Anu Aga

Early Life and Education

Anu Aga was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) on August 3, 1942, into a Parsi Zoroastrian family. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, and later pursued a post-graduation in medical and psychiatric social work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), also in Mumbai. She was also a Fulbright Scholar, spending four months studying in the United States.

Rise to Success

Aga's career took a significant turn when she joined Thermax in 1985, which was then run by her husband, Rohinton Aga. She headed the human resources division from 1991 to 1996. Following her husband's death in 1996, she took over as the chairperson of Thermax. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in the company's growth, transforming it into a global turnkey player in energy and environment projects. She stepped down as chairperson in 2004, handing over the reins to her daughter, Meher Pudumjee.

Key Business Strategies

Under Anu Aga's leadership, Thermax focused on innovation and diversification, expanding its product line into energy and environment solutions. She emphasized research and development, which helped Thermax become a leader in the energy sector. She also spearheaded a full-scale reform with the help of the Boston Consulting Group, significantly contributing to the company's global presence and financial performance.

Philanthropy

After retiring from Thermax, Anu Aga dedicated her time to social work. She co-founded Teach For India in 2008, a non-profit organization that recruits young people to teach for two years in schools for low-income kids. She is also associated with the Thermax Social Initiative Foundation (TSIS), which manages schools for lower-income groups. The family has committed 30% of their income of Thermax's dividend towards philanthropic causes.