Geeta Mehta

Dr. Geeta Mehta is an adjunct professor of architecture and urban design at Columbia University and the founder/president of Asia Initiatives (AI), a non-profit organization with a mission to help communities help themselves. Mehta is the innovator of Social Capital Credits (SoCCs), a community currency for social good that is being used in USA, India, Ghana, Kenya to incentivize communities to improve their neighborhoods and wellbeing. She was recognized as one of the 21 Leaders of the 21st Century by Women’s eNews in 2015, and by HSBC Bank as the Social Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017. She serves on New York Mayor De Blasio’s Advisory Board for Waterfront Development.

Mehta is also the co-founder of URBZ: User Generated Cities that works with underserved communities to help improve neighborhoods through advocacy and better public spaces and homes. A board member for The Center for Living Cities, and Women Strong International, she also serves on the advisory boards of Friends of University of Tokyo.

Mehta is a frequent speaker at international forums related to urban design and social justice, and is also the author/co-author of six books. She was an advisor to Columbia Climate School's Center for Sustainable Urban Development's (CSUD) traveling exhibition, People Building Better Cities, and is collaborating with CSUD on the Accelerating the SDGs and associated activities.