A Career Built on Curiosity, Grit, and Purpose
Anand Lalaji is the co-founder and CEO of The Radiology Group, based in Atlanta, Georgia. His journey to leadership started in Hell’s Kitchen, New York, where he was raised in a household that valued science, service, and education. His father was a nuclear engineer. His mother was an OB/GYN. From a young age, Anand saw how discipline and knowledge could create real change.
He attended The Bronx High School of Science, where he balanced academics with varsity sports and jazz music. After earning his undergraduate degree from Binghamton University, he went on to study medicine at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. He completed a radiology residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a fellowship at Wake Forest University in musculoskeletal imaging.
Anand’s career shifted from clinical work to building systems that support healthcare teams. At The Radiology Group, he combines artificial intelligence and diagnostic expertise to create faster, more accurate imaging solutions. But success to him isn’t just about technology. It’s about improving how people work and how patients are treated.
Outside of work, he’s committed to philanthropy—supporting mental health, cancer research, and women’s leadership in sport. He also finds balance through coaching, snowboarding, and time with his family.
Anand’s version of success is not about status—it’s about making a lasting impact by solving problems that matter.
Q&A on How Anand Lalaji Defines and Pursues Success in Life and Leadership
How do you personally define success?
Success, for me, is about impact and alignment. Are you doing what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what gives you meaning—all at the same time? If those things overlap, you’re probably on the right track. It’s less about external achievements and more about internal alignment and contribution.
Where do you think your definition of success came from?
Growing up in Hell’s Kitchen, my parents were very driven, but they weren’t status-driven. My dad was a nuclear engineer. My mum was a doctor. There was this constant expectation of doing things properly and doing things that mattered. Education and hard work were just part of life. But there was also this idea that you should use your skills to help others. That stuck with me.
What was your first real “win” that made you feel successful?
I think it was getting into The Bronx High School of Science. That school wasn’t just competitive—it was a place where curiosity was normal. For the first time, I was surrounded by people who asked the same kinds of questions I did. It gave me confidence to push myself academically and try things I might’ve been unsure about before—like being part of a jazz band or playing team sports at a high level.
What role does failure play in your version of success?
It’s central. One of the biggest mistakes I made early in my career was trying to do everything myself. I didn’t delegate, I micromanaged, and I thought I needed to be part of every decision. Eventually, I hit a wall. That experience taught me that building trust and empowering others is not optional—it’s essential if you want to scale anything.
How do you balance ambition with contentment?
I think balance is a daily practice. I stay grounded by spending time with my wife and kids, coaching volleyball, and snowboarding. Those things reset me. They remind me that even though I want to keep building and improving, there’s more to life than work. Also, journaling helps. I do short reflections at the end of the day to check in with myself—what went well, what I learned, what I need to let go of.
Is there a specific success in your career you’re proud of that people don’t see?
I’m proud of the culture we’ve built at The Radiology Group. We operate in a distributed model—people are remote, across time zones—but we’ve still built a mission-driven, high-trust team. That didn’t happen by accident. It took intention, trial and error, and lots of honest conversations.
What’s something about success that most people misunderstand?
That it looks the same for everyone. Or that it has to be loud. Some of the most successful people I know work quietly, with very little public recognition. But they have a deep impact in their fields, their families, their communities. Success isn’t a show. It’s a system of values and actions that hold up over time.
What advice would you give someone early in their career trying to define their own success?
Don’t rush to chase someone else’s version of it. Take time to figure out what actually gives you energy and meaning. Test a lot of things. Pay attention to the moments when you feel engaged, not just busy. And stay close to people who are honest with you—they’ll help you grow faster than any goal-setting app.
What’s next in your personal journey of success?
For me, it’s less about chasing something new and more about deepening what I’ve already started. I want to keep improving how we use technology in healthcare, but also how we treat the people doing the work. I also want to keep investing in causes that matter to me—mental health, cancer research, youth sport. That’s success I can feel long after the workday ends.