I’m the CEO and Founder of Ayogo, and immensely proud to be part of a company acknowledged as one of the 100 most innovative mHealth companies in the world, and that is widely recognized for helping patients take control of their treatments. Over past few years, I’ve won many kudos: I was Ernst & Young’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year, and named to the PharmaVOICE 100, a peer-nominated list of the 100 most inspiring people in Life Sciences. What I’m most proud of, though, is my work creating an environment where I and my colleagues can live the Ayogo motto: to do our best work, to change the world, and to laugh every day. To that end, the Ayogo team has identified values that we feel are core to our mission: leadership, innovation, passion, teamwork, diligence, and kindness. As the CEO, I am the steward of those values, and it is a job I am grateful for every day.
In my spare time (ha!) I’ve been a multi-gold medalist and grand champion at the Western Canadian Martial Arts Championships, and I live in Vancouver with my beautiful, amazing family, very happy to be alive at this particular time in history. My superpower? I can hypnotize people with my eyebrow(s).
I am the Marketing Coordinator at Ayogo. I'm skilled at research, writing, copy editing, and making connections. The ability to empathize is one of my strongest skills and it's helped me connect meaningfully with fellow humans in the past. I'm planning to use my skills to link the ideas and strategies employed at Ayogo with potential clients and help them truly understand how Ayogo can help. I'm excited to explore how we can reach out to the general public and help them understand Ayogo as well.
Professionally, I get really excited when I'm able to help someone understand something new, whether it's just shifting their perspective on an old topic or introducing something totally foreign, it's exciting to see it 'click' for them. Often, creative examples and interesting hypotheticals are my favourite way to share ideas, it's lots of fun. Personally, I love hockey, fitness, dogs, comedy, and learning new stuff.
I have superhuman patience with small children, painstakingly developed over the past few years of teaching.
I am Director of New Markets at Ayogo. I am thrilled to contribute to a team that is committed to empowering patients facing healthcare transitions. My role involves enabling Social Enterprises to improve health outcomes, reduce costs, and make a positive impact through our products.
Previously, I held growth and business development roles at Prizm Media and Vision Critical. I graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) with a focus in Marketing from the University of British Columbia, and completed BUx's Digital Product Management MicroMasters Program.
I love seeing how technology can be used to solve problems and bring forth new possibilities. Outside of work, you’ll find me keeping active, journaling, spending time with family, or exploring everything Vancouver has to offer.
I'm a Research and Design Director with 10 years of experience in applied behavioural science and business strategy. I've worked with a range of clients from Fortune 500 companies to small tech startups, hospitals to credit unions to mental health NPOs. I bring together design, technology, & the scientific method to design more human experiences that help people make better decisions and measurably improve health outcomes. Leading a cross-functional team we collaborate with and guide clients through the Behavior-Design-Thinking process to understand user needs and the factors that influence decision-making, and to build, deliver, and optimize interventions that drive shared value for all stakeholders. I hold a MSc in Neuroscience from the Brain and Mind Institute at Western University and a B.Sc (Hons) in Life Sciences from Queen’s University. In my academic research, I applied simultaneous EEG/fMRI and behavioral testing to understand how the brain processes information in different states of consciousness. I have coordinated clinical research at SickKids and St. Michael's hospitals, and led research at a leading strategic design consultancy. My superpower is that I have almost 20/20 hindsight.
A graduate student with 3 years of experience in designing, developing and testing enterprise-level web applications. As well as a perceptive thinker skilled in an arsenal of programming languages, who enjoys developing novel applications by leveraging computing technology.
I am a Software Developer at Ayogo with previous experience in backend and frontend development. I studied arts and computer science at UBC, where I also sang a cappella! I like digging into a problem until it’s solved and love focusing on UI/UX and making things look nice. Outside of work you'll find me singing, baking, gaming, checking out new coffee shops, and long seawall walks.
