Geeta Mehta, AIA: Founder & President of the Asia Initiatives / 2009 President of AIA Japan / Professor of urban design at Columbia University

Dr. Geeta Mehta is an adjunct professor of urban design at Columbia University, and has worked on urbanism projects in twelve countries in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. Women’s eNews recognized her as one of the 21 Leaders of the 21st Century. 

Geeta is the founder of Asia Initiatives, a non-profit organization that works in underserved communities to help improve neighborhoods, livelihoods, education and the environment. She is the innovator of Social Capital Credits (SoCCs), a virtual currency for social good that is empowering communities in the USA, India and Kenya. Asia Initiatives has won the World Changing Idea award from the Fast Company, also prizes from MIT SOLVE, Jacobs Foundation, General Motors, Vodafone and Experian for this work.

Geeta is also the co-founder of URBZ: User Generated Cities, an organization that works with grassroots organizations to improve neighborhoods.

Geeta serves on the New York City Mayor’s Waterfront Management Advisory Board, and on the board of the Center for the Living City. She served as the president of the American Institute of Architects’ Japan Chapter while she lived in Tokyo. She is also the co-author of six books.

Find out more: Wikipedia