People
We offer exemplary leadership, management and delivery track record with experience in public sector, private sector and development sector complemented by formal training in management, business administration, finance, economics, international relations, and engineering.
Alumni
Kushal Puri
Project Manager (2017-18)
Kushal, former Project Manager at VRock, spearheaded the Infrastructure Development and Financial Sustainability (IDFS) project, aiming to transform municipalities nationwide. As one of the earliest team members, he built high-performing teams, product lines, and engaged clients. Previously, Kushal served as a Project Manager at The Asia Foundation. He holds a BA with Honors from Trinity College and an MBA from MIT. Currently, he delves into understanding the technology ecosystem driving the US economy.
Kushal Puri
Project Manager
Alumni
Nishma Shah
Legal Analyst (2017-18)
Nishma Shah, former Legal Analyst at VRock, shaped the subnational legal landscape. With expertise in commercial law, she managed online registration systems and represented companies within a Nepali conglomerate. Nishma is a national award-winning orator and debater, participating in regional moot courts and elocution competitions. She holds a Bachelor in Arts and Law from National Law College and is a licensed lawyer by Nepal Bar Council. Currently, Nishma is pursuing her Juris Doctor Course at the University of Technology Sydney, gaining Australian work experience as a Legal Assistant at CM Lawyers.
Nishma Shah
Legal Analyst
Alumni
Prashant Pratap Shah
Financial Analyst (2018)
Prashant, former Financial Analyst at VRock & Company, conducted quantitative analysis and financial modeling for projects, corporate planning, and provided capacity support to the energy sector. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Tufts University in Massachusetts. Currently, Prashant serves as Project Director at Pashupati Renewables and is involved in developing solar and hydro power projects in Nepal alongside his main role.
Prashant Pratap Shah
Financial Analyst
Alumni
Sudeep Bahadur Singh
Team Lead, Gateway to Prosperity Project (2018)
Sudeep Bahadur Singh, former Team Lead at VRock for the Gateway to Prosperity project with Buddha Air, provided strategic guidance and management. He previously held senior roles in national and international development agencies and excelled in sports, representing Nepal in badminton and squash. Sudeep’s interdisciplinary background in economics and development drives his passion for inclusive business models and leveraging the private sector for Nepal’s development goals. He holds master’s degrees in Development Studies and Anthropology. Currently, Sudeep works as a Consultant for Reconstruction and Recovery Coordination at Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Nepal.
Sudeep Bahadur Singh
Team Lead
Alumni
Ashis Gyawali
Senior Manager (2017-19)
Ashis Gyawali, former Senior Manager at VRock, led the company’s financial advisory services to both public and private sectors. Prior to VRock, he spent four years as a financial analyst at the Office of Investment Board Nepal, evaluating mega projects. Before that, Ashis co-managed treasury and correspondent banking functions at a major Nepali bank, and served as the manager of strategy and business development at a video animation company. He also taught management and risk mitigation courses at a business school in Kathmandu. Ashis holds a post-graduate degree in Management from the Indian School of Business. Currently, he serves as a Financial and Business Analyst at BCIB in Vancouver, Canada.
Ashis Gyawali
Senior Manager
Alumni
Siddhartha Pant
Senior Financial Analyst (2018-19)
Siddhartha, former Senior Financial Analyst at VRock, provided insights in infrastructure finance, investment management, energy finance, and risk management. Prior, he served in the Private Wealth Management Division at Merrill Lynch, focusing on investment analysis and portfolio management. At Spinnaker Capital, Siddhartha handled investment analysis and transaction processing for private equity and venture capital investments. He graduated summa cum laude from Northeastern University, majoring in Business Administration and Mathematics. Siddhartha is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Science at Northeastern University and will be interning at Kroll Bond Rating Agency and MFS Investment Management. His career aspirations lie in Quantitative Modeling and Machine Learning.
Siddhartha Pant
Senior Financial Analyst
Alumni
Upasana Kasaju
Research Analyst (2018-19)
Upasana Kasaju, former Research Analyst at VRock, led innovative initiatives for the Gateway to Prosperity project with Buddha Air. Prior, she conducted research at Aircel, India, and contributed to NGOs in Bangalore. With experience in London and Dharma Adventures, Upasana holds degrees in Business Management and International Marketing. A former national-level basketball player and Bharat Natyam dancer, she moved to Canada in 2021, seeking opportunities in her field.
