Professional. Polished. Accomplished. Thoughtful. Made It. Ready to Make It. “Inspiring Women” is an interview show hosted by Laurie McGraw. 30 years of leadership in both commercial companies and non-profits has taught Laurie one thing: Women need women. Women need Inspiring Women. Hear short-form interviews every week from Inspiring Women who are at the pinnacle of their careers and Inspired Women who are just starting out.
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Professional. Polished. Accomplished. Thoughtful. Made It. Ready to Make It. “Inspiring Women” is an interview show hosted by Laurie McGraw. 30 years of leadership in both commercial companies and non-profits has taught Laurie one thing: Women need women. Women need Inspiring Women. Hear short-form interviews every week from Inspiring Women who are at the pinnacle of their careers and Inspired Women who are just starting out.
Two Kenyans Unite to Bridge Medicine's Most Dangerous Gap With Amee Devani || EP.204
Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw
24 minutes
4 months ago
Two Kenyans Unite to Bridge Medicine's Most Dangerous Gap With Amee Devani || EP.204
When Amee Devani watched her mother battle colorectal cancer in Kenya, she witnessed firsthand the stark reality of healthcare inequity. That experience would reshape her entire career trajectory—from investment banking at UBS to founding a digital health startup that's revolutionizing how hospitals manage post-acute care.
"I faint when they take my blood," Amee admits with characteristic candor. Yet today, as CEO and Co-founder of WellBeam, she's tackling one of healthcare's most persistent problems: the black box of care that swallows patients after hospital discharge.
This conversation with host Laurie McGraw reveals how a chance meeting on a Stanford cycling training ride led to a partnership that's now bridging the dangerous gap between acute and post-acute care. Amee and her co-founder Pascal—both Kenyans who met thousands of miles from home—shared more than a homeland. They shared mothers fighting cancer and a determination to fix a broken system.
What started as rejected startup ideas in Stanford surgeons' offices evolved into WellBeam after one crucial conversation with pancreatic surgeon Dr. Brendan Visser. His frustration was clear: exceptional inpatient care followed by total blindness once patients left the hospital. Fax machines. Phone tag. Patients bouncing back to the ER before anyone knew there was a problem.
Now, WellBeam serves as the critical infrastructure connecting hospital EMRs with home health, hospice, and skilled nursing facilities. The result? A 20-30% reduction in readmissions and millions in recovered revenue for physicians doing work they couldn't previously bill.
In this episode of Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw, Amee also discusses:
The unexpected value of "having too much fun" at Cambridge and how it shaped her leadership approach
Why she left the prestige of investment banking and consulting to work out of a shoebox office in London
How catching the "startup bug" at Pavegen prepared her for the healthcare innovation journey
The importance of building a village of mentors, especially as a female founder in healthcare
Why healthcare's biggest problems aren't glamorous—and why that's exactly where innovation is needed
Navigating slow healthcare sales cycles while maintaining startup momentum
Leading as a new mother and CEO: ruthless prioritization and trusting your team
Chapter Markers
00:54 - Introduction & Background
04:17 - The Stanford Connection & Finding a Co-founder
07:13 - WellBeam's Origin & Solution
11:28 - Business Model & Market Approach
14:06 - Leadership as a Female CEO & New Mother
21:39 - Advice for Aspiring Female Founders
Guest & Host Links
Connect with Laurie McGraw on LinkedIn
Connect with Amee Devani on LinkedIn
Connect with Inspiring Women
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Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw
Professional. Polished. Accomplished. Thoughtful. Made It. Ready to Make It. “Inspiring Women” is an interview show hosted by Laurie McGraw. 30 years of leadership in both commercial companies and non-profits has taught Laurie one thing: Women need women. Women need Inspiring Women. Hear short-form interviews every week from Inspiring Women who are at the pinnacle of their careers and Inspired Women who are just starting out.
