What inspired you to join Mountaintop?

"I deeply resonated with Mountaintop's belief that real social impact requires building robust human infrastructure from within the communities we serve. I wanted to channel my energy into an organization that honors local agency and works collaboratively to spark change from the inside out."

Heli Joshi is a Program Associate at Mountaintop International, where she supports and leads activities across multiple programs, with a focus on community engagement, program delivery, coordination, and process improvement. With more than two years of experience spanning program optimization, process automation, and grassroots development, she brings together data, technology, and human-centered approaches to strengthen programs and advance women’s economic empowerment.

 

Before joining Mountaintop International, Heli worked as a Model Development Associate with Teach For India’s Fellowship Selection team. In this role, she designed an AI-enabled screening system that is currently used to assess more than 20,000 applications. She also strengthened candidate evaluation rubrics using historical and predictive data analysis and translated complex performance metrics into clear, actionable insights that supported strategic decision-making.

​

Heli’s commitment to grassroots economic development led her to serve as a Fellow with SEWA Bharat, where she relocated from Mumbai to rural Punjab to support women in building sustainable livelihoods. She helped launch women-led microenterprises, delivered business and financial literacy training to more than 25 women, and coordinated training initiatives that reached over 100 women.

​

Heli holds a degree in Sociology and Psychology and a diploma in Child Rights and Child Protection. She has also completed certifications in Gender Studies, Cognitive Hypnotic Psychotherapy, and Forensic Psychology. Her interests center on protecting children, advancing women’s empowerment, destigmatizing conversations about mental health, and creating compassionate and inclusive environments.

​

Looking ahead, Heli is committed to working at the intersection of human-centered development and operational innovation. She aspires to design and strengthen sustainable programs that protect vulnerable communities, expand access to resources and opportunities, and empower underserved people to build more equitable futures.

​

Heli can be contacted at heli.joshi@mountaintop.international.