Chicago Caremerge Founder And CEO Believes In Teamwork
Asif Khan is the founder and CEO of Caremerge, a care coordination and communication platform that's poised to change the way we interact with healthcare. He reached this position by way of professional and personal experience. While working in global healthcare at GE, Khan's mother became ill in another country, and he was frustrated by the lack of communication he received regarding her care. So Khan decided to fix the problem himself. The first App Caremerge created was Family Engagement, and it focused on connecting family members with relevant health professionals, providing them with a bird's eye view into their loved one's care and giving them space to log important info like phone numbers and doctor locations in one easy-to-access place. They have added more products since, but the general idea behind connecting care simply through technology remains.
Khan holds a Bachelor of Arts in computer science and business administration from the University of North Florida and a Master of Business Administration from University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
What are the scope and responsibilities of your current role?
"As CEO, most often I'm a problem-solver; things change minute to minute at a startup, and you have to think quickly and quirkily to find solutions. I lead the overarching strategy and development for the company and our products, act as the spokesperson of the company, traveling to conferences, meetings, really anywhere anyone is willing to listen to our message."
What is your favorite part of your daily duties?
"Great things in business are never done by one person; they're done by a team of people. I'm lucky to be surrounded by passionate, talented people working together to make Caremerge happen. The part that makes the late nights, early mornings (and no sleep) worth it is solving the problem and watching it all come together, when everything clicks into place; it's why we do what we do."
Do you feel your education prepared you for your current role?
"Absolutely. My time at Booth exposed me to different perspectives and outlooks alongside process and efficiency; my work is easier because of my education."
Do you have any advice for people who desire to pursue a similar career?
"I take something Steve Jobs said to heart: "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever." This approach hasn't let me down. When I decided to pursue the idea that eventually became Caremerge, a lot of people advised me not to make the leap. But I believed in the idea and in myself. If you feel as strongly about your idea, ignore the naysayers and trust your gut; keep pushing forward."
Michelle Guilbeau is a writer, reviewer, teacher and business owner. She also has experience in school administration, literacy coaching and is proud founder of CraftKitsForKids.com and MichelleGuilbeau.com Michelle enjoys sharing her knowledge of cities, food, travel, education and parenting issues with her readers. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
