From telecom to health insurance, Sapna Desai’s career has evolved across sectors, disciplines, and life stages. Now the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at ManipalCigna Health Insurance, Desai is not only shaping the brand’s strategic vision but also championing change for women in the insurance ecosystem. In a candid conversation with Marketing Mind for the Celebrating Women Leaders series, she reflected on the nonlinear path that brought her here, filled with growth, pivots, pauses, and powerful learnings.
Desai began her professional journey in the telecom sector with BPL Mobile (later known as Loop Mobile), working in operations and customer acquisition before gradually transitioning to marketing. Her time in service-driven industries taught her that marketing isn’t confined to communication alone, it includes everything from the call center experience to the tech behind service delivery.
“My early days were spent writing telecalling scripts, participating in events, and contributing wherever I could, even before officially being in marketing,” she recalled. “I had great mentors, one of whom nudged me to pursue my MBA. That was a turning point.”
When asked about challenges faced as a woman leader, Desai clarified that while many hurdles are universal, gender-specific barriers do exist, particularly around work-life integration. “It’s never a straight road. There have been times I had to pull back, skip opportunities that required excessive travel, or relocate. I chose not to take them for personal reasons, raising two daughters, managing without a joint family setup. But that’s okay. My philosophy has always been that it’s a marathon, not a race.”
Desai strongly believes in blending, not balancing, personal and professional responsibilities. “There’s no perfect work-life balance. I’ve taken my sick child to the office and worked while she drew next to me. I’ve worked from home at night when things required it. You integrate the two worlds instead of trying to compartmentalise them.”
Despite societal skepticism, she never allowed motherhood to define or limit her. “People used to ask; how will your children do if you’re working so much? But today, both my daughters are excelling; academically accomplished, with diverse interests and, strong and confident voices of their own. So yes, you can be a working mom and still raise grounded, successful kids.”
She went on to speak about her efforts in making the industry more inclusive. One of her key initiatives at ManipalCigna has been driving a program called ‘Nayi Shuruaat, ManipalCigna ke Saath’, which aims to bring more women into insurance advisory roles – especially in small towns. “Women are naturally the health custodians of their families. Why shouldn’t they be part of financial decision-making too? We wanted to give them not just an opportunity, but confidence.”
Within the organisation, ManipalCigna also runs mentorship programs connecting senior women leaders with emerging ones, fostering dialogue and growth.
“A lot of women just need that internal nudge, someone to say, ‘you can do this.’ And that’s what we’re trying to provide,” Desai mentioned.
Reflecting on her own career decisions, Desai shared a deeply personal anecdote. After the birth of her second daughter, societal pressure pushed her to take a break. “It was the hardest one-and-a-half years of my life. I realised I wasn’t made to sit idle, I was bored out of my mind. That phase taught me how difficult it is to re-enter the workforce after a break. It’s still not easy, though I hope it’s improving.”
In terms of advice to her younger self, Desai was clear: “Don’t hesitate. Speak up. Ask for what you want. Women tend to overthink before expressing themselves, culturally and generationally, we’ve been taught that. But it’s critical to assert yourself and trust your instincts.”
She also cautioned against letting well-meaning advice from loved ones override personal desires. “Everyone comes from a place of care, your parents, in-laws, spouse, but their paths aren’t yours. Listen to yourself. If something makes you happy, go for it. You’ll figure the rest out.”
When asked about women leaders who have inspired her, Desai named many, from former mentors to iconic public figures like Indra Nooyi and younger trailblazers like Vineeta Singh.
“I admire their unapologetic approach, the way they say you can have it all, even if it means something drops once in a while. The key is to keep going,” she added.
Desai’s story is one of persistence, reinvention, and clarity of purpose, with an emphasis on both individual agency and community. Her closing message was simple but profound: “Change the voice that says ‘you can’t’ into one that says ‘give it a try.’ The rest, you’ll figure out.”
