Vivek Dhawan

Most CEOs lead from the top down; but some like Vivek Dhawan, CEO & Chief Coach, Mega We care, lead from the inside out.

You’re just as likely to find him in a corridor chat as in a boardroom, more comfortable in sneakers than stiff suits, and always ready with a smile or a story. He’s the kind of leader who remembers names, asks about your kids, and means it when he says, ‘we care’. Because for him, being at the top isn’t about titles — it’s about staying rooted, staying real, and showing up for people. Every single day.

In a world where leadership often leans on hierarchy and headlines, he offers something refreshingly different — a belief that business can be both kind and courageous. For him, good health isn’t just a market to tap, but a human right to uphold.

And that belief — quiet yet powerful — has shaped not just the company he built, but the journey that brought him here.

Because this isn’t just the story of how Mega We care came to be. It’s also the story of a boy encouraged to dream by devoted parents, a curious mind who said yes to unexpected paths, and a man who chose again and again to be led by intuition, compassion, and the unwavering belief in doing the right thing.

At a time when success is too often measured in profits and headlines, his story is a quiet reminder that true impact lies in purpose, persistence, and the lives you uplift along the way.

The journey to becoming: A curious start

An engineer by training, Vivek didn’t set out to build a healthcare company — or even to be part of the pharmaceutical industry. But life, as he often says, has a way of taking you ‘where you’re meant to be — especially if you have the courage to keep saying “yes”.’”

That courage was sown early.

Growing up in India in a close-knit, free-spirited family, Vivek was raised by parents who didn’t impose — they encouraged. They gave him the freedom to explore, question, and make his own choices, even when the road ahead wasn’t clear.

“I was born into a very free-spirited family,” he reflects. “My father was an engineer; my mother was an art promoter. We moved every three years — from the small town of Nangal to the vibrant streets of Kolkata. My life was shaped as much by these places as by the people we met along the way.”

It was an unconventional childhood, full of movement and moments that would quietly prepare him for the leadership days ahead.

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Constantly adapting to new environments taught him to observe closely, connect deeply, and remain open to change. It also gave him an appetite for experience — one that would later become vital in shaping Mega We care.

“They always encouraged me to keep going,” he says with a smile. “Even when I didn’t know where I was going, they had this quiet confidence in me.”

I was never stopped from doing anything — I rode trains alone, climbed behind trucks, took off on bikes. That freedom made me who I am today: fearless, curious, and always ready to try something new without the fear of failure. For me, it was never only about success, fame, or money – rather it was about waking up every morning and finding new things to do. And I still haven’t stopped learning even now.

That kind of belief — steady, patient, and unconditional — became his bedrock. It taught him to trust not just in outcomes, but in the journey itself.

Building with heart

After completing his MBA in the United States, Vivek Dhawan stepped into the world of business not with a grand blueprint, but with a simple curiosity and an eagerness to learn. The healthcare space wasn’t a carefully charted path — it was more like a calling that gently found him.

“When I returned to Thailand with my MBA,” he recalls, “My father offered me the chance to run a small venture that was making capsules. It was modest, almost tucked away from view. But I threw myself into it—completely. I learned everything from scratch: how to make capsules, how to sell them, how to look beyond borders for new markets. If not Thailand, then maybe somewhere else.”

“In life, one always chooses,” he says.

I just happened to choose healthcare. The more I learnt — about medicines, about supplements — the more I understood the deeper ‘why’ behind it all. We weren’t just making products. We were helping people feel better, we were working for human health.

That clarity would become his compass.

“We never followed the crowd. We picked a few things and focused on doing them really well,” Vivek Dhawan says. “In the beginning, as Medicap, we became one of the best soft gel capsule manufacturers — not because we had to, but because we kept learning, developing, improving.”

And as the questions got bigger, so did the ambition. “We asked ourselves — why not sell our own brands? Why depend on others? Then, we began to look beyond Thailand, to places no one else was thinking about at the time - Burma in 1993, Vietnam in 1994…” That spirit of doing what others wouldn’t — of going where no one else was looking — became the blueprint. Not just for Mega’s expansion, but for its purpose.

Today, Mega We care operates in over 30 countries, with a portfolio that spans not just pharmaceuticals and supplements, but holistic wellness programs as well. But behind all the growth is a man who still starts each day asking: ‘What more can we do?’

