[10] Born in Tehran, Iran, Raji completed her high school education in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she competed nationally as a downhill skier and chess player, before moving to the United States at the age of 17.

[14] Earlier in her career as an international investment banker, she held senior positions at firms including J.P. Morgan & Co., Salomon Brothers and Drexel Burnham Lambert.

[15] Raji's past philanthropic activities have included numerous active leadership roles in the nonprofit sector:[16] Trustee and member of the executive committee, Barnard College, Columbia University; Advisory Board, Columbia Business School Tamer Center for Social Enterprise; Founding Co-chair, Athena Center for Leadership Studies at Barnard College, Columbia University; Economic Advisory Council, Center for American Progress; Director, National Partnership for Women & Families.

[18] On July 4, 2016, Raji was recognized as an honoree of Great Immigrants: The Pride of America, the Carnegie Corporation of New York's annual recognition of inspiring naturalized U.S. citizens who have made notable contributions to the progress of American society.

[20][21][22][23] Raji was an honoree of the 2017 Ellis Island Medal of Honor[24][25] and the Recipient of Barnard College's Joan Rivers Trailblazer Award 2020.