DGTL Voices with Ed Marx
Episode Title: Have Courage, Be Kind, Stay Curious (ft. Rachini Moosavi)
Release Date: April 20, 2026
Host: Ed Marx
Guest: Rachini Moosavi, Chief Analytics Officer, UNC Health
Episode Overview
This episode of DGTL Voices features a rich, candid conversation between host Ed Marx and Rachini Moosavi, Chief Analytics Officer at UNC Health. Focused on themes of courage, kindness, curiosity, and leadership, Rachini shares her career journey, personal philosophy, and the pivotal moments that shaped her as a first-generation American and healthcare leader. The discussion delves into practical leadership advice, the transformative power of vulnerability, and how embracing one's unique path—both personally and professionally—can lead to meaningful growth. Rachini also offers insights into healthcare analytics, community building, and navigating the challenges and triumphs of working at a large academic health system.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Personal Background and Formation (03:25–06:10)
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First-generation American Experience:
Rachini shares about growing up in a Sri Lankan-American household, balancing cultural identities, and eventually embracing her unique background.
"You kind of straddle worlds, right? You're part American and you're part ... whatever culture you come from. For me, that was Sri Lankan, so I've always had a little bit of an identity crisis." — Rachini (03:29)
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Pivotal Childhood Moment:
She contrasts her academic experience with her older, high-achieving sister, recalling a formative moment:
"My mom asked my sister, 'You got a 98. What happened to the two points?' And then I got a B that same day. And it was like celebration, right? ... I realized what's up with the double standard? And it made me want to prove not just my parents, but just prove just the world wrong." — Rachini (05:01)
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Embracing Different Learning Styles:
She underscores the importance of finding one's personal approach to learning:
"Everybody's super smart. They just have their own way of getting there. You have to embrace it." — Rachini (06:07)
2. Career Journey into Healthcare Analytics (06:10–09:49)
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Early Career and Finding Purpose:
Rachini discusses her journey from an initial pre-med path to discovering her passion for healthcare operations and analytics:
"I actually got my certified nursing assistant's license in high school... It helped me to really lean in to what were the parts of healthcare that I thought were interesting. And I found that the business side, the operational side, is what I really gravitated towards." — Rachini (06:26)
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Career Progression and Opportunities:
She attributes her rise within UNC Health to seizing and sometimes creating opportunities, emphasizing the organization's supportive culture.
"Sometimes I had to make [opportunities]. Sometimes...they presented themselves to me. But I've been able to steadily grow and take on new challenges." — Rachini (09:17)
3. UNC Health: Structure and Mission (09:49–11:19)
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System Scope and Unique Culture:
Rachini highlights the breadth and community-focused mission of UNC Health:
"We are an academic health system... 18 hospitals in total spread across the state of North Carolina. We really lean into our mission to promote the health and well-being of all North Carolinians." — Rachini (10:06)
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Serving Rural Communities:
She notes the challenge and privilege of supporting the state’s significant rural health population.
4. Role of Chief Analytics Officer and Key Initiatives (11:19–14:16)
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Role Overview:
Rachini takes pride in her fun, multifaceted role and her exceptional team.
"It's the most fun I've ever had in any position. Highly recommend it to anybody who's even a little bit of a data geek." — Rachini (11:36)
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Major Projects and Innovations:
- Microsoft Fabric Migration:
"We are the sixth largest Fabric implementation worldwide across all industries, the largest for an AMC. So really incredible..." — Rachini (13:03)
- Analytics Community Building:
"We created a community... all of the folks who are embedded... across the system. We really created a community out of it and are really proud of our analytics community." — Rachini (13:21)
- Research Enclave—SHIRE:
"We created what we call SHIRE, which is our trusted research enclave to support our researchers. Really exciting new capability." — Rachini (13:30)
- Interoperability & AI Work:
Includes work with the state on behavioral health data and AI-driven projects.
5. Leadership Philosophy & Advice for Emerging Leaders (14:16–18:07)
6. Navigating Challenges & Making Opportunities (18:07–20:31)
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Taking Initiative:
She underscores the importance of advocating for oneself:
"You have to ask for what you want... Oftentimes I found that no one's really going to offer that up. They're not going to take the time to ask you whether you should be invited or included... I did that by raising my hand." — Rachini (18:10)
- Example: She shares a story about using her connections to join a major analytics initiative at UNC, which led to her current role.
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Family as Professional Support:
Rachini credits her older sister as a critical, honest advisor and collaborator:
"It's always just nice to have somebody who's willing to tell you you're wrong. Sisters are great for that." — Rachini (19:59)
7. Reflections: Lessons from Family & Advice to Next Generation (20:31–23:02)
8. Guiding Philosophy and Notable Quotes
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Learning from Disney:
"I picked up my, my personal motto from a Disney movie... the mom in the Disney movie said, 'have courage and be kind.' And so I've adopted that... and I've tacked on just one more piece... stay curious." — Rachini (02:44)
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On Family Support:
"It's very nice that it happens to be one of them is your sister because, you know, you're in the same community." — Ed (20:31)
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On Seizing Opportunity:
"Raise your hand. Right. A lot of times we just let fate. But then if you just rely on fate, you may miss out on what was truly to be yours." — Ed (23:11)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Time | Segment |
|------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 03:25 | Rachini's upbringing and first-gen American experience |
| 05:00 | Pivotal moment in childhood with her sister |
| 06:20 | Transition from clinical work to healthcare analytics |
| 09:49 | What distinguishes UNC Health |
| 11:34 | Role and duties as Chief Analytics Officer |
| 13:00 | Microsoft Fabric implementation and community building |
| 14:51 | Leadership philosophy: vulnerability and authenticity |
| 17:06 | Coping mechanisms: exercise and community |
| 18:07 | Learning to ask for what you want, seizing opportunities |
| 20:31 | Family influence, lessons from her father |
| 22:15 | Advice to the next generation: embracing uncertainty and the non-linear journey |
| 23:02 | Recap of discussion topics and final thoughts |
Final Thoughts
Rachini Moosavi’s story is a testament to the power of curiosity, resilience, and intentional leadership. Her experience as a first-generation American, her willingness to create and seize opportunities, and her advocacy for vulnerability and self-advocacy provide actionable inspiration for emerging leaders and seasoned professionals alike. This episode is a must-listen for those looking to grow as digital innovators and empathetic leaders in healthcare.
For more episodes and resources, visit marxadvisory.com.