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From a young age, a love for business was ingrained in her spirit. One of her fondest childhood memories is of the toy cash register her family bought her. Fascinated by the way it worked, she was convinced that cashiers were the wealthiest people in the world because they handled everyone’s money, assuming they got to keep it all! This early curiosity blossomed into entrepreneurial ambitions. She would sell her unwanted toys to friends so she could buy the ones she really wanted—a budding business mind in the making.
Her entrepreneurial spark was also heavily influenced by her father, an entrepreneur himself. He didn’t just build a company; he built a community—a second family that she and her siblings grew up alongside. Seeing her father’s dedication to his business and the impact he had on the lives of those who depended on him deeply shaped her outlook. It was this nurturing of both a company and a community that inspired her to walk a similar path. She realized that entrepreneurship wasn’t just about profits; it was about creating something meaningful and impactful.
Years later, this spark would evolve into the founding of Valeo, a healthcare company that offers holistic solutions. But her journey to entrepreneurship was no smooth, straight line. It was a road marked by observation, learning, and a deep desire to make health services more accessible.
Launching a Business Built for Purpose
The idea for Valeo wasn’t something that came out of the blue—it was born during one of the most uncertain periods in modern history: the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with her good friend and experienced entrepreneur, Sundeep Sahni, the two recognized a major shift occurring—people were beginning to prioritize their health in unprecedented ways. The pandemic had forced everyone to confront their own vulnerabilities, and healthcare was no longer seen as something to deal with only when things went wrong; it had become a daily priority.
They saw a need for healthcare to be as convenient as other services, like ordering food or hailing a ride. Healthcare at the touch of a button—this was the future they envisioned. And thus, Valeo was born—a platform offering a comprehensive solution that brings diagnostics, medication, supplements, consultations, and medical history together in one app. Their mission was clear: to bring health into people’s homes, making it easier for individuals to take control of their well-being. Building the company wasn’t just about launching a business for the sake of it. It was about solving a real problem that they had both experienced personally—delaying healthcare until their conditions became chronic. Their shared vision of preventing others from making the same mistake became the driving force behind Valeo’s creation and growth. Today, that vision continues to guide them as they build what is fast becoming an empire in the health tech world.
The Art of Agility in Entrepreneurship
Starting a business, as she explains, is vastly different from working in a corporate environment. In the corporate world, you’re armed with mountains of data, years of experience, and time to deliberate. In the startup world, especially one moving as quickly as health tech, you often have limited information, no roadmaps, and no time to waste.
One of the most important lessons she’s learned in the past few years is the need for agility. It’s not just about making quick decisions but also about being adaptable. When mistakes are made—and they always are in a startup—recognizing them early and pivoting fast is what defines long-term success. “Decisiveness and adaptability,” she says, are her guiding values in making decisions for Valeo. The ability to act swiftly and correct course when needed has allowed her to overcome many challenges that the fast-paced healthcare landscape throws her way.
Building a Positive and Inclusive Culture
For her, leadership is about more than just delegating tasks. It’s about leading by example. Alongside her co-founder, she works long hours with her team, solving problems shoulder-to-shoulder with them. This hands-on approach creates a culture where everyone feels valued and supported. They foster a company environment rooted in four core values: customer obsession, ownership and execution, impactful innovation, and self-care.
Customer obsession means putting the client’s health and well-being above everything else, ensuring that every person using their service feels better and more empowered. Ownership and execution—what they refer to as “own & run”—means that every team member takes full responsibility for their role and moves it forward with full accountability. Impactful innovation pushes the boundaries of what is possible in healthcare, constantly creating solutions that bring meaningful change. Finally, self-care is not just a buzzword at Valeo—it’s a core value. They believe that taking care of themselves, as individuals, is essential to delivering the best care for their clients.
Gender and the Challenges of Being a Founder
When asked about the challenges she’s faced as a female entrepreneur, she’s honest in her response: “I’m not sure if the challenges I’ve faced are solely because I’m a woman.” While acknowledging the possibility that having a male co-founder may have influenced her experiences, she believes that the struggles she’s faced are similar to what any founder—male or female—might encounter. Building a business is hard, no matter your gender.
Rather than focus on gender-specific obstacles, she champions the idea that we should all—regardless of gender—support each other in the startup ecosystem. Building a business from the ground up is no easy feat, and it’s the collective resilience, collaboration, and encouragement within the community that truly help founders overcome challenges. “We all need to lift each other up,” she says, emphasizing that breaking down barriers requires mutual support, not just focusing on gender alone.
Strategies for Focus and Motivation
The mission behind Valeo is personal for her. She and her co-founder both delayed seeking care for their health until it became chronic, a mistake that they’re passionate about helping others avoid. This mission, to make health services more accessible and proactive, is what drives her every day, especially during difficult times.
On a personal level, she relies on a few essential strategies to stay centered and motivated. Yoga, breathwork, clean eating, and bi-weekly IV immunity treatments keep her energy levels high. These wellness routines help her maintain clarity and focus even when the demands of growing a business feel overwhelming.
Balancing Work and Life
The idea of work/life balance is something she’s still working on—after all, building a company takes an enormous amount of time, often at the expense of personal and family life. But she’s learning to take regular breaks, recognizing that downtime can actually boost productivity and creativity. While finding the perfect balance remains a work in progress, she understands the importance of rest in maintaining a healthy mind and body for the long haul.
Defining Success and Looking Ahead
For her, success is not a fixed goal but a continuous journey. At this stage, success means building a business she’s proud of—one that delivers real value to customers, shareholders, and stakeholders. She sees her life as an adventure, one that evolves as she continues to grow both personally and professionally. With Valeo, her long-term goal is to impact as many lives as possible by making health services accessible to everyone.
A Message for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
To women and girls with entrepreneurial dreams, her message is simple: “Life is an adventure, and we’re lucky to experience it.” She encourages embracing the unknown, staying true to your values, and working hard with trust that the universe will take care of the rest. Surround yourself with the right people—whether colleagues, mentors, or friends—because a strong support network is key to overcoming challenges and celebrating successes.
“Your dreams are worth pursuing,” she says, “and you have the strength to make them happen.”
