Meet Shweta Bhardwaj, City Year Greater Boston’s New Board Chair

City Year Greater Boston is thrilled to share that Shweta Bhardwaj has been named as the organization’s next Chair of the Board. A partner at Bain & Company with over 21 years of experience in management consulting, Shweta brings a powerful combination of strategic expertise, deep community roots, and a lifelong passion for educational advancement. 

A Natural Fit, Years in the Making 

Shweta’s connection to City Year didn’t happen overnight. Over the course of her career in Boston, she built meaningful relationships with longtime City Year champions, including mentor Diane Ledingham, who introduced her to galas, leadership breakfasts, and service events over the years. Through pro bono consulting engagements, she worked directly with City Year Greater Boston on its post-pandemic three-year strategy, giving her an up-close view of the organization’s mission, model, and impact. 

“I’ve had a long history with City Year,” she reflects. “I admire the organization and was very close to mentors who felt strongly and passionately about it, so it was a very natural connection and fit for me.” 

When the time came to deepen her nonprofit involvement, Shweta said she was looking for an organization that was doing meaningful work, where she could contribute beyond financial support and bring her strategic skill set to the table. “City Year checked every box.”

The Personal Why 

For Shweta, the commitment to educational opportunity is deeply personal. The daughter of immigrants from India, she credits a strong public school education with giving her the foundation to thrive. 

“English was not my first language, but I gravitated towards it easily. I loved my teachers. The opportunities I was given were just phenomenal and I’d love for every student to have access to that.” 

During our conversation, Shweta spoke thoughtfully about the real challenges teachers face, managing classrooms of more than 25 students, each at a different academic and emotional starting point. She shared that this reality is exactly why she believes so strongly in City Year’s near-peer mentorship model. 

“Some of our students are at different places academically, but some of it is social and emotional learning. The near-peer mentorship model, one that both motivates and supports students, is the right model to give students who just need that incremental support, in a way that’s really going to resonate with them.” 

What She’s Bringing as Board Chair

Shweta’s superpower, as she describes it, is the ability to identify the big questions an organization should be asking and then break those challenges down into actionable steps. 

“My instinct is to think a few steps forward,” she says. “How are we going to grow? How do we prioritize the work in front of us? How do we lean into the impact we’re having and influence it for the better? I like to take those big problems and make them feel less daunting.” 

Looking Ahead: Expanding Impact 

When asked about her vision for City Year Greater Boston over the next few years, Shweta doesn’t hesitate. She wants to see the model expand, more AmeriCorps members in more schools across Boston and beyond, and she wants to invest in what comes next for those members after their service year. 

“I think it’s a flywheel,” she says. “The more talented corps members we bring in, the more impact we can have on students. And then they go out and do wonderful things in the world and some come back to schools as highly qualified teachers, and others continue to support the organization. That’s what I want to build.” 

She’s equally excited about initiatives like the teacher pathway program, which she sees as a natural bridge between City Year service and a lifetime of impact in education. 

We’re grateful for Shweta’s strategic vision, warmth, and deep commitment to students as she serves as our Board Chair. Her leadership and partnership help strengthen City Year’s work to ensure every student has the support they need to thrive. 

Interested in learning more about the City Year Greater Boston Board? Visit https://www.cityyear.org/boston/leadership/board.