Rewriting the Script: How Sailee Redkar Reinvented Her Career Across Continents
Sailee Redkar once pictured herself in a white coat, treating patients in a busy dental clinic in India. Dentistry had seemed like the right path: practical, respected, and secure. But midway through her studies, something started to bother her.
“I was doing my residency in a public hospital, and I began noticing how long people had to wait for care,” she recalled. “These weren’t people with many options. For them, getting seen by a dentist took real effort, and the system didn’t make it easy.”
It wasn’t the dentistry that disillusioned her. It was the process, the inefficiencies, the barriers, and the sense that even good intentions weren’t always enough. While most of her classmates focused on clinical techniques, Sailee found herself thinking about scheduling, patient journeys, and logistics.
That line of thinking opened a different path forward. She realized she didn’t have to see the patients as their dentist to make a powerful impact on their lives.
Detours and Discoveries
With this new awareness, Sailee decided to move to Melbourne to study healthcare management. She graduated in June 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the world had come to a standstill, she chose to continue pursuing her goals by supporting a public hospital in Melbourne as a project officer. She focused on enabling telemedicine consultations in the outpatient department. Although the direction was unexpected, she was contributing in ways that matched how she processed problems and sought solutions.
After returning to India with a master’s in healthcare management from Deakin University, she took on a role with a digital wellness company. The company combined psychology, coaching, and technology to help people with Type 2 Diabetes improve their metabolic health. As a project manager, she gained hands-on experience with planning, execution, and communication across teams.
Still, she knew there was more to learn.
“I realized I didn’t know what I didn’t know,” she said. “I wanted to feel confident walking into any room and saying, ‘Yes, I understand how to lead this project, start to finish.’”
She began researching programs that could strengthen her foundation and provide a globally recognized credential. That search led her to Northeastern University’s Master of Science in Project Management at its Toronto campus. Canada felt like the right fit, not just for her career goals, but also for her personal journey. Its welcoming environment for international students and growing job market in project management were key factors. Having family in Toronto gave her a sense of support during the transition.
Steady Progress, Stronger Foundation
Sailee started her studies in the fall of 2023 and quickly saw the difference that a formal program could make.
“I was coming from a healthcare background, and suddenly I was learning about risk management, scheduling, stakeholder communication, and other areas I hadn’t been trained in before,” she said. “It was all very real and very relevant.”
Although many of her electives were online, she felt well supported. The instructors were attentive, and she appreciated the small class sizes. During her time in the program, she also worked part-time as a receptionist. That job helped her build confidence in customer service and day-to-day communication, especially as a newcomer to Canada.
One of the most valuable parts of the program, she said, was the final capstone project taught by Professor Sanaz Ghazi. Her group focused on mapping the business process for a real organization, which became a standout example she could speak to in interviews.
“Sailee was very active in the Capstone class, particularly in presenting the project progress report to stakeholders and addressing their concerns and questions in a highly professional manner. She is a great team player with strong enthusiasm for learning more about quality improvement projects. Even after graduation, we continued our mentorship sessions until she felt confident enough to secure a role as a Process Engineer. I was truly happy to support her and serve as a reference, as I genuinely believe in her capabilities.”, said Professor Ghazi.
“I talked about that project during my interview with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC),” Sailee said. “It wasn’t just theoretical. It was something I had done here in Canada, and that made a real impact.”
“I was coming from a healthcare background, and suddenly I was learning about risk management, scheduling, stakeholder communication, and other areas I hadn’t been trained in before.”
Next Steps, New Setting
Sailee completed her coursework in March 2025. After several interviews, she accepted a full-time offer from CIBC as a process engineer. Her new role begins next week.
“I’m a little nervous,” she admitted with a smile, “but I think it’ll be okay.”
Although the position is in banking and not healthcare, she sees it as an important stage in her journey. She understands the challenges that come with being new to the Canadian job market and felt it was important to embrace opportunity when it appeared.
“I’ll always care about healthcare,” she said. “But right now, I need to gain experience and credibility. Once I’ve done that, I can decide how I want to focus again.”
She credits Northeastern with helping her get to this point.
“The program didn’t just teach me concepts,” she said. “It gave me tools I could actually use. And it reminded me that no matter where you begin, you can continue learning, shift your course, and find your way.”
Sailee is now looking forward to joining Northeastern’s alumni network and offering support to others who are just starting out. For her, this chapter marks not a conclusion but the beginning of a new path.