I'm responsible for Project Management and assisting on everything and anything for which I can add value. I have touched on all aspects of IT product development in my life, from managing projects, designing systems, to writing the code. I use my expertise to understand the dynamics of how to put pieces together to build a product. I'm passionate about music, art, and books and my superpower is talking to things with screens.
With every project comes a unique set of challenges. How can we best guide users to achieving their health goals? How can we use gameplay to reinforce good habits and help break bad ones? How do we ensure that each screen a player encounters is intuitive AND effective? My job is to meet these design challenges with UX, copy and layout.
My superpowers are: employing educational psychology (I’m apathy’s worst nightmare); living and breathing the Adobe Creative Suite (sometimes I kern text in my dreams); and getting a bit too intense about coffee.
If I’m not at the office, chances are I’m on my bicycle.
I use my obsessive need to organize and plan to assist our CEO and executive team to ensure we are detail-oriented in all aspects of the business. When I’m not wrangling schedules, I can be found hiking in the forest, rewatching Frozen 2 for the 87th time with my daughter, or playing board games.
My superpower is being able to drink copious amount of coffee without vibrating into oblivion, and being an archaeologist in the same way that Indiana Jones is (not at all).
I am a software developer with a passion for creating web and mobile applications that help people make better choices around their physical and mental health. In my spare time I love to learn new technologies, read books on a wide array of topics, hit the sauna and train in functional movement patterns. My superpower is to wake up at the same time (almost) every morning without any alarms.
I'm a Software Developer at Ayogo with previous experience in developing web and mobile applications. Before venturing into computer science I worked on several research studies exploring chronic disease prevention and management in medically underserved communities. I am passionate about improving accessibility to healthcare and supporting individuals on their journey of disease management – something I get to do at Ayogo! I enjoy producing clean, modular code and learning about all things UX/UI. When I’m not glued to a computer screen, you can find me running, reading or dabbling with some paints. My superpower? Making guacamole!
I am the lead software developer and judo sensei here at Ayogo. A few years after graduating from UBC Comp Sci in 2004, I started working with Michael and Paul and the rest is history. From coding to QA to systems administration, I have done it all over the years. My superpower is lightning fast reflexes.
I'm a tech enthusiast physician with 11 years of experience in digital product development. I was an Orthopedic Surgeon before starting a career in IT. I've worked across multiple companies like iSFOT, Siemens, Cerner, and GE for the US healthcare market for over a decade before joining Ayogo as a Director of Product Management. I earned an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIML) and have secured a patent in a clinical decision support system. I'm a firm believer in teamwork and enjoy challenging work that delivers the best care to patients. I enjoy spending fun time with family.
I am equal parts, business and engineering leader with a deep commitment to making a difference in industries with positive human impact and 20+ years of experience in healthcare technology and healthcare delivery. I am deeply curious and by disrupting my “comfort zone” I have taken on leadership roles in multiple organizations and became a practitioner of multiple functions including operations, process and product development, business development and technology deployment. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Applied Science, engineering from Queen's University with first-class honours and an executive MBA with distinction from Cornell University.
I believe teamwork is key to tackling big challenges and achieving audacious goals. I have therefore deliberately honed the craft of building strong, diverse teams with enabling structures and developing talent. I seek to inspire by building trust, clarifying vision, maintaining strategic focus, overcoming setbacks and delivering on the promise of success. I love what I do and care about the people I work with and I'm deeply committed to positive societal impact.
I am a former doctor in training turned designer and Sci-Fi bookworm with an itch for technology and innovation. Creating aesthetically pleasing and communicative content is my passion, and it has been for the past 5+ years. My prior experience in the marketing industry has led me to pursue a career in UI/UX Design, where I can impact and enter the Matrix...I mean the digital realm 😀 Although I cannot predict the future, one thing is for certain: limitless possibilities - I cannot wait!
I’ve been working as a full-stack web developer at Ayogo in some form since 2010, and it’s been an exciting journey. I spend most of my days building apps with JavaScript and trying to push the boundaries of the mobile web. I’ve been particularly interested in the boundary of web and native navigation patterns and UI elements, and I’m a devout supporter (maybe the only supporter) of the HTML5 <menu> tag spec. As one of the (relatively) early employees, I’m one of the go-to people for questions and resources relating to projects we’ve done over the years. I’m a bit of a historian outside of the office too, with a love for local history and how it’s shaped the present world.
