As a second-generation Iranian immigrant, I was always aware that much of the world’s population faces tremendous challenges. I started my career at Goldman Sachs in London with the ambition of leveraging capital markets to help transform the developing world. But my motivation for transitioning into healthcare was personal – like many, I watched a close family member receiving critical care in a clinical setting and realized just how vital it was to help transform the overall healthcare system.

Seeing technology as a more powerful vehicle for change, I pursued an advanced degree in machine learning at École Polytechnique in Paris and was fortunate to spend six months as a visiting researcher at Stanford. That experience inspired my entrepreneurial side and led me to join Nabla, where I built product lines that empowered doctors to be more effective and accessible for underserved populations.

My experience on the launch team of a mission-driven healthcare start-up showed me that it’s not only possible to create companies in venture that benefit large populations – it may be the fastest route we have to drive meaningful, scalable impact. I came to see that relationships are the most important form of capital, and that shifting from the entrepreneur seat to the investor seat would enable me to bring my knowledge and passion for partnership to many more founders and their teams.

At GC, I focus on investing in healthcare companies addressing big problem sets and big opportunities, not just in Europe but around the world. And while I can draw deeply on my product and financial background, I view empathy, curiosity, and resilience as equally important for achieving the ultimate goal of transforming healthcare from a “sick care” system into a Health Assurance system designed to help people stay well, bend the cost curve, and make quality care more affordable and more accessible to all.

For a change of pace, I play competitive sports, go to the theater, read books about inspiring leaders, and support NGOs bringing health tech to the developing world.