Two decades ago, Emily embarked on a journey through India that ignited her passion. It wasn't just the unforgettable flavors she tasted in local homes and bustling street markets, but the profound commitment she felt to alleviating the desperation of people living in ultra-poverty. Returning to the US, Emily poured that conviction into founding DOSA, an award-winning South Indian restaurant group in San Francisco, with a driving purpose to one day align herself with a mission to help women—and thereby their families and communities—to finally break free from the cycle of poverty.

For the next twenty years, DOSA flourished, growing to four beloved Bay Area restaurants and a national consumer packaged goods company that, combined, reached over four million people. It was a true honor to be recognized as one of the first Michelin-awarded Indian brands in the US. More than the accolades, Emily was humbled and thrilled to share the vibrant, regionally inspired cuisine she had learned and revered from the kitchens of India and the electric streets of Mumbai to the tranquil coastline of Kerala—with mainstream America.

In 2025, Emily decided to fully leverage the business acumen, skills, and knowledge gained over two decades as DOSA’s Founder and CEO. Emily joined BRAC USA as a Board Director. As a female entrepreneur, humanitarian, and activist, BRAC has always been the NGO that captured Emily’s heart and mind, ever since her student days at the University of Michigan, where she earned a BS in Environmental Science and Sociology.

Today, as a Board Director, Emily remains inspired by BRAC Founder Sir Fazle Hasan Abed’s powerful belief that “everyone has an equal opportunity to realize their potential” and feels privileged to support BRAC’s global initiatives in doing development differently.