From Medical Doctor to AI Startup Leader | Dr. Sithira A. | Hatch.lk Series

Walking away from a guaranteed career for life takes a specific kind of math. Dr. Sithira Ambepitiya did that math — and decided that treating thousands of patients across a lifetime couldn't compete with building AI that reaches millions.Recorded at Hatch.lk startup hub in Sri Lanka, this episode follows the full arc of Dr. Sithira's story: trained medical doctor, returned to Sri Lanka, got caught in a gap between licensing exams and strikes, fell into clinical audits and data analytics, discovered he liked building things, and never fully stopped. When a health tech startup offered him a role with five months of funding left, he took it. Less than two years later he is leading two AI teams — one building AI agents for back office operations, one building healthcare companions for patients across Southeast Asia.📥 Download the Sri Lanka Podcast Tour Magazine → https://stan.store/TheCreativeOdysseyPodcast/p/get-inside-the-creative-odyssey-magazine?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bioWHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS:- Why a guaranteed medical career wasn't enough — the local vs. global impact question- How skills built in a medical ward transfer directly to startup leadership- The family conversations that happen when you leave a career everyone understands- What AI agents actually do and why they matter for everyday workers- The "see one do one teach one" model for dealing with imposter syndrome- How Sri Lanka can compete with Silicon Valley on AI without a massive budget- Teaching 1,000 rural Sri Lankan schoolkids to code on a Zoom call- Why the tools to learn AI are free — and what is actually holding people back- The difference between "I have to do this today" and "I get to do this today"GUEST: Dr. Sithira A.Current role: Head of AI — AIGP HealthAlso: AI Agent Lead — Vector AILinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sithiraaRecorded at: Hatch.lk startup hub, Sri LankaHOST: Sheran Ranasinghe | @sheranstoriesSHOW: The Creative Odyssey Podcast | @thecreativeodysseypodcastPRODUCED BY: Odyssey House MediaCONTACT: [email protected]🎙️ Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/12SGsSsLz4DqlLFwxigjXX🎙️ Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/the-creative-odyssey-podcast/id1750306317Send Us A Message! We'd love to hear your thoughts!Support the show