Intuit, Blue Cross Blue Shield Experts Join Council
Intuit, Blue Cross Blue Shield Experts Join Council
Two new members, Vidya Raj and Dr. Bharath Thankavel, added their expertise in information technology and healthcare strategy to the Naveen Jindal School of Management advisory council this spring.
Vidya Raj
Director, PPM and Business Operations, Intuit Proconnect Group
Vidya Raj has 25 years’ experience driving technology and business transformation. She joined Intuit in January 2020, where she leads the Project Management Office and business operations for the ProConnect Group, which provides tax professionals with software that simplifies and connects tax preparation workflow.
Raj heads cross-functional teams that execute large programs and special projects. Her focus is on key information technology services and operations management process-reengineering initiatives.
Raj previously worked for Sabre Corporation in key leadership roles driving strategy for IT services management. She built high-performing teams and communities through principle-based leadership, and received the CEO’s “Golden Shoe of Integrity” award for exemplifying company core values.
Raj was born in Chennai, India, and moved to London as a child. She has a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering from University College London and a master’s degree in computer science from Texas A&M University-Commerce.
Shaped by experiences living on three continents, Raj is passionate about bring- ing together diverse perspectives. At Sabre, she launched the company’s first Diversity Council. She is a strong advocate for helping women achieve their career goals and for ensuring diversity and inclusion at Intuit, serving as a mentor for Intuit’s African American Network and in the Tech Women at Intuit group.
Outside work, she is leaning into a new-found passion for stoic philosophy. Other interests include travel with her family and supporting causes targeted at empowering women and girls through education.
On the advisory council, she will work to promote values-based leadership and build a culture of inclusivity as students transition into the workforce. She hopes, she says, “to help inspire students to see a big, bold future for themselves.”
Bharath Thankavel, MD
Medical Director, Value-Based Care, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
As medical director of value-based care at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), Dr. Bharath Thankavel is well-positioned to transform the healthcare system through innovative strategies. Working in tandem with BCBSTX’s sales and account management, network, strategy and community relations teams, he helps incorporate physician in-sights into the creation of new healthcare delivery models, such as accountable care organizations.
Born in San Antonio, Thankavel earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Baylor University, followed by his medical degree from Saint George’s University. He did his pediatric residency at the University of South Florida.
In joining the council, Thankavel said, “I was instilled with the belief that an education was the foundation to future success. I believe this to be true for both individuals and the community. If we build strong, we will persevere. I hope to help shape that opportunity with my contributions to the advisory council.”
As an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and a pediatric hospitalist at Children’s Health in Dallas for 10 years, Thankavel has gained a wide variety of clinical experience. Early in his clinical years, he became increasingly involved in hospital throughput and quality initiatives.
Before joining BCBSTX, Thankavel was medical director of the Home Care program at Children’s Health, where he oversaw three departments that targeted care for approximately 1,200 patients. Thankavel incorporates health and wellness into his life through sports; he coaches his son’s basketball team and plays in a basketball league. His family’s love for travel has led him to several countries, and he makes a conscious effort to expose his son to cultural opportunities.