How Indian Roots, Bullying and Academic Excellence Shaped White House Leadership with Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of Brown University School of Public Health and Former White House COVID-19 Coordinato

On this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator and Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health. Dr. Jha shares his inspiring journey from growing up in a small village in Bihar, India, to being asked by the President of the United States to join his administration. He also opens up about facing racism in high school and how support at Columbia University helped shape his dual identity and career. Key Takeaways:  (03:01) Dr. Jha’s childhood memories in Bihar. (08:51) The great unknown of moving to Canada. (17:11) The move to New Jersey and the harsh reality of facing racism. (19:25) Facing a high school teacher who told him to change his name. (25:47) Learning to embrace both his Indian and American identities. (38:59) The President’s invitation to join the White House as COVID-19 Response Coordinator. (40:00) The privilege of working in the West Wing as an Indian immigrant. (41:25) The value of building and maintaining meaningful relationships. (42:34) Why service is one of the most enriching experiences in life. Resources Mentioned: Dr. Ashish Jha - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashish-jha-b9aab41/ Columbia University - https://www.columbia.edu Brown University School of Public Health - https://graduateprograms.brown.edu/graduate-program/public-health-mph?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=MPH&utm_content=traffic&creative=613468509292&keyword=brown%20university%20masters%20in%20public%20health&matchtype=b&network=g&device=c&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwreW2BhBhEiwAavLwfLqUIDqHZqKhWapyYPIskdsJHEW872WYuwCVEI0U4PObifvPrFTEdxoCRUIQAvD_BwE Harvard Medical School - https://hms.harvard.edu University of Toronto - https://www.utoronto.ca World Health Organization (WHO) - https://www.who.int Thanks for listening to the Indianness podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation with leaders of Indian origin. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the show. #Indian #IndiaBusiness #India #Indianness