Svetlana Makarova, MBA

Sharpshooter
DISC Type : CD

TEDx Speaker at TEDx

Washington DC-Baltimore Area, United States

Overview

Svetlana is an award-winning AI product leader at IKS Health, previously with the Mayo Clinic, specializing in creating AI strategies for complex healthcare environments. She is currently completing a Doctorate in Applied AI/ML and holds an MBA from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Originally a child immigrant from Russia, she grew up in Moldova and was required to learn four languages in elementary school, an experience that sparked a deep interest in psychology and human behavior. Outside of her professional pursuits, Svetlana is an avid snowboarder.

Unique fact: Her core philosophy is centered on the "Human Margin, " a framework she developed about the five uniquely human capabilities that AI cannot replicate.

Personality Overview

Thorough Evaluator

Rigorous & Demanding

Precise But Practical

More than the product, they care about the impact of the product.  They respond better to strong and respectful interactions. They take a lot of pride in personal achievements.

Topics They Care About

Human-First AI
Her core philosophy is ensuring AI enhances human expertise rather than replacing it, a concept she champions in her speaking engagements and writing.
AI in Healthcare
Has extensive experience leading enterprise-scale AI initiatives across more than 90 medical specialties at organizations like Mayo Clinic and IKS Health.
The 'Humanity Discount'
Coined this term to describe how AI's consistency creates unrealistic performance standards for human workers, a key theme in her thought leadership.

Media Appearances

Svetlana Makarova | Human-First AI Builder - TEDxJacksonville. Featured in TEDxJacksonville

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The Human Margin | Svetlana Makarova | TEDxHandley Blvd Women. Featured in YouTube

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Work History

1-2026
TEDx Speaker at TEDx
12-2025
AVP, AI Technical Product Management at IKS Health
12-2023
Founder at Spark Change
2-2023 - 12-2025
AI Group Product Lead at Mayo Clinic
9-2021 - 2-2023
AI Principal Product Manager at Mayo Clinic

Education

Doctorate of Engineering from The George Washington University
Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 14 Location : Washington DC-Baltimore Area, United States Job Level : Leadership Designation : TEDx Speaker at TEDx
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Insights For Selling To Svetlana

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Help them weigh the risks by sharing objective proof points without becoming too analytical
  • When negotiating terms, help them build an impression that they are the ones calling the shots
  • Be respectful but crisp

DONT's

  • Do not spend too much time focusing on product tech or features
  • Don’t take too much time in sending them information if they ask for any
  • Do not hesitate from asking counter questions, just avoid challenging their authority

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Svetlana is

  • Conviction around the impact matters the most to them, followed by a sense of achievement and ROI.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Svetlana

  • If they are not convinced, they will say no without any hesitation.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Svetlana move?

  • They can reach decisions fairly quickly if they are convinced.
  • Can Svetlana take some risk or not?

  • They don’t mind risks but can be quite binary about them.

You And Svetlana

Personality Compatibility


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