Our monthly check-in with staff from around the world. Learn more about the people who work at CHAI.
Ritubhan Gautam
Title: Associate Director, Nutrition, AT and Country Support, Global Markets Team
Location: Rwanda
Start date: November 2020
Please tell us a bit about your background and what brought you to CHAI.
I began my career as an engineer and worked in the fast-moving consumer goods industry before joining CHAI India in 2016, where I supported Punjab’s hepatitis program. Subconsciously, I had always been drawn to public health. Growing up, many of my family members served as doctors in under-resourced settings, and their reflections on health systems stayed with me. After stepping away to pursue an MPA at Columbia University, I realized my passion lay in public health and creating real impact on the ground. That’s what brought me back to CHAI in 2020 with the Global Markets team. Having seen firsthand how CHAI disrupts markets to drive better health outcomes, returning felt like the obvious choice.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is the unique vantage point it offers. I get to work at the intersection of donors, suppliers, and procurement agencies, helping to shape the choices and actions that ultimately determine access to and affordability of critical medicines. I particularly enjoy the challenge of negotiating complex multi-stakeholder agreements while keeping a clear business lens. Bringing diverse actors to the table and finding common ground that can unlock impact at scale excites me the most.
What does a typical day at CHAI look like for you?
No two days at CHAI are ever the same. My work often shifts between generating and analyzing market intelligence, aligning strategies with colleagues across disease programs and countries, and engaging directly with suppliers, donors, or procurement agencies to move complex negotiations forward. Some days are spent deep in research and number-crunching, while others bring stakeholders together to build consensus. That mix of strategic thinking and hands-on collaboration keeps the work dynamic and exciting.
What is your favorite quote of all time, and why?
One of my favorite quotes is by Steve Jobs: “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” It resonates with me because it captures the entrepreneurial spirit that I try to bring into my work. It reminds me to approach challenges boldly and creatively, and to never underestimate the power of fresh ideas.
My favorite word in the English language is…
Passion.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Definitely chicken curry with rice!
