Amandeep (Amanda) K. Chawla
Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management
Age: 40
“Devoted mother of three; an executive balancing life who is committed to transformational impact.”
Hometown: Castro Valley, CA
Family Members: Husband (Jas), daughters (Simran, age 8 and Amira, age 6), son (Sach, age 3)
Fun fact about yourself: After getting married, we traveled for six months, with two of those months consisting of a camping road trip across the national parks.
Undergraduate School and Degree: Bachelor of Science in Public Health & Environmental Health from the University of Washington; Master’s in health administration from the University of Washington.
Where are you currently working? Employed by Stanford Healthcare, serving as the Senior Vice President & Chief Supply Chain Officer for all Stanford Medicine Entities
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: My commitment to professional and community engagement is demonstrated through various roles and volunteer activities. As a mentor for the California Association of Healthcare Leaders, I guide emerging leaders, fostering growth and development within the healthcare industry. My commitment to leadership extends to my service on several boards, including serving as Chair Elect of the American Hospital Association’s AHRMM Supply Chain Board and other advisory boards that focus on healthcare and supply chain. I also contribute to the American College of Healthcare Executives as a DEI Regent.
Additionally, I volunteer by leading industry councils under the Strategic Management Initiative aimed at developing best practices within supply chain. My community involvement includes volunteering at Jensen Elementary School.
These activities are some of the ways in which I strive to resemble Kellogg – through strengthening the community around me, inspiring leadership, collaboration, and striving to leave a lasting legacy. I aim to create that lasting difference by paying it forward.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Reflecting on my business school journey, I have ventured into new territories that were once unfamiliar to me, particularly entrepreneurship. I have embraced this challenge head-on by pursuing the certification in product management and diving into courses such as: Entrepreneurial Investing, Managing Emerging Technologies, Entrepreneurial Selling and Phase Zero. The knowledge and experience from these courses have radically changed my approach to problem-solving and innovation. Inspired by the possibilities and confidence to be able to navigate has led me to collaborate with some friends from Kellogg on a few startup ventures. My goal is to address real problems and make a meaningful impact in the areas of my passion, extending beyond my professional career into personal passions.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Reflecting on over two decades in leadership spanning small private practices to global organizations, I’ve navigated diverse roles—from operations, business development, and marketing, to strategy across clinical and non-clinical functions. Each position has brought significant achievements, whether in growth, financial performance, process improvements, or other outcome measures. However, the highlight of my career centers not on numbers or projects, but on people. I take the greatest pride in developing individuals, nurturing emerging leaders, and fostering teams that excel collectively and individually.
Particularly during my time at Kellogg, the true test came when I stepped away from work—whether for weeks-long electives or regular Friday afternoons dedicated to coursework. Despite my absence, the operations ran seamlessly. My team never missed a beat, and they stepped up brilliantly in my absence. The moment when my boss half-jokingly remarked, ‘You have built an A-team, we almost didn’t miss you,’ I knew I had achieved something special. It wasn’t just about keeping the ship steady but ensuring it thrived, powered by a team capable of steering confidently, even without me at the helm. That, for me, is a profound source of pride.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? Choosing a favorite MBA professor is no small task at Kellogg, given the exceptional faculty. However, Professor Mohanbir Sawhney stands out distinctly. Professor Sawhney leads Tech Venture India (TVI), a global elective opportunity that is supported by Colette Feldges. TVI is a deeply immersive hands-on experience in every industry every sector in essentially the Silicon Valley of India. Professor Sawhney’s commitment to students extends beyond the classroom; he generously opens his personal network and even his home, embodying Kellogg’s ethos of delivering high impact with humility.
Yes, you have the technical and business learnings of emerging technologies, but this experience is one that leads to the development of a friendship and professional network that expands beyond the classroom or even your time at Kellogg. Professor Sawhney goes above-and-beyond, making himself available, connecting you to individuals in his network that can specifically help you on your passion and work despite the high demands on his time. TVI left me deeply inspired me to make a difference, to be willing to make mistakes, and fail often and cheaply. One of my many favorite quotes from this trip was, “If you can dream it, you can do it; you become the dream and the dream becomes you.”
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? Choosing Kellogg was a journey that unfolded through deep reflection and candid discussions about my career trajectory. It began with a conversation with my husband. He suggested that perhaps it was time to seek new challenges through further education, specifically an MBA. Initially, I was skeptical—another degree? Yet, this conversation led to a life changing experience that in reflection was a no-brainer.
As I received acceptance letters, I began my inquiry through the informal network as to which school to accept. The answer was crystal clear – Kellogg! Kellogg’s network is like no other, I quickly realized the ability to pick up the phone and call anyone who was or is part of the network felt different. I sensed a sense of community and quickly realized this is deeply rooted in Kellogg’s ethos.
Kellogg is one of the few or only programs in which you can travel and stay with the faculty at the same location; the Miami campus offering is something that stood out. Being on the opposite side of the coast, I could leave everything behind for a few days every month and immerse myself in an environment of dialogue, intellect, learning, and fun with the best of the best. This has proven to be more than true. I would recommend getting in on Wednesday, a day early so you can socialize and deepen the connections with your classmates and it helped me to ensure I was ready for class on Thursday!
