When I met Parveen Hafeez, Managing Director of Sunrise Hospital, I expected a stern administrator, a person who managed the risks and challenges of the no-room-for-error healthcare industry. However, I was pleasantly surprised by her warmth, wit, and simple nature. Dressed in an elegant jumpsuit with long, flowy sleeves, Parveen came across not only as a power figure but as a woman who is utterly at ease with herself.
This simplicity made me pause and ask her who Parveen Hafeez is, as a person. She smiled and replied, “I am just a very ordinary woman who loves her morning tea, her family, her work and who still believes there is so much more to learn.”
Even though Parveen has over three decades of experience in the field, she continues to approach her work with the humility of a beginner and the energy of a lifelong learner. “I always tell myself I am on the first rung of the ladder,” she says. “There is always more to learn.”
One of the reasons for this thought process may be the guidance of her partner, Dr Hafeez Rahman Padiyath, a gold medal–winning gynaecologist and laparoscopic surgeon. It was rooted in grounded values and a relentless drive for excellence. Over the next hour, she spoke candidly about building a hospital from scratch and her entrepreneurial journey.
Early Roots and Upbringing
Parveen was born in Chennai, and then moved to Kannur with her family when she was nine years old. The youngest among five siblings, four brothers and a sister, she grew up in a lively, business-oriented household. A self-described tomboy, Parveen often accompanied her brothers to football matches, embracing a spirited childhood that would later shape her confident and grounded approach to life.
She married Dr Hafeez in her final year of college. The couple began their married life in Ahmedabad. But their time there was disrupted by communal unrest. During that period, Parveen learned typewriting and took on small roles to support her husband’s medical journey. As they eventually relocated to Kochi, she co-founded Medlace Disposables, stepping into the world of surgical equipment sales.
The Sun Rises
The idea of starting a hospital had always been part of the shared vision between Parveen Hafeez and Dr Hafeez Rahman. While he dreamed big and brought immense creativity and surgical expertise to the table, Parveen focused on creating a space that felt warm, personal, and rooted in compassion. Plus, she was very good with numbers and thus took care of the finances as well.
Their dream began to be realised in Kochi, as a friend introduced them to a rocky, hilly plot in Kakkanad. Though the area was undeveloped and many were hesitant, Parveen was struck by the brightness and potential of the land. “Name it Sunrise,” the friend suggested. The word resonated deeply with its promise of hope, healing, and new beginnings. With no external support, they began building the hospital from scratch, keeping their doctor’s consultation fee at a modest rate, something that they have never changed. Sunrise Hospital was planned with intention and heart, with Parveen insists that patients feel truly at home during their stay. Today, that once-barren plot has become one of the most sought-after healthcare addresses in Kakkanad.
Not Cakewalk But Bread and Butter
Parveen Hafeez approaches healthcare not as a business, but as a deeply human responsibility. “This is critical, it is vulnerable,” she says. “A single mistake can cost a life.”
Even after 31 years in the field and overseeing a 250-bed tertiary care hospital with more than 40 departments, she still remains hands-on by auditing bills, reviewing documents, attending internal meetings, and ensuring that every component of the system runs smoothly. At Sunrise, her leadership style is based on discipline, empathy, and zero compromise. “If you don’t have presence of mind or empathy, you shouldn’t be in this industry,” she says firmly.
She expects her team to uphold that same belief, right from the billing staff to the surgeons. It is not uncommon for her to receive calls at 2 a.m. from someone seeking assistance, and Parveen always responds. “If someone genuinely needs us, we are there. That is who we are.” While being known for being strict about standards, she encourages a workplace culture rooted in accountability, warmth, and care. For her, the hospital is more than just a healthcare facility; it is a living, breathing system that must be protected and respected. “This place has given us our bread and butter,” she tells her three daughters, “We owe it our best, every day.”
Fortune 500 Moment
A defining moment in Parveen Hafeez’s professional journey was in 2013, when she was selected to represent India in the Fortune U.S. State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership. The program brought together 26 women, some of the world’s sharpest minds in business and leadership from 16 countries. Women from healthcare, food, fashion, banking, politics, pharmaceuticals, mining, were brought together for a month-long training in leadership, marketing, and global business systems. Parveen was placed with Johnson & Johnson’s medical division, where she was mentored by senior executives and introduced to the power of marketing. “I told them I am a finance person,” she recalls, “but they said, ‘marketing runs your business.’ And they were right.”
That month in the U.S. spent between Washington, New York, and New Jersey transformed her outlook. She witnessed the precision, punctuality, and professionalism of top-tier global systems. From high-level boardroom sessions to informal encounters with iconic personalities like Jennifer Lopez at a Women’s Day event, the exposure reshaped her sense of possibility. The experience did not inflate her ego; instead, it deepened her commitment.
Balancing It All
Parveen Hafeez moves seamlessly between boardroom decisions and family responsibilities with quiet resilience. She does not subscribe to the idea of being a “superwoman,” but believes in doing her best, staying organised, and planning ahead. “I do everything in advance,” she says. Her approach is practical and grounded in humility. She asks questions without hesitation, seeks advice when needed, and never lets ego get in the way of learning. Whether it is reviewing construction bills for a sprawling hospital or cross-checking financial entries, she brings the same focus to every task. For Parveen, balance is not about doing it all, it is about doing it well.
Parveen Hafeez’s journey reflects a quiet strength where purpose matters more than perfection, and leadership is shaped by compassion, discipline, and humility. From building a hospital brick by brick to nurturing generations with care, she proves that true success lies in doing ordinary things with extraordinary intent. In her world, balance and discipline are not goals, it is a way of being.
