Aneesh Raman

Wellesley High School Author: Aneesh Raman (1997)

            After WHS, Aneesh graduated magna cum laude from Harvard, and while in college won a local Emmy Award for his weekly show on New England Cable News, “Kids Talk Sports.”  A former Fulbright scholar, he became CNN’s first Middle East correspondent, winning awards for his war coverage, as he reported from Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and many other nations.  He was the first television reporter to break the story of the execution of Saddam Hussein. 

            From CNN he moved to the White House as President Obama’s speechwriter, focusing on domestic policy and immigration.  The first Indian-American speechwriter to a President, he is the author of My Life:  Growing Up Asian in America, and wrote a chapter for West Wingers:  Stories from the Dream Chasers, Change Makers, and Hope Creators Inside the Obama White House.

            After leaving government, Aneesh worked as Head of Economic and Social Impact Policy at Facebook, launching the global Community Boost program for small businesses.  He is currently California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Senior Advisor on Economic Strategy and External Affairs.