora across the globe.
Astha Purohit agrees and adds, “When I first went overseas, the sense of isolation from one’s roots could be palpable, with Skype being the way you stayed. connected with family. Today, digital platforms and social media have bridged this gap, enabling instant, cost-effective connections with family and friends back home. Moreover, the larger Indian diaspora has fostered a sense of community in foreign lands, with numerous cultural organizations, networks, and events that offer a slice of home away from home.”
Outside of work, the young professional focuses on several activities, including mentoring young women in their careers (she is the Chair of the San Francisco alumni chapter for Rollins School of Public Health), reading, going to long walks with her dog, cooking, and watching Bollywood movies.
Today, while she is successfully professionally and in a sated space personally, ask her what her focus is, and she surprises us with her answer. “To be happy,” she replies without missing a beat and explains, “Happiness is a choice, and we need to consistently work at it. Enjoy the journey; each day is a gift, and do not waste it by always being in pursuit of something.”
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