Leadership Spotlight: Anu Chiluveru
Meet Anu Chiluveru!
One may know Bhargava Chiluveru as the creative brain behind Chil & Co. – however, the brain could never work without the heart. The heart is what literally keeps the body running by supplying it with what it needs and figuratively is the place that guides with purpose and passion; no one embodies this more than our Chief Operating Officer Anu Chiluveru. Working behind the scenes, Anu oversees all operations for our parent company, Chil Media, and ensures that all of our teams are enabled to reach their fullest potential. Additionally, her talents were instrumental in creating Chil Studios. Anu demonstrates her passion for educating others through her work in an effort to truly make a difference in the lives of her coworkers.
Anu always had an empathetic nature and an interest in understanding others, and she embraced and completed a Sociology and History double major at Emory University. Aspiring to learn more about other cultures and societies, she decided to study abroad in London to learn more their education system. The trip inspired her to pursue education further, and she later got her Master’s in Education from Mercer University.
After five years of teaching, Anu felt it was vital to make a change in her career so she could further challenge herself, freely exercise her ingenuity, and make more of an impact on others. Coincidentally, her husband Bhargava was in the process of starting a media company. Anu believed in the potential of the company and wanted to balance Bhargava’s creativity with her skills in execution and project management. Having met in high school, Anu and Bhargava understood each other’s backgrounds and already had a foundation of trust. While they adapted to each other’s working styles, they began to cultivate a balanced dynamic based on their strengths.
Upon entering this new, creative world, Anu naturally felt somewhat insecure being unfamiliar with the industry terms and how to handle clients. However, always a quick learner, she now manages all operations, makes sure the company is maintaining profitability, and has developed a wonderful work culture. She enjoys the personal experience of helping customers and working with the team to grow Chil Studios. She has even been able to implement her classic approach of teaching her team to then let them take over and educate others. The streamlined systems and successful management at both companies have been largely due to Anu’s determination and efficiency. Anu believes her background in teaching and sociology has heavily aided her in being able to invest in every member of the team. The well-being of people is imperative to her, both in their work and personal life. Through her own awareness and journey with mental health, she encourages mindful practices such as mediation, yoga, and a healthy work/life balance.
After eight years, Anu is amazed at how far both companies have come from being just her and Bhargava working out of an in-home office to a team of 14 with an expanding studio. Since Chil’s creation back in 2013, the company has grown along with and helped to inspire the creative scene in the city. Anu now loves to spend her free time with her four year old daughter, Mila, exploring different parts of the city or teaching her something new. Having previously completed half marathons, Anu still enjoys running and continuously aims to push her body and mind to the next level. When not running, one will find her reading a book or watching YouTube tutorials; Anu is a self-proclaimed nerd at heart and is continuously hungry for knowledge.
Because of Anu’s passion for education, Chil & Co. has become a wonderfully unique and diverse agency. Not only that, but Chil Studios has grown into a professional and quality studio space. Team members are able to gain real-world experience through hands-on production opportunities thanks to Anu’s educational mindset. In addition, the team members are truly able to learn from each other due to the various backgrounds and perspectives brought to the table every day. The most rewarding aspect for Anu is being able to see the success of the clients and the growth of her team.
As the heart of Chil & Co. and Chil Studios, Anu continuously gives it her all, and the way the companies have flourished goes to show for it.
