Running a hospital today is no longer just about providing care, while that always remains the prime goal. Healthcare leaders constantly face the challenge of keeping a fine balance between ensuring best of the care, building revenues and managing rising costs, tight margins, stressed teams, and growing patient expectations, simultaneously. And this poses much bigger challenge if the systems are unclear and people are not aligned, even well-established institutes begin to feel the pressure. Many leaders encounter this reality daily, highlighting the need for a steady leadership that brings clarity, rebuilds trust, restores stability, and most importantly, keeps the teams aligned.
Dr. Kousar Shah, Group Chief Executive Officer of ShardaCare Healthcity, Sharda Hospital, and Sharda Healthcare, specializes in addressing core challenges in healthcare management and constructing strategies around it, and their effective execution. He has taken up many challenges where there were weak systems, lack of being process driven, low team morale, and gaps between doctors and management, which is, perhaps, the biggest gaps to be filled in a robust, well-oiled healthcare ecosystem.
Believed to have a lazer sharp, uncanny eye for detail, he has expertise in identifying the reasons behind underperformance and not just create quick fixes but strategize to improve processes, strengthen profitability, and bring in structure to even chaotic environments. By aligning clinical teams with management and fostering transparent, people-first cultures, he helps hospitals move from stagnant mode to upward, sustainable growth.
What sets him apart is the consistency of his results as he has transformed multiple stuck up or stagnant hospitals into high-performing institutions with sustainable growth and upward curve rather than temporary gains.
His leadership and impact have been recognized with awards such as:
- The Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award for Outstanding Healthcare Business Leader and Innovator
- “Healthcare Personality of the Year 2026” at 16th MT India Healthcare Awards 2026
- CXO Health Excellence Award in 6th CXO Digital Innovation Health Summit, by CXO TV News
- Top 10 Healthcare Leaders 2020-21, chosen by The Indian Alert
- He is also a Certified Bullet Proof Manager, accredited by Crestcom, USA.
Early Career
Early in his career, Dr. Kousar Shah, a clinician himself, was a talented medical administrator and felt comfortable in his role, as, like majority of the clinicians, he too had believed that doctors could not be equally strong in business or financial management. This belief changed few years later when he watched his CEO, who was also a clinician and an experienced CTVS surgeon, confidently lead weekly business review meetings with such a remarkable control, ease, and expertise. Seeing this inspired Dr. Kousar to step out of his comfort zone and explore leadership that combined medical knowledge with business mindset and acumen.
His first real test as a full-time business leader came when he got the opportunity to revive a struggling hospital. Although he had limited experience in business operations, he accepted the challenge. Within a year, he turned the hospital into a profitable and well-organized institution. This success marked the start of his journey as a business leader and proved that when clinical expertise is paired with smart management, it’s a lethal and much needed combination and it can create strong and lasting results.
From Post-COVID Decline to Performance Recovery
Every leader faces challenges, and Dr. Kousar Shah experienced one such tough challenge in his career after the COVID wave. He took charge of an old healthcare institute that was facing stagnation in financial performance and had been losing the tag of being a preferred hospital to go from patient’s perspective. Even after putting in constant efforts, results were slow. To better understand the problem, he brought in an independent agency to study how people viewed the hospital and its services.
The survey showed clear gaps in operations, marketing strategy, and reputation, and how some unbelievable competitions had been taking an upper hand to be the TOM in that geography. Based on these insights, Dr. Shah created a clear strategical action plan and built a focused team to make improvements. Over time, the hospital’s performance improved, earnings grew, and it became one of the top-performing healthcare units in the industry, hitting one of the highest EBITDA percentages in the industry. Most importantly, the hospital regained its image as a trusted and reliable healthcare institution both on clinical results, transparency, patients’ experiences, overall services, and the robust, well-oiled processes.
This phase taught him that challenges truly help leaders grow. They build strength, improve decision-making, and prove that with the right approach, even difficult situations can be turned into success.
Eye for Detail That Shapes Teams, Projects, and Performance
Dr. Kousar follows a practical and people-friendly leadership style. He believes good leadership is not about micromanaging but about understanding how systems work, identifying patterns, and focusing on outcomes. Dr. Kousar is known for being transparent and making clear & quick decisions, which helps build trust and consistency across the organization.
His strong attention to detail influences how he manages teams, projects, and operations, and strategies. By focusing on what truly drives performance, he is able to spot problems early, make informed decisions, and keep the organization running smoothly. Rather than leading from the top, he works alongside his teams, creating a culture based on trust, collaboration, and efficiency.
Dr. Kousar Shah also believes in facing challenges head-on, even when tough or unconventional decisions are needed. He encourages his teams to take ownership and act with confidence, knowing they will have his support as long as their actions are ethical and in the best interest of patients and the organization. This approach empowers teams to innovate, take calculated risks, and make responsible decisions with integrity.
