Ushma has had a lifelong interest in sustainability with a particular focus on waste reduction. Before the term “zero waste” was coined, she was raising awareness about waste with family, friends and colleagues. Given her corporate background, Ushma is particularly skilled in working with large corporates on developing and framing their sustainability goals within the context of their business priorities.
Prior to forming Think Zero LLC, Ushma held senior management roles with American Express, Booz & Co., and Katzenbach Partners where she worked with leadership teams to develop and implement growth strategies. She sat on the executive leadership team for the Global Corporate Business at American Express as Head of Strategy.
Ushma is on the Board of the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (MSWAB) and the NYC chapter of New York League of Conservation Voters and was on the Board of Sustainable South Bronx (including overseeing the for-profit subsidiary Cool Roofs that worked on cooling and greening roofs throughout NYC). In addition, she has worked on environmental policies and programming with organizations such as the Environmental Defense Fund, the Department of Environment of the City of Chicago (advised on their building energy reduction program), and Acumen (where she launched an off-grid energy fund).
Ushma holds degrees from Georgetown University, Columbia University and Harvard University. She is certified as a TRUE Zero Waste Business Associate and a LEED Green Associate by GBCI.