Leading operations, team expansion, and the mobile clinic initiative in a high-growth emerging market.
Hi, I'm Soumya. I moved to Lagos to bring quality eye care to the people who need it most.
I grew up around my father's eye hospitals in India, but my own path started far from them. I studied Math and Economics at UC San Diego, spent a summer with the investment team at Obvious Ventures, and built valuation models at PwC.
It was good work, but I was always looking at the world through a screen. I didn't want to analyze impact anymore. I wanted to build it.
So in early 2025 I moved to Lagos. Today I run business operations for Eye-Q Vision in Nigeria and support our teams back in India. My father and his partner spent 18 years building Eye-Q. My job is to take what they proved works and bring it to Nigeria, where millions of people still can't get quality eye care.
This past year has taught me more than any classroom ever did. We launched Nigeria's first fully equipped mobile eye clinic, and our story became a case study taught at IIM Ahmedabad. But the best part of this work stays simple: someone walks in unable to see, and walks out seeing. That's why I'm here. This journal is where I write about it, honestly.
The Journal
Launching Our 4th Home and 5th On Wheels
Waiting for patients to reach us meant losing time against preventable blindness. So we put the hospital on wheels: Nigeria's first fully equipped mobile eye clinic, taking care straight to the communities that need it.
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Family Business, Legacy and Leadership
An evening at PwC's roundtable on family business. Family member, owner, manager: each hat has a different job, and wearing them all at once sends mixed signals.
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Reclaiming My Attention
My screen time used to be embarrassing. What got me out of it wasn't a productivity hack or a digital detox, it was picking up my hobbies again.
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The Barrier in Our Own Heads
I work in an eye hospital and the doctor is literally one floor down. And my first thought was, I'll get it checked later.
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Going Back to School
Seven years later, I got to sit with 9th-12th graders at my old school and be honest about the parts nobody posts about: the rejections, the doubt, the figuring it out.
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The Real Data Lives on the Ground
A ten minute conversation with someone who just walked out of a consultation will tell you more about how your center is running than any dashboard ever will.
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The Youngest Person in the Room
Being the youngest person in the room used to scare me. Now I see it as a privilege: if you slow down enough to notice, every room becomes a classroom.
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The Eye-Q Case Returns to the IIMA Classroom
Part A and Part B of our case were taught to the PGP class at IIMA. What was planned as a 15 minute session stretched into a two hour conversation.
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A Week of Highs and Lows
150 free screenings, every hospital in our network toured, and the reality of the groundwork: extreme highs, challenging lows, and work worth doing.
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Republic Day, Far From Home
Celebrating India's 77th Republic Day at the High Commission in Abuja. Being far from home shows you how much your values travel with you.
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Nigeria Takes the Stage at Our 19th Founders’ Day
Our Nigeria team was recognised at Eye-Q's 19th Founders' Day. What matters most to me is who that recognition reflects: the teams on the ground.
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Reflecting on 2025: A Year of Access
In 2025, together, we treated 500,000+ patients, conducted 800,000+ eye screenings, and ran 4,000+ free eye camps.
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Take that Trip Alone!
Being alone doesn't mean being lonely. A 2-day solo trip to Turkey taught me that sometimes the people who love us most show it by giving us space to grow.
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Why Mental Health Matters to Me
Mental health is healthcare. Having seen how the right support can make all the difference, I believe our minds deserve the same care as our bodies.
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Less is More, Especially in Healthcare
In healthcare, simplicity builds trust. Patients don't want a menu of choices. They want clear, expert-backed solutions.
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Why Values are the Strongest KPI
Values are easy to talk about when things are going well. Their real test is when things go wrong.
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The Lessons From Our Dinner Table
My journey didn't begin in classrooms or case studies, but quietly, around our family dinner table where I unknowingly picked up lessons in problem-solving, resilience, and purpose.
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Slowing Down to Learn Faster
During my first few days in Lagos, everything from the systems to the pace felt unfamiliar. I had come in eager to contribute, but quickly realized that intention alone isn't enough.
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Moving to Lagos
Three months ago, I moved to Nigeria to join Skipper Eye-Q. It's been a whirlwind of learning, unlearning, and growing every single day. Nigeria is vibrant, dynamic, and full of complexities, and every day is different.
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Presenting the Eye-Q Case Study at IIMA
Co-authored two management case studies with Prof. Chitra Singla, chronicling the 18-year journey of Eye-Q Vision. Presenting at my father's alma mater was a proud moment, seeing his entrepreneurial story spark meaningful discussions among the next generation.
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Wrapping Up My Summer at Obvious Ventures
A summer of pitch meetings, investment research, and a deep-dive into new age FinTech with the investment team at Obvious Ventures.
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Professional History
Co-authored two management case studies under the guidance of Prof. Chitra Singla. Worked as an independent researcher (Jan 2024 - Nov 2024) and continued as an intern (Dec 2024 - Jan 2025) to finalize and compile the case studies.
Performed deep-dive financial analysis, modeling, and valuations for complex M&A deals.
Provided strategic consulting services to clients across multiple industries, developing data-driven solutions and business strategies.
Developed product strategies and conducted market analysis for enterprise recruitment advertising solutions.
Evaluated early-stage startups across various sectors, conducting market research and financial analysis to support investment decisions.
Worked with Professor Emanuel Vespa to write a research paper on 'Nudging' in behavioral economics.
Authored a paper on the inclusion of women in the financial sector. Worked for the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), a movement for self-employed women in rural India.
Assisted in research submitted to Government of India on implementing the National Nutrition Mission in Maharashtra. Analyzed communication strategy for 'Jan Andolan' (People's movement).