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‘We care’ — more than a name

From the beginning, Mega’s mission was clear: to help people live healthy as long as they live. healthier, more meaningful lives.

But it was never just about medicines. Vivek saw a deeper gap — one of education, access, and empowerment. "People don’t just need pills. They need to understand their bodies, their choices, their potential,” he says. That understanding became the bedrock of the brand. It was never about pushing products — it was always about pulling people up.

As Mega grew, so did the clarity of its purpose. What began as a small capsule venture slowly stretched across borders, touching lives — not just with products, but with the promise of better health.

And somewhere along the way, it became clear: how they worked was just as important as what they did. That’s when We care stopped being a descriptor and became a way of life.

“At Mega, we never wanted to be just another pharma company,” Dhawan reflects.

We wanted to build something human. Something that cared — for people, for its employees, for its consumers. Something that said: we see you, and your health matters. It is not my dream to see people get sicker so Mega can get richer. Rather, at the end of the day, We care is about making people aware and making them responsible for their own health. That, in a nutshell, is the whole essence of We care — which came into existence somewhere in the early 90s.

Today, from how teams are trained to how products are developed, the ethos of We care is stitched into the very DNA of the company. And as Vivek often says — ‘it’s not branding. It’s belief.’

From ‘We care’ to Chief Coach

At Mega, care isn’t just something that’s extended outward to the people it serves — it’s deeply embedded within the very fabric of the organization. This mindset is evident in how Vivek Dhawan refers to himself not just as CEO, but as Chief Coach.

For him, this isn’t merely a title — it’s a reflection of his purpose within the company: to guide, to encourage, to challenge, and most importantly, to trust. The notion of a coach over a commander aligns perfectly with Mega’s ‘We care’ ethos, where success isn’t measured by control or hierarchy, but by how many people you help rise.

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Reflecting on his unique title, Vivek shares:

I call myself the Chief Coach because I believe a good coach doesn’t just give orders. A coach observes, listens, nurtures. A coach creates the space for people to find their strengths, to fail safely, and to grow with confidence. That’s what I try to do — helping people to become ‘more’ of who they are; having trust and faith in people and giving them the freedom to do what they enjoy.

Imagine human beings coming together with their heart and soul — the magic that can be created through that. So, our structure is a coaching structure, where we encourage everyone to play well and play together.

Culture over convention

Little wonder then that Vivek’s leadership style is deeply human. He listens more than he speaks. He walks the corridors. He knows his teams — spread across 30+ countries — by name. For him, a company is only as strong as the values it stands on. And perhaps the truest reflection of those values lies in the people who’ve stood by him for decades — some for over 15, 20 or even 30 years.

“There’s no secret,” he says with a quiet smile. “It’s about genuinely loving what you do and loving the people you work with. Giving them respect. Giving them the freedom to do things their way. Trusting them completely, right from the start.”

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Mega began with just 10 people. Over the years, more joined — each playing a vital role in shaping the company’s journey. “So, honestly,” he adds, “It’s not just my doing.”

Mega is what it is because we built it together. We are all in this — for a purpose, not just a paycheck. We’re building a company that matters.

His philosophy has been shaped not just by experience, but by the books and ideas that left a mark on him early in life — The Tibetan Way of Life, the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, and management classics like First, Break All the Rules.

“It’s important to know you can’t be good at everything,” he reflects. “So, you surround yourself with people who are. I’ve been lucky — good people, great people — have joined me on this journey.”

A Personal Health Journey

For someone who’s spent decades advocating for wellness, Vivek’s relationship with health hasn’t been just professional — it’s been deeply personal.

Years ago, a health scare forced him to hit pause. The body has its limits, and even the most resilient leaders aren’t immune to life’s unexpected challenges. But rather than succumbing to fear, Dhawan found something far more powerful: clarity. And instead of opting for quick fixes or shortcuts, he chose a radical shift.

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He embraced a whole foods plant-based diet, dove deeper into the science of lifestyle medicine, and began living out the very principles he’d long championed — every single day.

“I began to see food not just as fuel, but as healing,” Dhawan shares. “What we eat really can be medicine. And the more I learned, the more I became convinced — this is the future of healthcare.”

His personal transformation sparked a broader realization: health isn’t just about treating illness; it’s about preventing it in the first place. Today, Vivek is not just an advocate for treatment, but for prevention — and his own story stands as quiet proof that change is possible, no matter the stage of life.

