Rhythm of Reinvention

For Apollo 24/7's Madhivanan Balakrishnan, playing percussion instruments mirrors the rhythm and focus he brings to leadership- balancing intuition, discipline and flow in every aspect of life

- Srabastee Biswas

Whether he’s building digital bridges in health care or keeping beat on a percussion instrument at home, Madhivanan Balakrishnan has always followed his inner rhythm.

The chief executive of Apollo 24/7, a digital health platform under the Apollo Hospitals banner and chief digital and technology officer of Apollo Hospitals, Balakrishnan is no stranger to reinvention. A Gemini who thrives on variety, Balakrishnan has spent over three decades moving seamlessly across industries, from fast-moving consumer goods to banking, technology and now, health care. “I can't do the same thing for too long,” he admits. “I get bored easily. But every shift has helped me grow.”

But while his professional life has constantly evolved, his personal compass remains firmly rooted in values like honesty, clarity and hard work—traits he picked up watching his father, a railway employee, rise through the ranks. “I may not be the smartest person in the room,” he says, “but I’m definitely one of the most hardworking.”