Hi, I'm Pooja

NICE TO MEET YOU!

I am Pooja Joshi (she/her), an executive coach and strategic advisor, and the founder of Lodestone Catalysts. I work with C-suite leaders, organizations, and boards moving through transitions that matter- succession, role changes, organizational redesign, strategy resets, the quiet inflection points that don't always make it onto a board agenda. My clients come to me when the stakes are high, the path isn't obvious, and they need a thinking partner who won't flinch.

My work is informed by more than 20 years of leadership in the nonprofit and philanthropy sector. I have been in the c-suite myself, as Executive Director at the Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi Foundation, advised philanthropists and institutions through Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, led fundraising initiatives at South Asian Youth Action (SAYA!), and served for over 17 years on the board of the Sadie Nash Leadership Project. These experiences give me something most coaches don't have: lived understanding of the rooms my clients are walking into, the stakeholder dynamics, the governance complexity, and the weight of leading through change.

As a strategic thought partner and/or coach, I am not focused on fixing or optimizing people. I work with leaders who are thoughtful, capable, and navigating transitions that demand more than advice, they demand a thinking partner. Through reflective inquiry, dialogue, and a structured outcomes framework, I help clients move through complexity with clarity, make decisions their stakeholders can stand behind, and lead in ways that are grounded, intentional, and sustainable.

I am an ICF-trained ACC coach. My approach integrates strategic clarity with intuitive insight, and outcomes orientation.

Born and raised in India, and now based in the United States, I bring a global perspective shaped by living across cultures during formative stages of my life. My work is always rooted in client voice, dignity, and self-direction.

I am also Reiki Level II certified and find grounding in meditation, reflection, travel, contemplation, and indulging in my curiosities (play), practices that invite presence and spaciousness into my daily life.

MY CORE VALUES IN ACTION

Service & Equity

A commitment to dignity, freedom, and belonging, in every system I touch and every leader I serve.

Sincerity

Leading with honesty and heart, grounded in deep empathy, real connection, and alignment between values and leadership.

Intuition

Balancing strategic clarity with intuitive insight to help leaders navigate complexity and lead with integrity.

Let's work together!

GET IN TOUCH

ON EMPOWERING LEADERS TO LEAD WITH INTEGRITY

" Pooja’s leadership coaching transformed the way I approached my work. She helped me see beyond the day-to-day challenges and focus on leading with greater purpose, authenticity and commitment. Her support gave me the confidence to foster a more ethical, inclusive workplace and to encourage others to step into their leadership with courage and integrity. The impact of her coaching went beyond just me—it’s been felt throughout the entire organization. "

— David Meehan-Romero, Director of Research Grants and Initiatives
Lymphoma Research Foundation

Interested?

Every leader I work with started with the same question you're asking right now: Is this the moment?

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