Alumni Q&A: Irfan Khan (MBA 2000)

How did your studies at Imperial help inform your career in the healthcare sector?

Having come from an engineering background, my MSc in Engineering & Physical Science in Medicine at Imperial was my first experience of working in healthcare. We had the opportunity to work with clinicians and doctors, and it helped me to gain a much deeper understanding of medicine. I did my MBA at Imperial a few years later, which brought together the two pieces of the puzzle, business and medicine, to give me a holistic understanding of the healthcare industry.

My specialisation during my MBA was customer-focused strategy, which has been key to my work in hospitals. Healthcare is an emotional industry—you are dealing with people who are unwell, often someone’s friend or family member—so understanding a patient-centric approach was incredibly important.

Imperial's strength lies in its diverse student body and wide range of courses. Pursuing my MBA at a STEM-focused university was highly beneficial, as it naturally integrated science, technology, and medicine concepts. 

What professional achievement are you most proud of?

For me, the standout achievement is about the people I work with. I think one of the major mandates of leadership is to build other leaders, not to just have followers, and I’m very proud of the talent I’ve helped to nurture in the countries we work in.

At Evercare, we operate in the emerging markets such as Kenya, Nigeria and Pakistan. It can be the case that future leaders in these markets end up leaving the country and taking their skills elsewhere. I have taken a personal interest in identifying, developing, and retaining future leaders within the countries where we operate.

There is no single formula for identifying aspiring leaders. The most important quality is a strong desire to learn. We can then get them the opportunities and qualifications they need to move forwards.

What do you think are the most important qualities for someone in a leadership position?

When you are in a leadership position, being a good communicator and an empathetic leader is very important.

I’d also say integrity for leaders is key. This is especially the case in a sector like healthcare where quality, ethics and patient safety must be paramount. In healthcare, we are responsible for people's lives, so there can be no compromise.

I work across lots of different cultures and countries, and there is one basic principle which applies everywhere, which is respect. You must be humble and willing to learn from each other.

What drew you to study in the UK and Imperial?

I chose Imperial for its reputation. Whenever I watched science or technology news, many of the experts featured were from Imperial. I think London is an amazing city to be a student in – it’s diverse, accepting and so well connected. It was a no-brainer really!

What does it mean for you to be an alumnus of Imperial?

Studying at Imperial is one of the best decisions I made in my life! When you tell people where you did your degree, it automatically brings a level of respect to the table. I have spent a good 25 years building my career and I think a lot can be attributed to the solid foundation I got from Imperial.

It’s important for me to give back—whether by giving talks or providing opportunities for Imperial students to gain work experience in our hospitals.

The world is increasingly complex, with many career options available. I want to help students navigate these opportunities. Many people may not consider a career in healthcare unless they are doctors or nurses. However, it is an incredibly rewarding field with diverse opportunities.