Bhartia joined "Hindustan Times" in 1986, as a 29 year old and directly as Chief Executive. She was the first woman chief executive of a national newspaper and probably one of the youngest. She is considered to be one of the motive forces behind the transformation of the "Hindustan Times" "into a bright, young paper." She looks after editorial as well as financial aspects, and is credited with raising Rs. 4 billion through a public equity launch of HT Media in September 2005.