Recipient of the 2019 Alumni Distinguished Leadership Award

Arati Shroff '98, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

Bio

Arati Shroff ‘98, recipient of the 2019 IMSA Alumni Distinguished Leader Award, is a career U.S. diplomat. She is currently a Una Chapman Cox Fellow and East-West Center Adjunct Fellow analyzing Chinese foreign investment in the United States in emerging high tech sectors. Prior to her current assignment, Arati advanced and implemented U.S. economic policy at the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai, China. Arati previously served in Washington D.C. in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asia, in the Economic and Consular sections at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait, and in Taipei, Taiwan. She started her Foreign Service career as an intern at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing during China’s accession to the WTO. Arati also serves as an advocate for international women’s issues and is an advisor to the “Ladies Who Tech” Asia Chapter and Board Member of the International Professional Women’s Society (IPWS) of Shanghai. While at U.S. Consulate Shanghai, Arati lead a team to advance women’s empowerment and gender equality in East China and collaborated with local and international organizations to promote female entrepreneurship. During previous postings, Arati helped propel a multi-stakeholder approach to improve worker safety for Bangladesh’s garment workers, who are predominantly women. Arati is a frequently invited university guest lecturer, panelist, and moderator to exchange insights with diverse audiences on topics ranging from international financial markets to international women’s issues.