I’m a big believer in constantly striving to be the best version of yourself. I recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and am new to the Ayogo team. I’m excited to see where the possibilities of my new role as Office Administrator will take me. When I’m not working, I enjoy one of a number of my hobbies, whether it be photography, cooking, basketball, skiing, board games or just socializing with friends!
Since joining the Ayogo team as a young and naive mere 7 month old pup, I have blossomed into the calm and mature dog you see before you (not sure why mom just laughed as I typed that...). I have taught many a pup many a thing in my 4.5 year tenure here, though I have to admit, they've all taught me a lot as well. My job is to be here for the humans. Everyone has bad days, rough patches, and challenging times, and my superpower is knowing know when someone needs some extra love. I give cuddles, do tricks, provide a scratch pad (okay, that might be more for me), and most importantly, induce smiles. I take my job very seriously and I think I'm pretty darn good at it. Outside of work I spend a lot of time looking for and trying to play with other dogs, birds, squirrels, skunks, humans, sticks, leaves, and the list goes on.
As an eclectic that enjoys pioneering, I thrive on pushing boundaries that further the well-being of humankind.
From travelling the world as a free-spirit in my early adult life, I made numerous discoveries. Some were, in hindsight, hedonistic and clearly reflective of the myopic upbringing associated with being in South Africa during the 70s & 80s. There were other experiences that guided me to recognizing that technology was the toolbox, and the improvement of humankind's reasoning and compassion were the targeted machine that needed refactoring.
Since then I've served in the role of enabling businesses in rural areas of South Africa to leverage computers, thereby enabling staff to have new skills that offered them opportunities within & beyond that of the town/village. Working with teams to build online banking solutions, assisting world-class companies to either have better control of their systems, reduce overall cost of their solutions or simply significantly improve system performance. Moving into the role of increasing the capabilities of Microsoft's SQL Server product, including participating in enabling SQL Server as a PaaS, was (at the time) the epitome of technological pioneering.
Stepping out of the specialized role I was serving at Microsoft, allowed me to gain more intimate exposure to the rewards and challenges of being within a startup. It has allowed me to have more tools to deliver on what's important, namely contributing to creating opportunities for people to be more compassionate and reasonable through the use of accessible meaningful data.
My favourite DC superhero is Firestorm. (Wow that came from the left field...however it has a purpose :)). If you are unfamiliar with Firestorm, the TLDR is he is the fusion of 3 entities, an overly cautious science professor, an athletic college kid and unbeknownst to the cursory reader, an elemental force. Their power is the ability to rearrange molecular or particle structures of any substance into pretty much anything. This character resonates with me on many levels...however that will quickly become a monologue. (If you are wondering...yes I do have every issue of the comics, and am a collector of anything with Firestorm in it)
I am a ferocious reader, having read a plethora of topics. It's not uncommon that I will be consuming several books at a time. Of late the topics that interest me most are:
Envisioning the future, specifically related to impact of social & technological advancements; Human Behaviours; Leadership; Insights gained from Anthropological studies and impact of historical events; Throwing in Science Fiction, Epic Fantasy, peppered with a large collection of detective stories (A fan of Sherlock Holmes in all its incarnations)
Music fills the gaps throughout all of this. I particularly enjoy piano, especially original works. It is the one skill I yearn to acquire...until then I enthusiastically appreciate.
