Before venturing into public life full time, Nirmala Sitharaman worked as a saleswoman for a short duration in London.
She eventually joined PWC where she worked as the Senior Manager (Research & Analysis).
Sitharaman returned from London to India in 1991 & became the BJP’s spokesperson under party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Sitharaman married Parakala Prabhakar who hails from a pro-Congress family
She established a school for underprivileged children in the city clubbed with a policy research centre.
Sitharaman dedicated herself to the cause of women empowerment during her stint at the National Commission for Women from 2003 to 2005.
Before being inducted into the Union cabinet, she served as Minister of State (Independent charge) for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
She is the second woman to hold the post but the first full-time woman Finance Minister. Before her, only Indira Gandhi held the post for a brief period.
Sitharaman likes classical music and holds a good collection of classical songs.