Upasana Kasaju
Research Analyst
Alumni
Yukti Olee
Senior Officer (2018-19)
Yukti, former Senior Officer (Operations) at VRock, is highly motivated with strong communication skills and a passion for management and customer service. Previously, she served as a Sales Manager at Heathrow Airport for seven years, managing corporate clients, ensuring compliance, and promoting marketing goals. Yukti holds a Bachelor’s degree from F.W Taylor Management College, Kathmandu, and currently serves as a Customer Service Team Leader at the British Council Nepal.
Yukti Olee
Senior Officer
Alumni
Sashreek Shrestha
Analyst (2018-20)
Sashreek, former Analyst at VRock, focused on infrastructure, energy, and economic empowerment projects, particularly in hydropower financing and energy demand analysis. Previously, he worked at an education non-profit in New York, bridging the education gap between public and private high schools. Sashreek also achieved remarkable success managing a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for a tea company. He graduated cum laude from Colby-Sawyer College with a bachelor’s degree in Business and is currently pursuing an MBA at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business as a Batten Scholar.
Sashreek Shrestha
Analyst
Alumni
Asmita Niraula
Senior Analyst (2020-21)
Asmita Niraula, former Senior Analyst at VRock within the Energy Team, conducted financial feasibility studies for hydropower companies and devised revenue mechanisms for entities like Nepal Electricity Authority. Prior to VRock, she interned at Accenture in Paris and worked as an International Accountant at US Risk in Dallas. Asmita holds master’s degrees in International Business from Queen’s University, Canada, and in Management with a major in Business Analytics from ESSEC, France. She has also participated in study-abroad programs at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, and George Mason University, USA.
Asmita Niraula
Senior Analyst
Ashmita Pandey
Financial Specialist
Swadeepa Bohara
Senior Analyst
Alumni
Sarvodaya Thapa
Intern (2021)
Sarvodaya, former intern at VRock, contributed to the Administration and Finance department, assisting with research, graphic design, and administrative tasks. With a passion for business, Sarvodaya utilized his post-graduation gap year to delve into branding, marketing, and event management. Transitioning to freelancing, Sarvodaya founded “Persephone,” offering branding and marketing solutions. Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at Warsaw Management University, ranked #9 in the Central European region, he also holds an International Baccalaureate Diploma from Ullens School in Kathmandu.
Sarvodaya Thapa
Intern
Alumni
Sefina Joshi
Executive Coordinator (2021-22)
Sefina Joshi, former Executive Coordinator at VRock, brings extensive experience in administrative tasks and effective office management. With a background in both development and private sectors, she adeptly tailors her skills to meet diverse client needs. Committed to social welfare projects, she holds a Bachelor’s in Social Work and is pursuing a Master’s in Sociology. Prior roles at Jade Consult and as an intern at the Risk Management Office honed her management, communication, and finance skills. Active participation in events like EmpowHer 2016 and Women Leadership Summit 2019 enhanced her leadership and problem-solving abilities. Sefina is a determined individual with commendable leadership qualities, embracing challenges for substantial growth.
Sefina Joshi
Executive Coordinator
Alumni
Anna S. Gautam
Senior Analyst (2022)
Anna, former senior analyst at VRock & Company, coordinated projects with Province 3 government and led PPP implementation in three municipalities. Her responsibilities included creating tools, conducting gap assessments, and engaging with sub-national governments on-site. With expertise in Nepal’s federalism implementation, Anna brought policy-level knowledge of local and provincial government, gained from her work as a research analyst for the Swiss Development Corporation and as a research coordinator for the Democracy Resource Center. She holds a master’s degree in Development Studies from the Graduate Institute, Geneva, Switzerland, and a bachelor’s degree in International Politics from Aberystwyth University, UK.
Anna S. Gautam
Senior Analyst
Alumni
Nishu Baral
Senior Analyst (2022)
Nishu, who served as a Senior Analyst at VRock, was involved in implementing municipal projects through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and facilitating the establishment of an environment conservation fund. With three years of professional experience in business advisory, research, and project management, she brings expertise in inclusive business models and leveraging the private sector for developmental goals in Nepal. Before joining VRock, Nishu provided consulting services to SMEs and m-SMEs across Nepal and worked at a Big 4 in Boston, USA. She holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies in Brighton, UK, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Providence College, Rhode Island, USA, including a year abroad at the London School of Economics.
