
Hi, I'm Pooja
NICE TO MEET YOU!
I am Pooja Joshi (she/her), a strategic advisor and executive coach, and the founder of Lodestone Catalysts. I work with C-suite leaders, organizations, and boards moving through change that matters: 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 a lived understanding of the rooms my clients are walking into, the stakeholder dynamics, the governance complexity, and the weight of leading through change.
I work with leaders who are thoughtful, capable, and facing change that demands more than advice. I help them move through complexity with clarity, make decisions their stakeholders can stand behind, and lead in ways that are grounded, intentional, and sustainable. When an engagement calls for it, I bring executive coaching into the work; as an ICF-trained ACC coach, I use it as one tool among several, in service of the outcome, not as the point.
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.
I am also Reiki Level II certified and find grounding in meditation, movement, current culture, travel, contemplation, and writing my weekly Substack, subscribe below and mixing music.


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!
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?
Get Catalytic Living, my weekly newsletter on purpose, leadership and finding meaning through (mid) life.
Connect with me:


© 2026 Lodestone Catalysts LLC. All rights reserved.