RISING ICON #79: Demi Radeva, MSc
Photo credit: Soona
What name do you prefer to be called?
Demi
What are your pronouns?
she/her
Where did you grow up?
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
What city are you currently based in?
Minneapolis
How do you typically introduce yourself to new people?
“Hi, I’m Demi! Ten years ago, I took a wild-card opportunity (my background was in investment finance) at a healthcare consultancy in town and discovered a deep passion for healthcare. Soon after, I fell out of love with U.S. healthcare and made it my mission to be a disruptor! So, I shipped myself overseas to learn how other countries were financing their systems and structuring incentives to provide more accessible, equitable, and higher-quality care. When I returned, I dedicated myself to bringing change from within as a leader in Strategy, Innovation, and Business Development roles within payers in the U.S., I'm now focused on revolutionizing the industry from the outside in.”
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you?
I have a deep love for teaching and have been doing it for as long as I can remember. When I grasp complex concepts, I feel driven to share them with others, helping them avoid struggles and giving them a head start. Recently, Ramsey Shaffer called me a "philosophizer," a title that totally resonates with me and I’m happy to embody as I continue on my journey to becoming an “innovation alchemist”.
Who do you help?
Anyone building payer facing digital solutions.
What are you building now?
I am building a payer expert network that will bring the next generation of best-in-class digital technology payer solutions to market. Learn more at https://www.akrosadvisory.com/expert-landing-page
What were you building ten years ago today?
I was a co-founder of a community focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion inside of my employer organization and was launching courses on cross-cultural communication and conflict resolution as part of it.
What do you predict of yourself 10 years from now?
I see myself leading a transformative movement in the healthcare industry and likely having published, or working on publishing a book.
What’s a fact or statistic you wish everyone knew about your industry?
A quarter of health plan’s profits will shift toward digital health technology over the next decade! For more insights: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/health-care/digital-health-plan.html
Why do you believe the work you do matters?
Because I can see the impact it makes not only for our clients but also to the patients they serve!
Who is your mentor and what is the best advice they’ve given you?
I have an amazing life coach - Julie Loomis - her best advice has been to “Trust your gut!”.
What piece of content about you or your company are you most proud of?
Our series of master classes and workshops! They are designed to simplify the complexities of this industry and make it accessible and affordable for founders who may not yet have the resources to hire fractional executives. These classes provide essential expertise to help founders make informed decisions for their businesses. I am a strong advocate for democratizing knowledge and promoting access in industries that struggle with equitable representation of minority communities. Learn more at https://www.akrosadvisory.com/akademy
What publication do you hope to appear in next?
Harvard Business Review is often one of my go to sources for leadership and industry insights and I’d love to be featured and share insights on healthcare innovation and market strategies.
Who would you love to be interviewed by?
Oprah - Of Course!! Also, Guy Raz on “How I built this?” for his awesome ability to tell founder stories, and Shane Parrish from the “Knowledge Project” as I always learn something new!
If you had to give a TEDTalk tomorrow, what would the title be?
“Stories from the Trenches: Revolutionizing Healthcare From Inside Out and the Outside In”
What award would mean the most to win?
The Crystal Award by the World Economic Forum! In the meantime, it would be amazing to be named Person of the Year by Twin Cities Business and/or The HIMSS Most Influential Women in Health IT.
What makes zero sense to you?
Being unkind.
What’s a word in your industry you hope gets re-evaluated?
"Patient engagement" – it should be more about "patient empowerment" to reflect the patient's active involvement in their own health.
What game are you changing?
No games here, rather systems - the sick care system to a health care system!
What’s the next thing you’re a part of that you want to invite more people to participate in?
Sign up for our newsletter so you can stay tuned for our upcoming workshops!
I’m helping curate TCSW2024, so submit your applications for speakers to be considered! Applications open 6/10/24!
I’m recruiting women, Black/African-American, and Latinx members for the Catalyst Angel MN Cohort 2024 Program, so apply and help spread the word to your networks! You can submit the interest form here and register for the upcoming info session here. Make sure to note that Demi sent you :)
Where can we follow you online?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/demiradeva/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/akros-advisory-services/
What’s one thing that makes every leader better?
Self-awareness.
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We’re grateful to each Rising ICON for their transformative work. Thank you, Demi, for sharing your story!
LAUREL is a media relations partner for bold leadership. For nearly a decade, we’ve helped leaders build effective strategies for scale and growth specializing in key opinion leadership and go-to-market strategy for emerging brands. To follow along with the RISING ICONS series, nominate a leader or subscribe to our weekly email newsletter. To accelerate your own rise, get our free guide to elevating your leadership profile, FIT(lite). RISING ICONS is made possible by grant funding from Knight Foundation.
“When I grasp complex concepts, I feel driven to share them with others, helping them avoid struggles and giving them a head start.”
Notice: It’s important for our readers to understand the origin of the interview content. The featured ICON contributed responses that were not edited from the original submission. All claims are made solely by the contributor and do not reflect the views of LAUREL or its partners. Thank you for supporting innovation leaders. We’re convinced, the future is bold.
