Watch Srikanth Ayyappan and Christina Dsouza Lasrado on CommsCast – The Reputation Podcast, on YouTube
Srikanth Ayyappan, Senior Director, Marketing and Strategy, Parexel India, joins Christina Dsouza Lasrado, Group Head – Integrated Healthcare Practice (IHCP), Adfactors PR, for a deep-dive conversation on healthcare marketing from the crossroads of authenticity, empathy, total compliance and technology, in the latest episode of COMMSCAST, The Reputation Podcast powered by Adfactors PR.
Click play to listen to Srikanth Ayyappan and Christina Dsouza Lasrado on CommsCast:
In this engaging episode, Srikanth brings his decade-long journey across technology, life sciences, and healthcare into focus, exploring how communication professionals can create meaningful impact in one of the world’s most tightly regulated industries. Christina, who leads Adfactors PR’s Integrated Healthcare Practice, steers the conversation toward the mindset, strategies, and principles that help communicators thrive in such complex environments.
Marketing in regulated landscapes
Srikanth reflects on his career trajectory — from IBM and Agilent to Parexel — and how each role sharpened his curiosity, resilience, and collaborative approach. The discussion highlights how authenticity and clarity become anchors in highly regulated industries, where collaboration with compliance teams is essential and where clear messaging builds trust among patients, caregivers, clients, and regulators.
Storytelling, empathy, and credibility
The conversation turns to the human side of communication. Srikanth stresses that credibility relies on evidence and accuracy, while empathy demands listening closely to patients, caregivers, and advocates. For him, the most effective storytelling balances scientific rigor with narratives that touch lives and make hope tangible.
Generative AI and human judgment
Christina raises the subject of generative AI. Srikanth describes it as a “super-assistant” — valuable for enhancing productivity and speeding up processes — but emphasizes that human creativity, emotional intelligence, and judgment remain indispensable. AI, he insists, should support communicators rather than replace them.
Reputation and partnerships
On reputation, Srikanth notes that it is not only the domain of leadership but the responsibility of every employee, lived out through daily interactions and organizational culture. He also shares his perspective on client–agency partnerships, underlining that clarity, credibility, and trust are the bedrock of successful collaboration.
Guidance for professionals
For young communicators, Srikanth shares timeless advice: simplify complex ideas, focus on people, and connect the dots across silos. He underscores adaptability, humility, and active listening as qualities that shape meaningful careers. He also recommends Tom Peters’ The Brand New 50 as essential reading for professionals looking to build authentic personal brands.
