Anu Aiyengar
Anu Aiyengar is a finance professional based in Manhattan and Global Co-Head of mergers and acquisitions at JPMorgan Chase & Co, a multinational banking and financial services holding company based in New York City. Early life. Aiyengar graduated from Smith College of liberal arts in Massachusetts with an undergraduate degree in Economics and Computer Science, and currently serves as Co-Chair of Smith's Business Advisory Board. Ms. Aiyengar received her MBA from Vanderbilt University. She finds relaxation through Indian classical dance. Career. Aiyengar started her career at American Express. While interviewing for a position in 1999 at  a major Wall Street investment bank, her interviewer commented 'wrong gender, wrong color, and wrong country'. She currently works at JPMorgan Chase & Co and is head of North American Mergers & Acquisitions responsible for the marketing and execution of advisory assignments in North America. Since 1999, she has advised both domestic and international clients on over US$500 billion worth of transactions including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures / separations, leveraged buyouts, proxy contests, unsolicited transactions and special committee assignments. Ms. Aiyengar is co-chair of the Investment Bank's women network (WOTM-CIBN), and is involved with several initiatives across J.P. Morgan (Junior  Women in Banking, Vice President's Women's Network, Winning Women, Launching Leaders, JumpStart, Early Advantage) and Wall Street (FWA, NoW, WBC, Catalyst) to recruit, mentor and develop women. She is also involved with Asia Society, World Music Institute, and Pratham. Anu is a panelist and speaker at several events including Women Corporate Directors, Women's Private Equity Summit, The Asian Women in Business, and the South Asian Bar Association Leadership Awards.  She is also a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School, and Chicago Booth; as well as a speaker at several women's businesses conferences across financial organizations, law  firms and business schools. Ms. Aiyengar is frequently quoted in the financial press and media.