Anju Bhargava

Anju Bhargava
Born	India
Occupation(s)	Retired federal executive, community development leader, Vedantic instructor, Hindu chaplain
Known for	Founding member of New Jersey Corporate Diversity Network; member of President Obama's inaugural Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships; pioneering efforts in community development
Notable work	Chakravyuhu executive education initiative; publications on risk management and community development

Template:BLP sources Anju Bhargava is a retired federal executive and former senior banker recognized for her pioneering efforts in community development. She was instrumental as a founding member of the New Jersey Corporate Diversity Network during Governor Christy Whitman's administration, served as a community builder fellow under the Clinton administration, and participated on President Barack Obama’s inaugural Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Bhargava has contributed thought leadership across public and private sectors at both local and national levels, authored various publications, and earned multiple accolades.

Education

Bhargava completed her undergraduate studies at Stella Maris College, affiliated with Madras University in India, earned an MBA from Rutgers University, and received additional training at Harvard Kennedy School as well as American University.Template:Fix/category

Professional Work

In 2014, Bhargava was appointed as the inaugural Chief Risk Officer for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, followed by her role as Deputy Chief Strategy Officer at the Social Security Administration in 2015, before retiring in 2020.

Beginning her career in banking, Bhargava held senior roles within corporate America focusing on global business transformation, organizational development, and risk management disciplines including credit and operational risk. Her research on NatWest USA’s loan loss experience was published in The RMA JournalTemplate:Fix/category and acknowledged by the Office of the Comptroller of Currency. She collaborated with Rutgers Business School as a Fellow in the Department of Accounting, Business Ethics and Information Systems, concentrating on risk assurance and Enterprise Risk Management topics. Her senior-level positions have included tenures at Bank of America, Bear Stearns, BB&T Bank, IBM Global Services, Fleet/NatWest Bank, and Chase Manhattan Bank. Bhargava created Chakravyuhu—also referred to as the Labyrinth—an executive education initiative designed to mentor women in India and the United States to achieve significant career advancement within global corporations. She has also taught courses on organizational management and diversity at Rutgers Graduate School of Business.

White House Appointment

In April 2009, Bhargava was named to President Obama’s Inaugural Advisory Council. She has been described as "a Livingston community leader who has risen to the national stage serving on a panel for President Obama," shortly after which she established a groundbreaking Hindu American organization dedicated to promoting sevā, interfaith cooperation, pluralism, social justice, and sustainable civic engagement aimed at fostering grassroots social transformation and nurturing resilient communities. As reported by Religion News Service in May 2023, "Bhargava is part of an emerging group of American Hindu leaders who are increasingly open about their spirituality, inspired by the Hindu ideal of 'seva' — selfless service."

As the sole representative from Eastern traditions on the council, she enhanced White House understanding of challenges facing Dharmic communities. Recognizing the need for deeper integration of America's diverse cultural and religious fabric to leverage their contributions domestically and internationally, she collaborated with the HASC team to develop a community assessment titled “Call to Serve,” which was presented to the President and senior administration officials. Additionally, she contributed to the Department of Homeland Security’s Faith-based Advisory Council and supported the President's Interfaith Campus Challenge through the Department of Education.

Bhargava played a pivotal role in co-hosting four White House conferences aimed at invigorating Dharmic seva initiatives. She developed culturally sensitive faith-based tools for community development within Hindu/Dharmic populations such as UtsavSeva. This methodology has garnered endorsement from prominent spiritual figures including the Dalai Lama, Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Mata Amritanandamayi, ISKCON, Chinmaya Mission, among others. In an interview with Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Bhargava elaborates on her views regarding Hindu identity and social justice while outlining the mission of Hindu American Seva Communities.

Community Builder Fellowship

Bhargava was distinguished as the sole Indian-American participant in the Community Builder Fellowship, an initiative launched by President Clinton at the White House between 1998 and 2000. During her fellowship, she carried out the inaugural research on the needs of Asian American immigrants residing in New Jersey, which subsequently served as a cornerstone for numerous governmental and community-based programs starting in 2000. She provided guidance to the Community Foundation NJ, facilitating connections among diverse parents—referred to as the New Americans—in Elizabeth and Jersey City to overcome cultural divides. Bhargava also played a vital role in educating varied communities about HUD programs, while working on strategies to empower these populations by enhancing affordable housing options, promoting homeownership, combating homelessness, encouraging employment opportunities, and advocating for equitable housing policies. Her efforts earned recognition from the Partnership for New Jersey and Governor Whitman.

Asian Indian Women in America (AIWAUSA)

Anju Bhargava was instrumental as one of the founding members of North America’s first Indian women’s organization established in 1981, aimed at providing support and a collective voice for newly arrived immigrants adapting to life in the United States. By 1985, AIWAUSA had endorsed the creation of Manavi, the pioneering shelter dedicated to assisting survivors of domestic violence, which operated as a chapter within AIWAUSA. Founding members including Bhargava participated in the initial Asian Women briefing in 1983, where President Reagan officially acknowledged Asian American women as a distinct constituency. Collaborating with the City of New York, AIWAUSA was pivotal in organizing the first job fair targeting underserved communities in 1986.

The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs featured Sitayanam: A Woman’s Journey of Strength within a series exploring intersections among women, faith, and family dynamics.

Asian Indians in Livingston

Understanding the significance of cultural integration, Bhargava established Asian Indians in Livingston in 1981 with a dual purpose: to honor ethnic heritage while fostering inclusion within the broader community framework. She broke new ground as Livingston’s first Indian American actively engaged in local politics and became the first Hindu member of Livingston’s Interfaith Clergy Association. Additionally, she served as Chaplain at St. Barnabas Hospital. Bhargava provided consultancy to Livingston Township officials, Board of Education members, and religious leaders on developing diversity and inclusion initiatives aimed at integrating global multicultural residents. These efforts contributed to enhancing both the Township’s reputation and property values.

Additional Community-Focused Efforts

1. She established community affinity groups, including the pioneering networking forum for South Asians in Corporate America, which operated from 1988 to 1995, and developed a framework for language and cultural education to support effective adaptation and integration.
2. Collaborated with Asia Society in 1998 to launch Leadership Initiatives aimed at empowering South Asian American women.
3. In 2006, she launched Utsava, the inaugural Festival of India in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This event aligned with the city’s strategic plan to rejuvenate its downtown area and bolster bio-science workforce development, while also supporting North Carolina’s objectives for global education among schoolchildren. Through this festival, the Indian community offered authentic cultural and global educational experiences to residents of Winston-Salem, connecting local audiences with the broader world.
4. Played a founding role in the NJ Corporate Diversity Network, created in partnership with the Partnership for New Jersey to enhance the impact of diversity programs on business performance and contribute positively to communities and the regional economy.

Vedantic Instructor/Hindu Chaplain

Bhargava serves as a Vedantic instructor and is an ordained Hindu minister and Chaplain. She integrates philosophical teachings with practical applications from a modern perspective and actively participates in interfaith initiatives.

Honors and Distinctions

Anju Bhargava has served on the board of trustees for the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions as well as the Odyssey Network.

She has contributed regularly as a blogger for both the Huffington Post and the Washington Post. Bhargava is also a sought-after speaker at numerous venues such as The Conference Board, academic institutions, corporations, and forums focused on risk and regulation.

In 2011, she was recognized by the Huffington Post as one of ten Inspirational Women Religious Leaders. Acknowledging her significant contributions, Bhargava was invited in 2012 to introduce Vice President Biden at the White House’s Diwali celebration.