In this episode of The Backstory, host Anne Hancock Toomey sits down with the Global Head of Healthcare for Blackstone, Ram Jagannath, to trace the path that led him from a childhood as a first-generation American to the upper echelons of finance and healthcare investing.
Jagannath shares how his formative years shaped his perspective, weaving through early influences, first jobs, and pivotal experiences—none more striking than his time working in a Croatian refugee camp with Bosnians displaced by the war.
From navigating Wall Street to surviving the stock market crash and exploring a career in private equity, Jagannath unpacks lessons on why intellectual curiosity and purpose matter as much as strategy. And in a fast-paced lightning round, he gets personal – family, golf and a little love for Taylor Swift.
Episode Highlights
- 4:20 First Jobs and Early Lessons
- 11:44 College Years and Discovering Fulfillment
- 13:28 Life-Changing Experience in Croatia
- 20:09 Transition to Finance and Wall Street
- 22:42 Discovering Private Equity
- 25:10 Journey into Healthcare Investing
- 30:29 Founding a New Firm and Personal Loss
- 34:52 Leadership Qualities and Values
- 39:14 Lightning Round: Personal Insights
