Life insurance gift will support
MBA scholars for generations
As a senior partner and managing director at Boston Consulting Group, Sandeep Chugani, BS ’89, MBA ’91, has entered the gratitude stage of life. At 5 p.m. on a winter afternoon in Miami, Chugani — fresh off a consulting call with a CEO client — shifts conversational gears seamlessly. He reflects on the many factors that have shaped his professional path.
“You come to a point when you stop wondering, ‘Do I need more?’” Chugani says. “Instead, you begin to realize how fortunate you are to be where you are. And, if you do some critical thinking, you recognize what contributed to your success.”
An expert in corporate strategy and business transformation, Chugani has mastered the art of critical thinking. He not only excels at diagnosing underlying business challenges — financial distress, operational inefficiencies, and market disruptions — but also possesses a game-changing ability to identify factors essential for generating sustained growth for his clients. In the process, he helps businesses navigate turnarounds and drive long-term success.
Chugani’s approach is constant: maximize value for lasting impact. Recently, he turned his thinking to Washington University in St. Louis and Olin Business School more narrowly as pivotal contributors to his professional achievement. “I have come to be thankful for all the things I have received in my adult life,” he says. “My success was shaped by my WashU education, which prepared me to thrive and led to career opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
To open opportunities for more students, Chugani has leveraged his strategic mindset philanthropically. Through a planned gift, he and his wife, Anju, transferred a prepaid life insurance policy to the university that will provide an estimated $1 million at the time of their estate distribution. This new commitment will expand their existing endowed fund, the Sandeep and Anju Chugani Scholarship, which supports Olin Business School MBA students with financial need.
“My success was shaped by my WashU education, which prepared me to thrive and led to career opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
Chugani is eager to see the value of a WashU education continue to grow and for Olin to attract the most promising candidates. Scholarships play a crucial role in achieving these goals. By offering competitive financial aid packages, the business school can draw the strongest students — enhancing the caliber of the student body and enriching the learning experience. These students, in turn, can pursue careers driven by passion rather than debt, a key factor in long-term professional fulfillment and success.
Drawing upon insights from his career, Chugani focuses his philanthropy on growth. He estimates the recent addition to his family’s scholarship could multiply fivefold over time — tax-free. Funds from the life insurance policy will continue to grow until the Chuganis’ estate is distributed. He describes their planned gift succinctly: “It is a very elegant and very satisfying way to give.”
AB ’22, (left) and Serina, AB ’21 (right)
Prepaid life insurance plans are often used to build wealth and security for an individual’s children or other heirs. That practice is consistent with Chugani’s strong sentiments about WashU. “I have been part of the WashU ecosystem for a very long time,” he says. “I have an uncle who attended in the ’60s and, later, a nephew of mine studied at the university. Of course, I went to Olin. And it was the school of choice for my daughters, Serina Chugani, AB ’21, and Simi Chugani, AB ’22. The university is like family, and you want to take care of your family.”
Chugani has been committed to his WashU family since his graduation in 1991. His engagement with the university extends far beyond financial support. He is a longtime member of the Olin Business School National Council and a past Alumni and Parents Admission Program volunteer. He has delivered guest lectures to Olin undergraduates and routinely brings Boston Consulting Group to recruit Olin students at career fairs.
In collaboration with former Olin deans Mahendra Gupta and Mark Taylor, Chugani provided pro bono consulting services that helped elevate the business school. He oversaw the evaluation of the school’s graduate support and career center operations, resulting in increased investments in these areas. The project also contributed to the successful launch of Olin’s Flex MBA program in fall 2024. Chugani notes, “I still lecture on the business of consulting every year. Frankly, there are hundreds of ways to stay involved as an alumnus.”
Chugani settles back in his chair and smiles. He returns to the theme of supporting students repeatedly, reflecting on why he and his wife have leaned into scholarships and their ability to transform lives. “We’ve come to appreciate the university’s wisdom about endowed scholarships that endure for generations,” he says. “And we are truly happy that our gift will benefit countless students for many years to come.”
As more alumni and friends of WashU enter the gratitude stage of life, Sandeep Chugani offers a compelling roadmap, inspiring others to give back in ways that align with their values and create enduring legacies.
By Grizelda McClelland, PhD ’12
Like Sandeep, you can support the work of Washington University through a planned gift. Please contact the Office of Planned Giving to learn how you can create your own legacy at WashU.
plannedgiving@wustl.edu | 800.835.3503 | 314.935.5373