About Alok Mishra
34+ years of strategic leadership in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.
The Journey
Alok Mishra recently retired as Vice President, Strategic Capabilities, Johnson & Johnson Medical Asia Pacific after 20 years in the Company. Over this duration, Alok held positions as Regional Vice President Marketing & Business Development Asia Pacific, Managing Director of Singapore and India, and Area Vice President, South Asia Region.
His journey began with humble beginnings as a Product Manager in India, progressing through various capacities to become Regional Vice President for the business in South Asia and finally Head of Strategy for the Asia Pacific Region at one of the world's largest corporations.
Around 20 years ago, Alok joined one of the world's largest healthcare companies in the Medical Devices sector. Despite 14 years of experience in Pharmaceuticals at that time, he was initially unprepared for this key part of the healthcare industry as it could not have been more different from the Pharma world he was coming from. Surgeons were very different from Physicians, business was done in the Operating Theater under strict supervision of Nurses, and training was a hugely important driver of new business.
"I loved it! This was a field rich with possibilities – and as I was to realize quickly – an area where there was a huge opportunity to do better while doing good!"
It took roughly 4 years to develop a practical framework called the 4A-5P model, which was extensively used in his organization. This framework systematically integrates supply-side data (infrastructure, workforce capacity) with demand-side factors (financial constraints, health behaviors) to provide a holistic view of the healthcare access ecosystem.
Experience & Recognition
34+ Years Experience
From Product Manager in India to Head of Strategy for Asia Pacific at one of the world's largest healthcare corporations.
Johnson & Johnson
20 years at J&J Medical Devices, including roles as Regional VP Marketing, Managing Director Singapore & India, and VP Strategic Capabilities.
Academic Excellence
Master's in Pharmacy, MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, Member of MENSA. Adjunct faculty at SMU, NUS, and NTU.
1000+ Trained
Trained over 1000 professionals in strategic marketing and business development across startups and enterprises.
Stanford Biodesign
Faculty and mentor with Singapore Stanford Biodesign program since inception. Awarded 'Most Valued Industry Mentor' in 2014.
Industry Leadership
Chairman of Medical Technology Standards Committee, Chairman of Medical Technology Group at CII, and Council member of Singapore Manufacturing Association.
The Value Addition Philosophy
In all these years developing strategy and execution plans for various businesses, there was one need Alok always felt:
"How do I develop my talent to be able to do internally what we end up hiring expensive consultants for?"
In most cases, external consultants come in with virtually no knowledge of the company, customer, or context. At a significant high cost, they interview the client's executives, extract their insights on strategic direction, package it neatly into nice-looking PowerPoint presentations, and "sell" it to the management as the solution for all their ills.
In most cases, the recommendations are never implemented. Worse still, it leaves the middle-level executives feeling dejected and somewhat unfairly used when they see their own ideas being presented without any credit being given to their contribution in terms of sharing insights and experience.
There is a better way. A way which generates strategy while providing a forum for Facilitated Action Learning for the organization's promising and experienced talent. Where an outside resource is used to help frame and facilitate the creation of strategy and execution plan, and which leaves the organization feeling capable of doing it themselves the next time round.
A process called Value Addition.
Education & Honors
Academic Credentials
- • Master's Degree in Pharmacy
- • MBA from IIM Ahmedabad
- • Member of MENSA
Teaching & Mentorship
- • Adjunct Faculty Member at Singapore Management University (SMU)
- • Former Adjunct Faculty at National University of Singapore (NUS) & NTU
- • Member of Advisory Council for Action Learning at Asia School of Business (MIT Sloan collaboration)
- • Faculty and Mentor with Singapore Stanford Biodesign program since inception
- • Awarded "Most Valued Industry Mentor" in 2014
Industry Recognition
- • Life Time Achievement Award 2016 by Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar, India
- • Council Member of Singapore Manufacturing Association
- • Chairman of India Business Group (covering India, Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa)
- • Chairman of Medical Technology Standards Committee, Standards Council
- • Chairman of Medical Technology Group, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
- • Chairman of Medical Technology & Life Sciences Industry Group, Singapore Manufacturing Federation