Alumni Feature: Anupam DattaMajumdar

Today, we’re excited to showcase the work and insight of Anupam DattaMajumdar, an alum of our 2021 TELI cohort. Anupam currently serves as a Global R&D Leader at Philips, a market leader in ultrasound technology. Previously, he was the Head of Global R&D at Vyaire Medical Inc., a key provider of respiratory care solutions. At the Hub, he worked on helping small businesses access COVID-19 relief by outlining how the fictional city of Foggyton could deploy a small-business focused chatbot.

What made you apply to the Aspen Tech Policy Hub?

In the midst of the 2020 COVID pandemic, my team and I were busy blitz-scaling production of 50,000 ICU ventilators for the US Department of Health and Human Services and other global aid organizations. That got me wondering about the equitable distribution of these scarce life-saving resources and the role of the federal government. I found the Aspen Tech Policy Hub to be a unique place to learn about the inner workings of the federal government and meet like-minded tech executives.

What was your favorite part of your Hub fellowship? 

Undoubtedly our chatbot project, which we designed to help small businesses struggling from COVID-19 navigate complex government websites and forms. Our team put our TELI learnings into practice to help the committed professionals in city and local governments navigate the quickly evolving city policies. In a short time, our team built a chatbot demo and wrote a policy paper on ways to equitably roll out the chatbot technology.

How did your Hub experience affect your career trajectory and plans? 

My big realization has been that one can be a changemaker outside the federal government, especially in partnership with the federal government and other NGOs. Since the Hub program, my team and I are partnering with the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to build solutions for trauma triage and mass casualty events, and improve maternal fetal care outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. 

How did the program change the way you look at policy?

The interactions with my Hub cohort and the guest speakers gave me a better appreciation of the scale of the impact of the federal government; the many partners within and outside the federal government who are striving for change; and the need for equitable practices geared towards a wide range of potential users/consumers. 

Can you share an example of how you use your Hub training today?

As I strive for change in healthcare policies in my current role, the writing skills I gained at the Hub have helped me bring out the key nuances in policy decisionmaking. The Hub provided many revisions and candid feedback on my written outputs, and it was a real force multiplier! A big mindset shift occurred when I learned about the clarity and brevity needed in writing policy papers.  

What is your advice to prospective Hub applicants? 

Go in with a wide open mind — you will be surprised by the dedication of the federal government teams and Aspen Tech Policy Hub staff!

To learn more about Anupam, read his full bio here.