Chitra Nawbatt

Chitra Nawbatt is a unique multi-industry and multidisciplinary executive, recognized for her extensive expertise as a business launcher and builder, growth operator, investor and media creator.

As a first-generation university graduate, from humble beginnings in South America, Chitra's impressive CodeBreaker Mindset journey pierced barriers and ceilings across more than six highly coveted global industries. She was one of the youngest recruited to global professional services firm EY while still an undergraduate student. Chitra emerged as an early adopter and innovator in fintech. At Deutsche Bank, in addition to achieving C-Suite roles, she created working capital fintech and analytics software, well before fintech became an industry category.

Chitra then defied career gravity making a non-linear pivot, becoming a TV news anchor in New York City, the #1 media market in the world, for Reuters, BNN Bloomberg, CCTV and other reputable media networks. Her live broadcasts were seen by millions around the world, where her reporting focused on companies, markets and consumers globally. She conducted exclusive domain driven and in-depth interviews with global leaders such as the Citigroup CEO, Governor of the Bank of England and World Boxing Council Heavyweight Champion.

In her next adventure, Chitra aligned her passion and expertise as a business launcher and builder by becoming a partner at General Catalyst, a leading multibillion-dollar global venture capital firm. As the Global Head of Health Assurance and Innovation, Chitra led the expansion and execution of the firm’s Health Assurance ecosystem investment strategy. She also developed and executed new investment theses at the intersections of technology, media, fintech and consumer. Unique to the venture capital industry, Chitra created and led an inaugural value creation and ecosystem business development function. She originated, commercialized and managed strategic innovation partnerships for General Catalyst, more than 75 of its portfolio companies and stakeholders, delivering network effect, go-to-market and revenue acceleration.

As a strategic growth operator, Chitra has held leadership roles in various technology, consulting and early-stage companies, pioneering a new category of function as Market Maker, with the unique distinction of being industry-agnostic in scope. In these roles she delivered artificial intelligence, digital transformation and analytics solutions to Fortune 500 C-Suite executives.

Chitra is the author and host of The CodeBreaker Mindset book and podcast. The book provides a pattern recognition, professional judgement and decision-making framework for accelerating business growth, leadership and career pivots. The podcast is where leaders share their pursuit journeys to life opportunities, business building and value creation, as well as the rules, pivots and serendipity that propel them forward. Chitra has created several other media properties, including podcasts, where she interviewed C-level leaders, entrepreneurs and investors on growth, innovation, business building and investing.

Chitra has been involved in various philanthropic activities such as serving on the President of the United States Advance Team (The White House), and as an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers Business School. Her passions include mentoring students and global entrepreneurs, music having studied and played several instruments, and speaking French.

Chitra has a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation, and is a graduate of Harvard Business School, Harvard University and Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.

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