Vice President, Development

Mona is a Vice President of Development at Essence, where she leverages her extensive experience in urban planning and real estate development. She holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she co-founded the Future of Cities Club and served on the Stanford Professionals in Real Estate Board of Directors. Mona earned her undergraduate degree from Brown University with a dual major in East Asian Studies and Economics. Previously, she worked as a Senior Development Associate at Related California, managing significant refinancing projects and assessing residential feasibility. She also served as a Senior Program Manager at the NYC Department of City Planning, securing funding for public schools and pioneering environmental impact analysis tools. Mona’s career began as a management consultant at Bain & Company and Special Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer at the NYC Department of City Planning. Her interests include exploring NYC’s diverse neighborhoods and cuisines, hiking, skiing, and spending time with her dog, Tofu.