This perspective has led to some unorthodox decisions for a pharmaceutical company. Mega has been actively investing in content, education, and behavioral change programs. At the center of this push is the belief that pills, while necessary at times, should not be the first response to lifestyle-driven diseases like obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.

The birth of Wellness We care 

And so, Wellness We care was born — a movement grounded in the belief that lifestyle changes can prevent and even reverse lifestyle diseases. It’s about empowering individuals to take control of their wellbeing by making informed choices and embracing preventative care.

Elaborating on the Wellness We care initiative, Vivek reflects, “The real challenge today is how do you live disease-free? How do you walk on your own two feet until the very end, without being bedridden or relying on tubes? As we age, healthcare costs rise, and governments are spending enormous amounts on universal healthcare. Yet, despite this, we aren't living the way we want to. We’re unable to do the things we love.”

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He continues, "So, even though we are a pharma company — and in the business of making drugs — we still wanted to make a difference. I’m not saying everyone will immediately adopt lifestyle changes, but if we can at least start a conversation, and if just two or three people take that step, it’s a win for us. If we can start reducing the disease burden in some areas, even a little, imagine the potential impact."

Chronic diseases are silently overtaking lives—not just shortening them but diminishing the quality of those years. While 15-20% of chronic disease risk is genetic, the rest is largely influenced by lifestyle. If we can make a change, why not try?

Vivek says with conviction.

At Wellness We care, the goal is simple: to help people take charge of their own health, to live disease-free for as long as possible, and to avoid spending their final years dependent on medications, surgeries, or machines. “If we can inspire even a few to make lasting lifestyle changes, that’s impact

In pursuit of this mission, they have worked extensively with doctors, nurses, and wellness experts worldwide. Vivek met with a renowned cardiologist, Dr. Sant, and together, they opened the Wellness We care Center in Thailand — a space where people can stay, learn, and begin their journey toward healthier living. The center, designed for around 30-40 people, includes a kitchen, a massage area, and a lifestyle management space, providing a comprehensive approach to lifestyle change.

“We’re expanding this initiative into the countries where we operate, especially in developing nations,” Dhawan explains. “We don’t see ourselves profiting from this. It’s an investment in the hope that it can continue to spread knowledge, empower people, and create meaningful change in society. It’s part of our own philosophy — ‘We care.’”

The Man Behind the Mission

Beyond the boardrooms and strategies, Vivek Dhawan is still very much a man of simple joys.

At home, he’s not the CEO — he’s the curious learner, a person who loves reading, reflecting, and discovering something new every day.

He’s also deeply passionate about sports — not just watching but playing. Tennis, squash, and football are a regular part of his routine. And when it comes to football fandom, there's no question about where his loyalty lies.

“I’m an Arsenal fan through and through,” he says, with the kind of grin only die-hard supporter's wear. “I’ve followed them through the highs, the heartbreaks, and the rebuilds. It's a lot like life, really.”

He’s not someone easily boxed in by business. He laughs easily, often at himself. He talks about the world with wonder. And at the heart of it all, he remains a student — of people, of health, of life.

Looking Ahead: A Future Rooted in Purpose

So, what does the road ahead look like?

For Mega, it’s about staying grounded in its core values — health with heart. It means continuing to push the boundaries of lifestyle medicine, reaching people not just through products, but through education, empathy, and everyday care.

For Vivek, the future of healthcare isn’t just about innovation. It’s about intention. He envisions a world where wellness is not a privilege but a shared priority, where food, movement, sleep, and emotional wellbeing receive the same attention as medicine.

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“We must stop treating health only when it breaks down,” Vivek says. “We must learn to nurture it every day. That’s my prayer, my wish. And we will play our part in helping people live healthily for as long as they can — by bringing knowledge to them, by connecting with them, and by genuinely caring for them, all in keeping with our larger philosophy of ‘We care for your wellness.’ That’s what we’re all about.”

And for the next generation of entrepreneurs and change-makers, Vivek leaves them with a message both simple and profound:

I want people who join me in this journey to be happy, to approach their work without fear of failure or the weight of success. You are blessed with an opportunity — don't wait for permission or an order to act. Only then will true change happen. You must be driven by a genuine interest in the wellness of human beings.

At the end of the day, real leadership is measured not by personal success, but by the lives we touch, the impact we make, and the change we inspire in others.