Lotus Advisory supports leaders pursuing transformative change at the intersection of business, government, and community.

Our clients span a range of industries, sectors, and contexts, all united by a desire to achieve positive and lasting impact.

Our specialty is in being “cross-sector athletes” able to develop creative solutions informed by our diverse experiences in business, government, philanthropy, academia, and social enterprise. We are highly selective in our formal engagements to ensure that we can provide maximum value to our clients and tailor our services to their unique needs, challenges and aspirations.

From CEOs to Mayors, nonprofit executives to aspiring entrepreneurs, professional athletes to community advocates, Lotus helps leaders achieve game-changing impact.

Our Services

Lotus provides a range of strategic, consulting, and implementation services to a select portfolio of clients.

STRATEGIC ADVISORY

We help you chart a path to success, no matter the obstacles that stand in your way.

LEADERSHIP & EXECUTION

We can step in to any level of your org chart to lead teams and deliver results.

PUBLIC POLICY

We develop innovative solutions to help you navigate and collaborate with government.

RESEARCH & ANALYSIS

We dive deep into the data to uncover insights that frame choices and drive performance.

COMMUNICATIONS

We help you tell your story with clarity, authenticity, speed, and strategic discipline.

EXECUTIVE COACHING

We support and accelerate your professional development.

Leadership

Lotus was founded in 2015 by the brother-sister duo of Kunal and Monisha Merchant.

KUNAL MERCHANT

CO-FOUNDER

Kunal provides strategic, leadership, public policy and communications support to clients in sports, technology, real estate, public policy, and social enterprise.

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MONISHA MERCHANT

CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR

Monisha provides government affairs, program management, executive coaching, and financial analysis services to companies and nonprofits.

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Featured Clients

CalOZ

Trade Organization Launch and Strategy

Lotus leads a new nonprofit trade organization dedicated to maximizing the transformative potential of Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs) in California.

Airbnb

U.S. public policy

Lotus supports Airbnb’s work across the U.S. to engage policymakers and communities in crafting fair and effective policies for short-term rentals and the sharing economy.

Cal Alumni Association

FINANCE, OPERATIONS AND GROWTH STRATEGY

Lotus provides strategic advisory, leadership development, financial management, and endowment analysis to the official alumni association for the University of California at Berkeley, a 90,000+ member organization that is one of the largest dues-paying alumni associations in the world.

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

STRATEGY AND POLICY ANALYSIS

Lotus provided strategic advisory, public policy and analytic support to inform the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative’s work to expand housing affordability in California.

Sacramento Republic FC

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER Expansion Bid

Lotus served as a top strategist and project manager for Sacramento’s successful bid to secure a new Major League Soccer expansion club and develop a new soccer-specific stadium at the downtown Sacramento Railyards.

Oakland Athletics

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ballpark development

Lotus provided strategic advisory, public policy, and communications, and community engagement support to the Oakland Athletics in their pursuit of a new, privately-financed Major League Baseball stadium in Oakland.

MLS2Nashville

Major league soccer expansion bid

Lotus served as a top strategist and project manager for Nashville’s successful - and improbable - 2017 bid to secure a new Major League Soccer expansion club and stadium in Music City.

Sacramento Kings

NEW ARENA DEVELOPMENT

Lotus played a central role in the development and financing of the award-winning $1.5B Golden 1 Center and Downtown Commons project in downtown Sacramento, including development of the project’s labor, community benefits, equity, and sustainability initiatives.