Ushma has had a lifelong interest in sustainability and waste reduction. Before the term “zero waste” was coined, she raised awareness about consumption and waste with her schoolmates and work colleagues.
Before launching Think Zero, Ushma held senior management roles with American Express, Booz & Co., and Katzenbach Partners. She has worked on environmental issues with organizations such as the Environmental Defense Fund, the Department of Environment of the City of Chicago, and Acumen.
Ushma is a Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (MSWAB) member and the NYC chapter of the New York League of Conservation Voters. She was previously on the Board of Sustainable South Bronx, overseeing the for-profit subsidiary Cool Roofs, which worked on cooling and greening roofs throughout NYC.
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.