A practical understanding of the world as it is, and an honest belief that together, we can change it.
The Marigold Effect draws on decades of experience inside businesses, nonprofits, philanthropy, and the federal government. We’ve advised cabinet secretaries, CEOs, founders, and one-person teams. We’ve built, bought, and sold businesses, raised and invested capital, and helped organizations navigate decisions with lasting consequences.
We created The Marigold Effect to focus our efforts behind those working toward a fairer economy. Through advising, investing, and storytelling, we help strong ideas take hold in the real world, and help more people recognize the possibilities already taking shape.
Meet the team
Pooja Mehta, Founder
Pooja is an attorney, investor, entrepreneur, and photographer.
Her first job at age 13, working in her immigrant family’s restaurants, was foundational. Her father went from assistant manager to owner thanks to hard work, good advice, and fairly-priced loans. Over the years, Pooja has helped her parents pay opportunity forward through profit sharing with employees, non-predatory paycheck advances, and paid prison work-release programs.
Pooja served as an attorney for children in the child welfare system and advised C-level executives and board members at a national workforce development organization. Her entrepreneurial ventures include restaurants and a photography business.
In addition to leading The Marigold Effect, Pooja is Of Counsel at a solidarity economies law firm. She serves on a youth justice-focused nonprofit board and on the investment committee of a fund that makes loans to small businesses ineligible for big bank financing.
Pooja’s professional and community work focuses on building the conditions that enable people and organizations to thrive with dignity.
Philip Martin, Contributor
Phil is a political organizer, writer, and public- and private-sector strategist.
Trained in economics, business, and facilitation, Phil has spent his career helping leaders and organizations understand complex challenges and communicate a way forward. He has advised and written for CEOs, including two U.S. secretaries of education, and currently works in education policy.
At The Marigold Effect, Phil brings a deep commitment to justice, a practical understanding of how institutions operate, and a natural inclination to ask the questions that help people see a problem differently.
His work focuses on helping organizations make thoughtful decisions, communicate ideas with consequence, and move toward a more equitable future. Outside of work, he enjoys live music and growing food and flowers at his community garden.
Notes from The Marigold Effect
Occasional writing on the solidarity economy, practical strategies for values-driven work, and lessons we can learn from nature and each other.