Dalberg Advisors promotes Swetha Totapally to APAC Regional Director

Global social impact consultancy Dalberg Advisors has promoted Mumbai-based Swetha Totapally to Regional Director of its Asia Pacific division.

Swetha Totapally brings around 15 years of experience to the role, the last 12 of which she spent with Dalberg Advisors. She joined the consulting firm from J.P. Morgan in 2011, and is a partner in the firm’s Indian business.

The Yale University graduate specializes in topics including social impact, inclusive growth, gender equality, technology for community development, and financial inclusion, among others. Totapally has advised corporations, donors, multilateral agencies and non-profits on strategy, market studies, implementation, and evaluations.

Totapally succeeds Gaurav Gupta, who earlier this year was promoted to Global Managing Partner of Dalberg Advisors – the management consulting arm of Dalberg, which also comprises the Dalberg Data Insights, Dalberg Design, Dalberg Implement, Dalberg Media, Dalberg Research, and Dalberg Catalyst.

“Swetha has been a foundation of our culture and built an enviable portfolio of work that represents the impact Dalberg seeks in the world. Swetha has been a champion of gender equality in the projects she delivers and in the way she has helped Dalberg improve on walking the talk. I am delighted and proud to be passing on the baton into her capable hands,” said Gupta.

Totapally leads a team that consists of over 250 staff, working on projects in India, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam, among others. Worldwide, Dalberg Advisors has more than 550 staff spread across more than 30 locations.

On her appointment, Totapally said: “My observation is that social impact has been growing in importance, but it remains secondary to GDP growth, corporate profits, and political agendas. Too often, rather than addressing inequities, institutions are perpetuating them or making only incremental improvements.”

“The good news is that there is now a growing recognition that we need to put people and environment first, that we need to address root causes, not just the symptoms of our challenges. Doing so will require transformative changes in how we think and work across all levels of society. I am excited for Dalberg to walk this journey with our partners to bring these changes to life.”