Long-form Biography

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Pooja graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Economics, where she was elected Phi Beta Kappa in her Junior year.

Pooja began her career in finance in the late 90’s working as an Investment Banker at Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette, then headed by banking group Chairman Hamilton “Tony” James in New York, and in Los Angeles at Bear Stearns’s West Coast office.

She later joined Equity Sales and Capital Markets groups at Merrill Lynch in London and Morgan Stanley in New York City and was then recruited to join the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. She joined the Bank Supervision Group while at the Fed, where she was a member of a regulatory policy group headed by Edward Gerald Corrigan, seventh President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

After receiving a Masters degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics, Pooja began consulting and doing research for the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) and soon after entered into the Natural Gourmet Institute’s Chef’s Training Program in Manhattan, a 619 hour professional program focusing on culinary technique and an interdisciplinary curriculum focused on cooking whole ingredients in health-supportive ways.

With remarkable foresight relating to America’s growing obesity & diabetes epidemics and the need for wellness solutions, her first book, The 3-Day Reset (Seal Press/Hachette) was published in 2014. The book, endorsed by John Mackey, Co-Founder of Whole Foods Market, outlines ten simple ways you can change your cravings and start eating whole, healthy, satisfying foods.

After residing in London a second and third time in 2006 and 2015 and taking time away to raise her two young children, Pooja received her yoga teacher training through the Sri Sri School of Yoga, based in Bengaluru, India, in 2021. She also completed the Compassion Cultivation Training program through Stanford University in 2016, which draws on insights and techniques from psychology, neuroscience, and contemplative practice with the goal of supporting health, happiness, and well-­­being.

From 2018 Pooja has served as an affiliate at Stanford University’s Department of Psychology.

Pooja is an avid athlete and formerly a tri-sport HS varsity athlete, team captain and competitive gymnast in her youth. A champion of nature, she also spends time as an amateur nature photographer and writes poetry inspired by the natural world.

Pooja has appeared on Good Morning America, WGN-TV, Martha Stewart Radio, HuffPost Live, The Better Show, and Good Day Austin and her work mentioned in WomensHealthMag.com, Glamour.com, Style.com, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Serendipity Magazine, Time.com, WomensDay.com, and other media outlets.

At her core, Pooja represents a constant exploration and examination of wellbeing, success, and a life well-lived.