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? The lesson or realization that has been engrained through my MBA journey is the importance and balance of life’s intricacies and the importance of reflection. As Professor Harry Kraemer says, “It is not work-life balance, it’s life balance.” The MBA has reinforced how I use my time to balance all the important the various aspects of my life – my kids, my family, my learning journey at Kellogg, my career at Stanford, my commitment to pay it forward, and perhaps just a little time for myself. While I am not sure I was the greatest at applying life-balance because it is hard, the fact that I have become more cognizant and actively aim practice regular reflection is a lesson I have gained in this journey.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? Less than a year into the program, my personal life took an unexpected turn that tested my resilience and ability to balance and prioritize. My son Sach, who had been developing typically until the age of two, suddenly began to regress, becoming non-verbal. After months of confusion, consultations, and evaluations, Sach was diagnosed with severe Autism. This coincided with our family relocating, and a peak in work intensity as I manage a crucial transition of an Enterprise Resource Planning system.
Juggling work and school are one thing. As a mother, I struggled with a healthcare system that I am a leader in that falls short in supporting neurodiverse children. Overnight, I transformed into an avid researcher and advocate for my son, becoming heavily involved in a number of communities. The journey is daunting; we have watched Sach continue to regress, and there is very little known. However, I have learned that behavioral therapy at a young age can make a significant impact and that requires me to be present.
I have found solace and strength in communities, including Kellogg, where I met classmates and professors who are navigating similar challenges. What I’ve come to deeply appreciate is the way Sach sees and engages with the world and how his strengths manifest. Despite the daily struggles, like getting Sach to eat or managing his hair-pulling, there is immense beauty in how he processes his surroundings. Taking a moment in aiming to see through my son’s life, and appreciate his strengths, has helped me to grow as a leader and a mother but also as a lifelong learner.
I’ve learned to practice presence: with my family, embracing every moment with my children; in my career, focusing on impactful leadership; in the classroom, absorbing every lesson; and with colleagues & friends, enjoying our time together. This mindfulness of being present helps me to navigate the juggling demands of life, to manage each moment with presence, making the most of every opportunity for connection and learning.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? Embarking on an Executive MBA is a bit like deciding to have kids – you are never really ready, you’ll feel like you’re barely keeping up, and coffee becomes your best friend. But, trust me, it’s one of the best decisions you can make for your career and personal growth. Joking aside, in seriousness, here are a few tips:
1) Do not underestimate the power of the network, develop a relationship with every single person in your cohort! I didn’t do enough of this!
2) Don’t be afraid to ask questions, you are in a room where everyone is there to learn. Really, don’t assume – it’s better to ask!
3) There will be times of stress with competing demands at work, school, and home. This will be compounded working in a new team of leaders with different backgrounds. You will learn and grow from them – embrace your Kellogg team they are your support.
4) Enjoy the ride, you aren’t just investing money, but your time and yourself!
Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Selecting just one classmate from Cohort 133, affectionately known as “BB’s,” is nearly an impossible task. There are so many people who come to mind, and each classmate has contributed to the journey, enriching our collective experience.
Since I am being asked to select who I most admire, it would be Lisa Dimonte. Lisa epitomizes resilience, passion, and leadership, seamlessly blending her roles as a friend, colleague, leader, and mother. Starting her career as court reporter with her late husband, she developed an international business from the ground up while raising her three boys. Now, as the chair of Planet Depos, her success is palpable, yet she remains grounded, embodying kindness, humility, love, and making a difference in the lives she touches.
I am inspired by Lisa’s ability to juggle the multiple facets of life with an upbeat attitude and rubbing off a positive energy, impacting those around her. Her journey motivates me to strive for a similar joy, influence, and success in my own career and life.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? Going back to school is a significant decision, and for me, the choice was clear: it had to be in a setting where I could interact directly with peers from diverse industries and backgrounds. The richness of the classroom experience is just as crucial as the academic content itself. Learning from top-tier academics alongside seasoned professionals offers a unique blend of theoretical and practical insights. That’s why an executive MBA was the only option for me. Part-time or online formats simply couldn’t deliver the intensity and commitment I was looking for. I wanted to dive in fully, understanding that the immersive, full-time executive MBA environment was essential for me.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My ultimate long-term professional goal is to have a substantial impact by shaping the future by designing it today. I aim to retain a growth mindset in how I lead others making a difference in the lives of the people I touch and a positive transformation to the business I lead. My ambitions span multiple dimensions at all levels of the chess board: expanding into further executive leadership roles, starting entrepreneurial ventures, serving on boards, and furthering my role as a speaker. Each aspect allows me to diversify my influence and contribute dynamically across various sectors and platforms. I will end with a quote that I strive for shared by my friend Randy that has stuck with me throughout my EMBA journey at Kellogg: “You rent your title but hold your character.”
DON’T MISS: BEST & BRIGHTEST EXECUTIVE MBAS OF 2024