Nishu Baral
Senior Analyst
Alumni
Prashant Raj Pandey
Manager (2022)
Prashant, a former VRock employee, specialized in microeconomic policy with a focus on energy economics and policy impact evaluation. During his tenure at VRock, he managed the Infrastructure Development and Financial Sustainability (IDFS) project, aimed at addressing financing constraints of partner municipalities and enhancing their service delivery capacity. Currently, Prashant is engaged with the World Bank. He holds a Master’s degree in International and Development Economics from the Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, and has received multiple awards, including the prestigious Australian Awards, General Cultural Scholarship, and Dr. Thakur Nath Pant Scholarship.
Prashant Raj Pandey
Manager
Alumni
Raunak Thapa
Senior Analyst (2022)
Raunak, a former Senior Analyst at VRock, specialized in policy analysis, research, and advisory support for Nepal’s energy sector. He conducted financial analyses for hydropower projects and contributed to the development of investment memorandums. With a focus on enhancing Nepal’s energy security, Raunak also promoted initiatives like electric cooking and transportation. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Bangalore University, India. Prior to his Master’s education, Raunak worked in the private sector promoting rooftop solar during Nepal’s load shedding era.
Raunak Thapa
Senior Analyst
Alumni
Aagya Niraula
Senior Analyst (2021-23)
Aagya, a former Senior Analyst at VRock & Company, specialized in Electric Power System Management, holding a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. Her role focused on projects such as Electric Vehicle Ecosystem and Power Trading and Tariff, and she participated in USAID’s Urja Nepal Project within the Energy Team at VRock. Aagya, recipient of multiple awards including the prestigious Nepal Bidhya Bhusan “Kha” Award and President Robert B. Banks Scholarship, shared her expertise as a lecturer with over 3 years of teaching experience.
Aagya Niraula
Senior Analyst
Alumni
Pravin Bhandari
Intern (2023)
Pravin Bhandari interned at VRock after graduating from the University of Edinburgh with a master’s degree in mathematics. Upon returning to Nepal to gain work experience and spend time with family, he contributed to VRock’s business strategy, data analysis, and project assistance. A driven worker with robust analytical skills, he eagerly sought to enhance his abilities further during his tenure at VRock.
Pravin Bhandari
Intern
Alumni
Pratik Karki
Technical Manager (2021-23)
Pratik Karki, former Technical Manager at VRock, has over eight years of experience in the energy sector, collaborating with private organizations and intergovernmental partners such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). His expertise spans energy data management, analysis, and research, focusing on topics such as cross-border electricity trade, hydropower finance, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. With a multi-disciplinary background in electrical engineering and a Master’s degree in Engineering specialized in energy planning, policy, and economics from the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Pratik worked on various components of the USAID-supported Urja Nepal program and is currently engaged with GGGI.
Pratik Karki
Technical Manager
Alumni
Alabhya Dahal
Senior Analyst (2021–23)
Alabhya Dahal, former Senior Analyst at VRock & Company, spearheaded the South Asia Grant Program, fostering public-private partnerships for economic development. With over 5 years of quantitative research experience in Nepal’s development sector, he collaborated with organizations like SAWTEE and the Niti Foundation. Alabhya’s expertise spans economic development, trade, policy analysis, and impact evaluation, with hands-on project experience in trade promotion, migration, household economies, and TVET education. He holds a master’s degree in Economics from Tribhuvan University and is currently pursuing Business Analytics at the University of California, San Diego.
Alabhya Dahal
Senior Analyst
Alumni
Priyanka Pradhan
Senior Analyst (2023-24)
During her tenure as a Senior Analyst at VRock, Priyanka was an integral member of the Governance Team, spearheading the development and execution of Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects in sub-national governments. With over five years of experience in Nepal’s public and private sectors, she specialized in urban infrastructure management and service delivery. Prior to joining VRock, Priyanka provided technical assistance for various urban planning, infrastructure, heritage conservation, and regeneration projects in Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the Town Development Fund. She also contributed to initiatives at consulting firms and a non-profit organization. Throughout her career, she collaborated closely with diverse stakeholders, including governmental bodies, donor agencies, private sectors, community groups, and local stakeholders. Priyanka holds a Master’s degree in Urban Planning and a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Tribhuvan University in Nepal and is currently pursuing MBA in Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand.
Priyanka Pradhan
Senior Analyst
