Who is Dhivya Suryadevara? From Chennai to CEO of Optum Financial
Dhivya Suryadevara is a trailblazing executive reshaping finance industries worldwide. Rising from Chennai, India, she became the first female CFO at General Motors in 2018. Dhivya serves as the CEO of Optum Insight & Optum Financial.
You have to really work hard to get what you want.
Source: Instagram
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Dhivya made history as the first female CFO of General Motors when she was appointed in 2018.
- She is the CEO of Optum Insight & Optum Financial, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group.
- The Indian-American financial analyst is married to Raj Suryadevara, and they have one child.
- Suryadevara has an estimated fortune of $20 million thanks to her lucrative career.
Dhivya Suryadevara's profile summary
| Full name | Dhivya Suryadevara |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | April 14, 1979 |
| Age | 46 years old (as of 2025) |
| Place of birth | Tamil Nadu, India |
| Current residence | New York, United States |
| Nationality | Indian-American |
| Ethnicity | Asian |
| Height | 5 feet 7 inches |
| Siblings | Two sisters |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Husband | Raj Suryadevara |
| Children | One |
| Education | St John's Senior Secondary School, University of Madras, Harvard Business School, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of IndiaCFA Institute |
| Profession | Executive & financial analyst |
| Net worth | $20 million |
Exploring Dhivya Suryadevara's age and early life
Dhivya Suryadevara, aged 46 years old as of 2025, was born in Chennai, India, on April 14, 1979. Her father passed away at an early age, leaving her and her two sisters under the care of their mother, who worked as a banker in Syndicate Bank.
In an interview, Dhivya Suryadevara revealed how her mother had difficulties raising them singlehandedly. She said,
My mom had to raise three children on her own, which is difficult to do anywhere, let alone in India.
Source: Original
Dhivya Suryadevara's educational background
According to her LinkedIn profile, Dhivya joined the University of Madras in 1996 and graduated in 2000 with a BA in Business, Finance, and Economics. While still in Madras, she pursued Chartered Accountancy at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
In 2001, Suryadevara enrolled at Harvard Business School, graduating with an MBA in 2003. In 2004, she enrolled at the CFA Institute, graduating in 2007 with a CFA in Finance.
A look at Dhivya Suryadevara's career
While at Harvard, Dhivya interned at the World Bank and later joined UBS Investment Bank as an associate director. In 2004, Suryadevara joined General Motors as a senior financial analyst and became a chief financial officer in September 2018.
In an interview with Business Insider, Suryadevara described the experience as awesome. She said,
It's been awesome. The role is incredibly rewarding and challenging. I've been fortunate.
After over a decade of working with the automotive manufacturer, Dhivya resigned, announcing her departure in a LinkedIn post. She wrote,
It is with mixed emotions I share the news that I will be leaving General Motors. This was a very difficult decision. I have been with the GM team for nearly 15 years, and the company has offered me several opportunities, including the past two years as CFO.
Source: Getty Images
CFO at Stripe
Dhivya Suryadevara joined Stripe in October 2020 as CFO, leading efforts to scale the company's financial operations during a high-growth phase. However, she left Stripe in April 2023 to take some time off for personal reasons related to her family. She wrote,
I have made the difficult decision to step away from my role at Stripe, as I will be taking some time off to attend to family matters.
CEO of Optum Insight & Optum Financial
In February 2024, Dhivya Suryadevara became CEO of Optum Financial at UnitedHealth Group. In May 2025, she took over the CEO position for Optum Insight & Optum Financial. She leads financial services innovations impacting healthcare.
Exploring Dhivya Suryadevara's net worth and earnings
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Dhivya Suryadevara has an estimated fortune of $20 million. She has accumulated her vast wealth working for leading companies such as Stripe, General Motors, and Optum Insight & Optum Financial.
What was Dhivya Suryadevara's salary at General Motors?
According to the Detroit Free Press, Dhivya reportedly received $900,000 base pay, with a potential bonus payment of 125%. Additionally, she was eligible for performance grants of $2.23 million and $743,750 in stock options.
About Dhivya Suryadevara's husband and children
Dhivya is married to Raj Suryadevara, a senior portfolio manager. The duo first met at Harvard Business School. They have since welcomed one child.
Source: Getty Images
Trivia
- Dhivya maintains a relatively low public profile despite her high-profile roles and is inactive on social media.
- She played a key role in General Motors' strategic investments, including securing a $2.25 billion investment from SoftBank into GM's autonomous vehicle unit.
- She was listed in Fortune's "40 Under 40" twice (2015 and 2018) for her influence in business.
Wrapping up
Dhivya Suryadevara's story motivates aspiring leaders seeking impactful careers. Her groundbreaking achievements as an Indian-American executive portray her as a leader and a visionary transforming tomorrow's financial landscape.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
