Her Story
About Aparna
Aparna Ahuja is the founder and CEO of AJA Life Sciences Advisory, which she launched in April after transitioning from her role as a global physician executive. With three decades of experience, she previously served as vice president leading the medical, clinical, and scientific organizations at two Fortune 500 companies, Becton Dickinson and Abbott. An MD, she leverages her expertise across life sciences, medical diagnostics, med tech, pharma, clinical innovation, precision medicine, AI-enabled healthcare, and real-world evidence to partner with organizations as a fractional CMO, board advisor, or strategic partner, helping translate scientific complexity into forward-moving decisions. Aparna is active in professional organizations, including a global chair role with the College of American Pathologists and the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, and has received the 2024 CLSI Service Award, BD Women's Hero Award, and CEO Excellence recognition. She recently completed a course at Stanford and emphasizes values such as curiosity, purpose, courage, integrity, excellence, generosity, resilience, and humanity in her work.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Aparna
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Seek a seat at the table. I have always remembered that and never shied from it. Story of new president putting medical out of the circle and proving value so they wouldn't do anything without me.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Stay strong and stick to using your voice to say what you believe in. When you walk into a room and there's no seat at the table, just pull a chair. Mentoring technical and medical leaders, especially women.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Curiosity and evolving, purpose wanting work to matter, courage to step into unfamiliar territory, integrity, excellence not perfection, generosity mentoring and helping others, resilience as immigrant, humanity remembering patients and people behind the work. One word: people/patients.
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