Featured BiographyImage source: StarsUnfolded
Quick Info
Date of birth1976
Age45 Years
BirthplaceIndia
ProfessionEntrepreneur
NationalityIndian American
Marital statusMarried
SpouseVishal Garg
FamilyTwo daughters and one son; elder daughter Uma Garg
Sarita James Biography
Sarita James is an Indian American entrepreneur and executive with experience in technology, government economic development, finance, and startup services
Early life and backgroundSarita James was born in India and raised in the United States. She attended Homestead Senior High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and pursued higher education at Purdue University Fort Wayne before transferring to Harvard College, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in computer science. She later earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Oxford.
Career
James’s early achievements included winning a global grand prize in 1994 for an artificial intelligence–driven speech recognition project while she was an undergraduate. In 1998 she joined Microsoft as a program manager. During her time at Microsoft she worked on technical specifications for Microsoft Office and managed feature work and engineering teams. Her contributions there included work that led to patents tied to Microsoft’s .NET development platform, and she advanced into technology consulting roles serving major financial services clients.
After several years at Microsoft, James moved into public-sector economic development in New York City. She joined the New York City Economic Development Corporation and rose through roles in strategic planning and policy, eventually serving as an executive vice president in the division. Her portfolio included leading a sizable strategy and policy team and work on initiatives such as congestion pricing, legislative reform related to the financial services industry, and revitalization planning for the city’s fashion district.
In 2008 James joined the U.S. Small Business Administration through a mid-career federal leadership program. She served as the acting branch chief for the SBA’s Microloan Program, which supports nonprofit microlenders and provides small loans aimed at helping low-income entrepreneurs. In that role she worked on scaling program funding.
James transitioned to the private financial sector in 2010, joining Citi as chief operating officer of Citi Ventures, where she helped manage strategic investments. She later served as product manager and director for Citi’s enterprise payments work, including efforts in healthcare payments.
In 2014 she became chief executive officer of Embark, an online admissions and application platform that has supported millions of student applications for study abroad programs. In 2021 James joined Marathon Digital Holdings as an independent director and member of its audit committee.
Public profile
James is often described by her professional roles as an entrepreneur and executive with a background spanning technology, economic development, government service, and finance. She has been recognized with honors across her career, including selection to a ‘‘40 under 40’’ list in 2016 and early-career recognition related to national academic awards and competitions in the 1990s.
Personal life
Sarita James is married to entrepreneur Vishal Garg. The family includes multiple children; the excerpt notes an elder daughter named Uma Garg and indicates she has two daughters and one son. She is identified as Indian American. Physical details listed in her profile include a height of approximately 172 cm (5 feet 8 inches), weight around 55 kg (120 pounds), black hair, and black eyes.
Volunteer work and interests
James is active in volunteer work and has supported Missionaries of Charity, a nonprofit organization focused on humanitarian efforts.
Latest updates
Most recently, in 2021 she was reported to have joined the board of Marathon Digital Holdings as an independent director and audit committee member. Her career continues to span roles in corporate leadership, nonprofit engagement, and governance.
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Recent Work
Joined the board and served as an audit committee member.
2021Led an online admissions and application platform that helped millions of student applications for study abroad.
2014Career Highlights
- Grand prize winner (1994) for an AI-driven speech recognition competition
- Program manager and technology consultant at Microsoft, contributed to .NET-related patents
- Executive roles at New York City Economic Development Corporation, leading strategy and policy work
- Acting Branch Chief for the SBA Microloan Program, scaling program funding
- COO of Citi Ventures and later product leadership in enterprise payments
- CEO of Embark, an international education application platform
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Sarita James born?
Sarita James was born on 1976.
What is Sarita James known for?
Sarita James is known for entrepreneur.
What is Sarita James’s marital status?
Sarita James's marital status is listed as Married.
Who is Sarita James married to?
Sarita James is publicly listed as married to Vishal Garg.

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