Healthcare paradigm is going to shift: Upasana Kamineni
Health and wellness entrepreneur Upasana Kamineni Konidela reveals her strategy to dealing with the pandemic and lessons she has come away with over the years as a businesswoman
Hyderabad: Entrepreneur Upasana Kamineni Konidela’s days are jam-packed, by her own admission. “I’m on call 24/7, life has been very hectic. But that’s how it’s been in the organisation, not just for me, but for everyone working on the frontlines,” she says. There is no room for a break. “I don’t think we ever shut off. I don’t think any of us have had the time to deal with the stress, maybe it will hit us later and when it does, we will need a lot of mental strength to deal with it,” says Upasana, the next-gen entrepreneur from the family that runs Apollo Hospitals.
Working alongside health workers, Upasana has seen the effect the pandemic has wrought on the people and also at home when her husband, actor Ram Charan, tested positive for Covid-19. Her first hand experiences taught her that getting the right information out is most crucial in these times.
“I believe the healthcare paradigm is going to shift and the quality of life one leads will also become more important. Education and awareness are really important in rural areas. They need to be aware that Covid can be tackled and they don’t have to be embarrassed about getting Covid. We have to cut the stigma and taboos attached to it,” shares Upasana, whose digital platform URLife does that with its focus on spreading awareness about different wellness practices.
Bringing in actors like Samantha Akkineni, Rakul Preet Singh and Rashmika Mandanna, her platform uses a mix of quick and informative videos and insightful blogs from healthcare experts that includes busting myths about Covid-19 and things to do once you recover.
Whether it’s working as vice chairperson (CSR) in Apollo Foundation, MD Family Planning Health Plan Insurance Ltd or as founder of URLife, Upasana is well aware of the many eyes trained on her every move, but she is pragmatic about the scrutiny.
“I have always said this. There is a reason for my birth in this family. If I don’t make use of my birth, it’s a waste of a lifetime. Yes…there is a lot of pressure to succeed, my grandfather started this hospital, then his daughters took over…now it’s our turn…My grandfather is in his 80s now and he is still going to work,” she quips.
Over the years, she has come to be comfortable in her own skin. “When I started as an entrepreneur, it was about proving to others that I am here not because of my birth, but because of my worth. One has to practice humility and be ready to learn at every stage. We are in the business of healing and to do that, we ourselves need to be very well-rounded and sensitive to the environment around us. Once you are ready to learn and open to accepting things, the world changes for you. This is something I have been taught by my family – accept and adapt to change,” states Upasana.
In that sense, her family has also become her biggest support. It’s also what keeps her from getting affected by the intense media scrutiny that comes her way, both as a member of such an industrious family and as a Konidela bahu.
“I have learnt to be more thick-skinned. I have to do my job which speaks for itself. I will go that extra mile to help people in need, as that’s my purpose,” signs off Upasana.
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