Voices of Augnito – feat Verushka Patel, Director of Global Partnerships & Retail Sales

A graduate of the London School of Economics & Political Science as well as the University of Michigan, Verushka began her career with a focus on research and analytics. She worked with the University of Michigan’s School of Information, AZB & Partners, as well as Bellwether Capital from 2014 to 2018. In February 2019 she began a two-year stint with Epic Systems in Madison, Wisconsin. Her role as an Implementation Project Manager for this healthcare software company held her in good stead for her time at Augnito, which began in September 2021 after a year of working on Operations and Business Development for Enguru. As Client & Market Development Lead, North America, she helmed Augnito’s overall strategy and actionables in the region for over two years, before transitioning into her current role.

At Augnito, the Director of Global Partnerships & Retail Sales spearheads the creation of strategic alliances with international healthcare organisations to expand the presence of our Medical Voice AI solutions into new markets. They also lead the Sales team that is responsible for directly bringing Augnito’s solutions to individual hospitals and clinics in the region.

Key Insights From Verushka

Please share some key achievements or milestones you’ve reached as the Director- Global Partnerships & Retail Sales at Augnito, and how these have contributed to the company’s overall success.

Verushka talks about her experience having taken over the Retail team just six months ago – with the primary incentive of bringing stability and structure. Her main objective was to streamline workflows and internal processes to drive new revenue and improve retention rates. She developed a strategy that included in-person workshops and close collaborations with other teams that led to the development of new processes and restructuring.

All of this resulted in the highest quarterly revenue for the team since its inception and reduced churn by approximately 25%. She believes that this incredible progress is a huge testament to the team’s dedication and commitment.

How do you lead and motivate your sales team to consistently achieve and exceed targets? 

Here, Verushka highlights the importance of fostering transparency within the team. Clearly defining how each individual’s contribution impacts company goals and performance has helped teammates see the significance of the ‘smallest’ achievements – like closing a single deal or renewing a subscription.

She also sheds light on how one-on-one feedback sessions to discuss progress and growth opportunities, as well as encouraging senior leadership to speak directly to the team have been effective in keeping them motivated and inspired.

As the Director – Global Partnerships & Retail Sales, how do you develop strategies to support Augnito in tailoring its approach to meet varied requirements, needs, and strategies across different regions?

Verushka believes that the one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work whatsoever. She details the work put in  with Augnito’s partners and customers across regions to customise our solutions to address their specific pain points or workflow requirements.

She sites an example from the US region, where a significant amount of time was spent collaborating with our internal Product and Engineering teams to ensure that we captured the nuanced behaviours and patterns of healthcare providers (based on on-ground customer feedback). This eventually led to the development of solutions that are robust, accurate and well received in a discerning market.

She also highlights how our Ambient Clinical Intelligence’s compatibility with Arabic to better serve the Middle East is further evidence to the merits of this approach.

How vital do you consider inter-team collaboration to be within your role’s scope and responsibilities? 

“Absolutely vital,” begins Verushka, before going on to expound how successful cross-functional collaboration is key to success, especially in a dynamic environment like Augnito. As someone who thrives in collaborative environments, she recalls having worked in-depth with nearly every team at some point during her two and half years so far.

She explains how the Retail team combines both Sales and Customer Support functions, so she places an emphasis on clear communication and seamless handoffs to ensure the best customer experience. She also discusses her close collaborations with the Marketing team to generate high quality leads and execute successful campaigns and events that enhance Augnito’s brand recognition.

Verushka believes that Augnito’s Unique Selling Proposition in integrated partnerships really hinges on the structured collaboration between our Sales and Technical teams. It creates a smooth integration and engagement throughout the partner journey, as well as the development and execution of well thought out solutions for each (as you can see in some of the examples she shared above).

In your role, how do you stay informed about industry trends and changes in the competitive landscape, and how do you incorporate this knowledge into your sales strategy?

Verushka believes that staying informed is paramount, especially working in Global Healthcare. The landscape is constantly evolving, with new companies and technologies transforming various aspects of the industry every single day.

While reading articles from leading healthcare publications, listening to relevant podcasts, and attending key industry events such as HIMSS and Arab Health are helpful, she believes that the best way to stay ahead of the curve is to maintain regular check-ins with customers and partners. These individuals provide invaluable insights into emerging provider needs and also accurately determine where our solutions can make a real difference within their workflows. They also tend to have first-hand knowledge of upcoming tech – helping us incorporate the latest innovations into our sales strategies as well.

A Look Behind The Curtain

Through this series, Augnito has shared a window into the lives of the remarkable individuals behind its cutting-edge Voice AI innovations, shedding light on their pivotal roles, diverse experiences, and the collective ambition that propels the company forward. From the ingenious minds in Product Design to the dynamic forces in Sales and Customer Success, each story not only underscores the ethos of innovation and accessibility that Augnito cherishes but also offers insights into the personal journeys that enrich the company’s culture. This narrative serves as a testament to the team – one that’s innovative, creative, attentive, and driven by precision.

As we look ahead, the #VoicesOfAugnito series promises more than just a glimpse into the company’s employee-centric approach; it underscores a journey of continuous innovation and empathetic technology development aimed at enhancing global healthcare. By spotlighting the individuals who make up the backbone of Augnito, this series not only celebrates the diversity and creativity within the team but also highlights the broader mission of improving patient care through technology.As we conclude this episode, let us take a moment to appreciate the story shared and the insights gained. Here’s an invitation to learn more about careers at Augnito and be a part of this transformative journey in healthcare AI.