I enjoy listening to the adventures that people have, discovering what interests people, and with that I'm looking forward to hearing your story.
board members
I’m the CEO and Founder of Ayogo, and immensely proud to be part of a company acknowledged as one of the 100 most innovative mHealth companies in the world, and that is widely recognized for helping patients take control of their treatments. Over past few years, I’ve won many kudos: I was Ernst & Young’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year, and named to the PharmaVOICE 100, a peer-nominated list of the 100 most inspiring people in Life Sciences. What I’m most proud of, though, is my work creating an environment where I and my colleagues can live the Ayogo motto: to do our best work, to change the world, and to laugh every day. To that end, the Ayogo team has identified values that we feel are core to our mission: leadership, innovation, passion, teamwork, diligence, and kindness. As the CEO, I am the steward of those values, and it is a job I am grateful for every day.
In my spare time (ha!) I’ve been a multi-gold medalist and grand champion at the Western Canadian Martial Arts Championships, and I live in Vancouver with my beautiful, amazing family, very happy to be alive at this particular time in history. My superpower? I can hypnotize people with my eyebrow(s).
Prem Tumkosit is Investment Principal at Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, focused on digital health and healthcare IT investing. Prior to joining GHI, Prem co-led the Life Sciences Mergers and Acquisitions platform and the Growth & Innovation Capital Practice at Accenture Strategy and worked in investment banking at Credit Suisse.
A Physician and entrepreneur, Alex is a previous CEO of the BC Medical Association and has received numerous awards, including Cartier Women’s Global Entrepreneur Award, WXN’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada, YWCA Women of Distinction Award, the BIV Top 40 under 40 and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal of Service.
Alyssa Jaffee serves as Vice President of 7wire Ventures where she focuses on investments in digital healthcare and technology-enabled services that empower consumers to be better stewards of their health in today’s changing healthcare ecosystem. Alyssa sits on the board of Ayogo Health and is a board observer with Clarify Medical, NOCD, and Higi.
Alyssa holds a bachelor degree in Marketing and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago – Booth School of Business.
Norma Sebestyen has extensive experience over a 28 year career with Merck in Sales, Marketing, Strategic Planning, Corporate Affairs, Health Education, Government Relations, Operations and Policy and Reimbursement. Most recently she was involved in developing and management of key partnerships for Merck in Health Information Technology, and Health Data Science along with Life Sciences Accelerators/Research collaborations.
Ms.Sebestyen holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Finance and Marketing along with a MBA in International Business. She also completed diplomas at Duke University in Biotechnology and McGill University in Pharmacoeconomics. In addition, over the period of her career at Merck she was involved in extensive training and international senior leadership programs. She has published articles in Healthcare Management Forum on healthcare partnerships and collaborations.
Norma has been a Board member of Providence Research Institute in Vancouver since 2010. She previously was on the Board of UBC Sauder School of Business, Executive MBA Program and the 2018 Federal Health Economic Table – Digital Health Taskforce. She is an Advisor to health innovation companies and is a Board member of the Glyconet- National Centre of Excellence, Nanomedicines Innovation Network and PHEMI systems.
advisors
I’m a behavioral scientist with expertise in leveraging insights from the fields of behavioral economics and psychology to understand, predict and motivate behavior change. In addition to 10+ years of academic research experience, I’ve worked across sectors to apply my professional knowledge of behavioral science to solve practical business and policy challenges. At Ayogo, I work with my teammates to bring academic insights into the foreground to help patients overcome behavioral barriers and achieve better health outcomes.
I received my Ph.D. in Judgment Decision Making Psychology from Columbia University, where I currently hold a position as an adjunct research scientist. Broadly, my academic research investigates how features of the decision environment can be designed to help people make better judgments and decisions about the future.
After calling NYC home for 10 years, I now live in Boston, MA, where I spend my free time trying to stay current on the latest publications and chasing after my two boys. Superpower? I do great voices - specializing in children's book characters these days.
in our memories
He was the virtual Orkin / Mad Man of Ayogo. When he wasn’t thinking like a bug to track them down and point them out to the developers, he was helping the marketing team spread the word of Ayogo’s great work. He loved technology and its power to open doors by helping people achieve their goals. When he wasn’t helping Ayogo put out a polished product, you could find him gaming, practicing his coding skills, or enjoying the outdoors. His hidden superpower was the ability to squash the toes of his enemies.