Born in Mumbai in 1942, Anu Aga is one of India's most respected self-made leaders, known for her transformative leadership of the engineering giant Thermax and her deep commitment to social reform. Her early life was defined by social science and humanitarian pursuits: she earned a B.A. in Economics from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, and pursued post-graduate studies in medical and psychiatric social work at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).

Aga herself did not join the family business immediately. She became involved with Thermax, a company started by her father and grown by her husband, Rohinton, only in 1985 when she was appointed head of Human Resources. This background in social work, rather than engineering or finance, uniquely equipped her to focus on corporate culture, team-building, and social responsibility, providing the humanist foundation for her future tenure as Chairperson.

Anu Aga’s executive career was launched by tragedy. In 1996, following the sudden death of her husband, Rohinton, she was appointed the Chairperson of Thermax Ltd. Her initial years were a period of intense crisis, where she had to navigate succession while modernizing a major industrial firm. Her key strategy was a radical commitment to professionalization: she famously made the decision to remove all family members from executive positions and instead place them on the board, recruiting top professional talent with the help of consultants like Boston Consulting Group.

During her eight-year tenure as chairperson (1996–2004), she institutionalized a no-corruption policy as a core part of Thermax's corporate culture, allowing the company to successfully compete on merit in a difficult market. She successfully steered the company through a challenging period, strengthening its business in energy and environmental engineering. Since stepping down in 2004, she has remained the steward of the company's social conscience, serving as the Chairperson of the Thermax Foundation, transitioning her focus entirely to high-impact educational philanthropy.

Anu Aga is a dedicated and highly effective philanthropist, focusing intensely on primary education for the underprivileged—a passion rooted in her training as a social worker. Her giving is active, strategic, and often involves partnerships with social reform movements.

• Thermax Foundation (Chairperson): The non-profit arm of the company, focused on education and community welfare in India.
• Akanksha & Teach for India: She is deeply involved with these high-impact NGOs. She served as the Chair of Teach for India (TFI) for ten years and is on the board of Akanksha, which runs numerous high-quality schools in Mumbai and Pune. Her work is aimed at directly addressing the massive educational inequity gap in India, reflecting a structural commitment to national human development.

Anu Aga maintains the dignified, intellectual, and understated style of a powerful Indian matriarch and corporate reformer. Her attire is consistently modest and traditional—favoring elegant saris and high-quality Indian ethnic wear, suitable for both the boardroom and public service engagements. Her aesthetic is one of sobriety and inner strength, reflecting her background in social work and her crisis-leadership role.

Her lifestyle is secure and influential, centered in Pune. Her luxury is the autonomy to direct massive financial resources toward social upliftment. Her personal commitment to education and ethical governance is the defining feature of her life, making her a figure of immense moral and business authority in India.