Success Story of facing difficult times head-on
One striking example of Dr. Kousar’s leadership occurred when a young patient’s accidental death triggered tension at one of his hospitals. A crowd gathered, holding the treating doctor responsible, and emotions ran high. Although Dr. Kousar was 50 kilometres away, he immediately returned to the hospital to handle the situation personally. Acting as the sole spokesperson, he calmly engaged with the crowd throughout the night, ensuring the safety of the staff and preventing any harm. By early morning, the situation had been peacefully resolved.
This decisive action protected the team and strengthened the community’s trust in the institution. It demonstrated a tremendous positive impact on staff and doctors that the organization stands firmly and fearlessly with its people during crises and underscored the role of transparency, accountability, and compassionate leadership in cultivating a resilient organizational culture.
Frameworks Driving Team and Organizational Success
Dr. Kousar Shah has developed practical frameworks that enhance productivity, alignment, and organizational impact, though these may differ place to place, however, two of his well-known ones are:
- DOCMAN Framework: Strengthens collaboration and alignment between doctors and management for smoother operations and higher productivity.
- Super Eleven Concept: A focused leadership team that played a key role in turning around an organization with nearly 3,000 employees, speaks of creating more leaders for a collective and transparent effort.
These frameworks reflect his belief in structured, results-driven systems that empower teams, improve coordination, and deliver measurable outcomes.
A New Era of Transformation
Dr. Kousar Shah highlights that the healthcare industry and its leadership have evolved significantly since the emergence of corporate hospitals, bringing improvements in quality and gaining global recognition. While progress has been continuous, the sector is now entering a new phase of transformation with the increasing integration of advanced technologies. These changes are expected to present opportunities and challenges, particularly in areas such as regulations, patient privacy, and data management.
Looking toward 2026, Dr. Kousar believes that healthcare leadership must adapt to these shifts. Leaders will need to embrace technology-driven strategies, remain forward-thinking, and balance innovation with ethical and patient-centred care. Successfully navigating this next phase will require vision, resilience, and the ability to inspire teams to adopt new approaches while maintaining trust, quality, and operational excellence.
Advice for Aspiring Leaders, Young Professionals, and Entrepreneurs
Dr. Kousar Shah advises aspiring leaders, young professionals, and entrepreneurs that the foundation of effective leadership is being a good human being as the foremost. For him, this means staying grounded, acting with transparency, avoiding arrogance, and treating everyone with respect, keeping no personal biases in the functioning. He emphasizes that leadership is not just about personal success but also about helping others grow. By nurturing future leaders and creating a culture based on trust, integrity, and shared values, individuals can make a meaningful impact while building strong, sustainable teams and organizations.
Notable Achievements and Milestones
Dr. Kousar has achieved several personal and professional milestones that can be highlighted visually:
1. Author of Two Bestselling Books
- Unlocked – access your trapped, true potential – identifying the Godfather within: Explores how to recognize and develop the leader and guiding force within oneself
- Mad Mind is Awake – you are being transformed to be a shit hit leader: Focuses on the power of the mind and the influence of thoughts on personal and professional growth
2. Leadership and Organizational Impact
- Transformed multiple non process driven or loss-making or stagnant hospitals into high-performing institutions
- Led teams of thousands of employees, fostering collaboration and accountability
- Introduced frameworks such as DOCMAN and the ‘Super Eleven’ team concepts, etc, to enhance efficiency and team performance
3. Recognition and Credentials
- Recipient of theDr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award for Outstanding Healthcare Business Leader and Innovator
- Recipient of “Healthcare Personality of the Year 2026” at 16th MT India Healthcare Awards 2026
- Recipient of “Top 10 Healthcare Leaders 2020-21” by The Indian Alert
- Recipient ofCXO Health Excellence Award in 6th CXO Digital Innovation Health Summit by CXO TV. News
- Certified Bullet Proof Manager, accredited by Crestcom, USA
4. Media Recognitions
Dr. Kousar Shah has delivered two TEDx talks till now and has been featured in several podcasts and interviews. He is regularly invited by business houses and business schools for motivational and business talks.
Some of the prominent platforms where he has shared his insights include:
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT, Delhi)
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)
Indian School of Business (ISB)
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)
Chitkara University
Delhi University
Quick Takes
- One quote that motivates you the most:“When the going gets tough, tough get going”
- One piece of advice you would offer to upcoming entrepreneurs or future business leaders:
- Develop yourself, keep evolving, keep learning, and have the mindset of the bird sitting on a branch who is not scared of the branch breaking as it has confidence on its wings.
- One movie or book you recommend everyone in business or leadership should experience: “Unlocked – access your trapped, true potential, to succeed by identifying the Godfather within” which is my first book, and“What got you here, will not get you there”by Marshall Goldsmith
Dr Kousar Shah’s 5 Impactful Business Mantras
- Lead with Clarity: Define objectives clearly and align teams to turn challenges into consistent results.
- People-First: Empower, support, and build trust with your teams for peak performance.
- See Challenges as Opportunities: Analyze problems, make bold ethical decisions, and transform setbacks into success.
- Combine Expertise with Strategy: Use knowledge plus structured frameworks to drive efficiency and impact.
- Keep Growing and Resilient: Stay adaptable, keep learning, and nurture future leaders.
