Gayathri’s commitment to generating healthier and more sustainable environments has earned her widespread recognition as a leader and expert in the industry.

She is an expert in human-centered design and recently worked as Vice President of Standard Development at the International WELL Building Institute, where she directed the development of WELL, impacting over 4.6 billion square feet of WELL projects globally. Gayathri is a visiting lecturer at prestigious institutions and a sought-after speaker at conferences around the world, sharing her expertise on topics such as healthy buildings, organizational well-being, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Education

Stanford Graduate School of Business, California

Stanford LEAD in Corporate Innovation

KTH Royal Institut of Technology, Stockholm

Masters of Design

National Institute of Technology, Calicut, India

Bachelors of Technology

Resume

Vice President, Standard Development at International WELL Building Institute, New York (2017-2022)

  • Directed the Standard Development team as Vice President, overseeing the successful development and implementation of flagship products and processes including WELL v2, WELL Equity Rating, and WELL Performance Rating, impacting over 4.6 billion square feet of WELL projects.

  • Spearheaded the development of WELL v2, a flagship certification program that has been successfully implemented in over 125 countries, positively impacting the health and well-being of thousands of people worldwide.

  • Established and chaired the IWBI Doing Better working group, which focused on promoting Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) within the organization, co-developing social impact efforts with the Chief Counsel, resulting in a more inclusive and diverse workplace.

  • Collaborated with 300+ stakeholders to co-develop a critically acclaimed equity-focused system for organizations, resulting in a roadmap for more inclusive and diverse workplaces.

  • Led the execution and launch of the WELL v2 graduation process, including public comment and governance vote, ensuring the program's success and further enhancing the standards for healthy and sustainable building practices.

  • Co-developed governance programs and processes for the suite of WELL programs in collaboration with the Chief Counsel and Chief Engineer, ensuring the program's evolution and relevancy, and positively impacting the lives of thousands of people globally.

  • Developed rigorous processes for the program verification, and created a product evolution process that includes stakeholder feedback review and quarterly addenda to improve the WELL program, leading a team of 10 and positively impacting the lives of thousands of people across the globe.

Visiting Lecturer at prestigious institutions including KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Parsons School of Design (2017 - present)

  • Contributed as a Visiting Lecturer to several prestigious institutions including Parsons New School, Pratt Institute, and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, among others.

  • Provided valuable feedback and guidance to design students as a Visiting Critic, fostering their creativity and facilitating their professional development.

  • Mentored graduate students on their thesis projects as an Industry Mentor, utilizing industry insights and experience to guide their research and practical applications.

  • Leveraged expertise in the field to offer a unique and enriching learning experience to students at various institutions, while also building relationships with academic professionals.

Independent Consultant at Light Impressions | Dubai (2015-2017)

  • Provided subject matter expertise on lighting solutions for manufacturers and developers, ensuring that projects were designed to promote occupant health and wellbeing.

  • Developed design proposals for a range of occupant-focused projects, including a hospital and an indoor amusement park, utilizing lighting solutions to improve the occupant experience and support their health.

  • Created a detailed business proposal for a decorative lighting manufacturing company, emphasizing the importance of designing products that prioritize occupant health and wellbeing..

  • Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop lighting solutions that prioritize occupant health and wellbeing, resulting in healthier and more sustainable environments.

    Lighting Engineer at Sobha Group | Dubai (2013 - 2014)

  • Successfully established an in-house lighting manufacturing vertical, enabling Sobha to maintain greater control over the quality and design of lighting systems in their projects.

  • Served as the in-house subject-matter expert for lighting in Sobha's Middle East efforts, driving the incorporation of occupant health-focused lighting strategies in projects.

  • Played a pivotal role in advancing Sobha's commitment to occupant health by integrating lighting design with other building systems to create healthy and sustainable environments

    Marketing Engineer at Ruud Lighting Arabia (subsidiary of CREE lighting) | Dubai (2011 to 2012)

  • Successfully contributed to presales and specification of Cree lighting fixtures in both new construction and retrofit projects, including several high-profile projects such as multiple fitness centers and a car showroom.

Awards & Recognitions

  • Awarded the 40 under 40 in lighting- a highly competitive and prestigious honor that acknowledges outstanding contributions to the field. She was selected for her exceptional work in advancing the importance of building health and wellbeing through innovative research, which has positively impacted communities and individuals worldwide.

  • Awarded by by US Citizenship and Immigration Services in 2021.

    The EB-1 visa, also known as the "Einstein visa," is highly selective and difficult to obtain, reserved for individuals who demonstrate exceptional talent and skill in their field. It is awarded to those who have made significant contributions to the fields of health and wellbeing in the built environment

  • Honored with the highly selective Swedish Institute Study Scholarship, awarded to a distinguished cohort of exceptional individuals from around the world who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and strong motivation to pursue advanced studies in Europe.

  • Recipient of the prestigious SPDC scholarship from the Government of India, a highly competitive award that is granted to deserving diaspora students who have demonstrated exceptional academic excellence. This exclusive scholarship program provides full financial support for talented students who wish to pursue higher education in India's top universities, with a focus on fostering academic excellence and cross-cultural understanding.