Education in the family

Education was a major familial focus throughout my childhood. My grandmother was a public school elementary teacher and principal; my grandfather operated a music store and a big draw to the store were his guitar lessons, which my mother also led while still in school; later my mother taught English as a second language. My father liked to give lectures to the family during dinner (we had a whiteboard in the dining room for this purpose), and we were all encouraged to be avid readers and problem solvers. My brother “caught the bug” and works in pre-elementary education.

My experience as a student in public schools was diverse: different states (MA, MO, GA) and settings (local elementary school, inner-city performing arts magnet school, multi-town large high school), and all of them gave me an abiding appreciation for the value of public education.

Work experience

For over two decades I have held business leadership roles; most recently as a biotech CEO. I have significant experience ensuring budgets are set and managed responsibly, engaging effectively with board-level communication, and collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders to build alignment and meet deliverables. I believe this expertise will contribute to being an effective school committee member, providing feedback and support to our superintendent.

Select Educational and Professional Experiences:

  • Duke BSE (Biomedical Engineering, Economics)

  • Harvard MBA

  • Bain & Company (Atlanta, New Delhi, Boston, 2004-14)

  • Healthcare and Life Science Start-ups (2014-2024), including 7+ years as CEO

In the community

One of my favorite activities in the community has been coaching soccer, which I have done in Newton for over 5 years. I began coaching in Garden City Kindergarten Soccer (GCKS) when my son was 4, and have been coaching ever since. I currently co-coach the Newton United travel team which plays in the BAYS 4 1/A division. I have also regularly been an assistant coach for basketball, both in the YBA at the West Suburban YMCA and Newton Athletic Association (NAA) basketball league.

I am a competitive marathon runner, and a member of the B.A.A. Running Club, which has a very strong Newton contingent and activity base. I have qualified for and run the last five Boston Marathon’s, and my favorite part of the course (despite the challenge it presents) is coming up the hill after the firehouse turn onto Commonwealth Avenue to greet my family just after the Temple Street intersection.

And, I have sincerely enjoyed being a regular volunteer and participant in a wide range of PTO-led initiatives to support our children’s elementary school, Peirce, and have particularly enjoyed supporting our NPS teachers through serving as room parent. I also take as many opportunities as I can to engage in administration-led opportunities for parents to be involved (e.g., participating in the Portrait of a Graduate sessions, speaking to Day Middle School students on their Career Day) and stay informed (from parent coffees to hosted sessions with NPS administration and service school committee members).

Family

I met my wife Shweta in 2004. We both are actively engaged in careers that we are passionate about, while raising two children who both attend Newton Public Schools. Like many people in Newton, we live in a multi-generational household: we live with and care for my father, Jayant (Jay) who is a stroke patient and a loving grandfather.