Isha Patel

My first job was working at Sears department store as a floor associate, which was basically my way of turning my favorite chore into paid work.

Before joining NYCEDC, I worked on supply-chain human rights work, with a focus on metrics and data analysis, for a New York-based fashion brand that was a leader in sustainable and ethical production. After an undergraduate degree in civil engineering, a master’s degree in urban planning, a keen interest in sustainable development, and a lifelong love for fashion, that job was both an odd but perfect fit, as it enabled me to use my quantitative brain while bringing a social science perspective. The role also underlined the importance of local policy to drive the behavior of businesses and ultimately ensure the economic wellbeing of communities. I came to NYCEDC because I missed working on cities, engaging more regularly with policy, and having an impact at a larger scale.

I joined the company in March 2019, in a temporary role focused on the Sunnyside Yard Master Plan. After that, I joined NYCEDC permanently as part of the Neighborhood Strategies team, where I worked on project management for long-term neighborhood and infrastructure plans including the Fidi-Seaport Climate Resilience Plan and Hunts Point Forward. My current role on the Strategy team involves advancing a diverse portfolio of projects, often in collaboration with departments across the agency. The day-to-day varies depending on the project, but can involve doing research, conducting interviews, running meetings, and developing presentations or research memos.