Samyuktha Balaji
Samyuktha Balaji is a results-driven business leader and Manager at Evermore Outcomes, previously known as Sora Health, a smart benefits platform at the intersection of healthcare, fintech, and retail technology. She leads the merchants and payments team, managing assortment item categorization and ensuring accuracy across all merchant partners. In her role, she works closely with clients to streamline the merchant integration process for payments and transactions, enhancing service for members. Since joining the company in early February last year, Samyuktha has contributed to a period of rapid growth and scaling, helping position Evermore as a leader in outcome-driven benefits.
With an MBA from the USC Marshall School of Business, a Master’s in Business Analytics from W.P. Carey School of Business, and a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Samyuktha brings a rare combination of technical expertise and strategic business acumen. Her prior experience as a Data Scientist at Cable One included leading projects that generated $75M in annual cost savings, developing predictive models for customer retention, and implementing usage consumption models for competitive pricing. She thrives in dynamic, cross-functional environments, translating complex data into actionable insights that drive business results.
Samyuktha’s journey also reflects her resilience and dedication. Having moved to the U.S. nine years ago, she completed her full-time MBA at USC while balancing a professional career and the demands of parenthood, including navigating pregnancy and welcoming a newborn in her fourth semester. She is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and actively volunteers in initiatives supporting arts, culture, and gender equity. Samyuktha is passionate about leveraging data and strategic thinking to create meaningful outcomes, and she continually seeks opportunities to innovate, collaborate, and lead with impact.
• Content Marketing Certification
• Microsoft Power BI Black Belt Certification
• Verified International Academic Qualifications
• SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) - BTech
• USC Marshall School of Business - MBA
• Computer Society of India
• Rotary International Women's activities (through father)
• Donations to Hindu spiritual organizations in the US
• AOL Pharma
What do you attribute your success to?
Honestly, it would sound a little cliche, but my partner has been a real true partner through all of it. Whether it was me doing my MBA full-time while being a professional at USC, I had a toddler, I was pregnant, and we had a newborn when I was in the fourth semester. There were nights when I was studying and he would handle bedtime, and there were mornings when we were just tagging each other and going about our day. I also credit my refusal to wait for that perfect time as my biggest pillar. I learned that my capacity grew so much bigger than I thought, and I learned that only by being in the thick of it. I often reflect on the days that I felt really low, or we felt like, oh, I'm probably not cut out for it, but that's when the peak came. Once I did it and I achieved it, it's a true inspiration that you go over that cycle again and again, and learn to be resilient, and learn how to trust yourself and the process.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say, don't filter out any of the opportunities easily, because it's so easy, especially for a woman, to look at a role or a challenge and think, I'm not ready yet. From my past, I've learned that you never have the perfect time for anything. It's usually that if something scares you and excites you at the same time, that's usually the sign you should go for it. I wouldn't have had anything I have now if I had waited for the perfect time or until I felt ready.