Full service consulting firm focused on accelerating impact-driven, mission-aligned ventures.
ABOUT US
Seema Shah is the Founder/Principal of Urban Strategies & Solutions, LLC, an NYC-based, MWBE-certified, economic development consultancy that advises clients on institutional expansion. We offer labor market analysis, operational support, stakeholder engagement, and programmatic strategy to launch, grow, or expand mission-aligned ventures. Clients include partners from the nonprofit, academic, government, foundation, and startup sectors.
OUR SERVICES
The firm specializes in eliciting and organizing relevant community-driven insight to ground research and planning. Communities we’ve worked with include small and large employers across industries, workforce participants, students and educators, potential customers and clients, municipal agencies and elected officials, and neighborhood residents. We offer three distinct practice areas:
- ROADMAPPING: We work with clients to develop a vision, create a strategy, and execute on a tactical plan of action focused on meeting policy, program, or pedagogical objectives.
- PARTNER DEVELOPMENT: We source and cultivate programming, supporting or sponsoring partnerships that align with client needs and financial goals.
- EVENT PLANNING: We design and arrange events and conferences to establish or expand reputational and thought leadership.
CLIENT SPOTLIGHT: ROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION
Government Engagement for Blue Ridge Labs (BRL) at the Robin Hood Foundation
BRL is the innovation lab at the Robin Hood that launches, accelerates, and invests in new technology ventures focused on fighting poverty in NYC. They launched a user research initiative called the “Design Insight Group” (DIG) nearly 10 years ago, and we are advising DIG on its national expansion into the government and public sector through strategic marketing, enhanced positioning, and partnership development. She is also advising on ways to enhance DIG service delivery through new methodologies, including focused one-on-one interviewing, focus group planning, product testing and feedback sessions, in addition to surveys, and workshops.
CLIENT SPOTLIGHT: NYC DEPT OF SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES
Industrial Working Group Facilitation with the NYC Department of Small Business Services and the Brooklyn Navy Yard
The Mayor launched the Industrial Working Group in June 2022 to chart the sector's post-pandemic future. We served as lead subject matter expert on workforce development, overseeing work related to research, group facilitation, and stakeholder engagement by bringing together leaders from the city's industrial and manufacturing sectors to address post-pandemic challenges and future opportunities.
CONTACT US
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ABOUT SEEMA
Seema earned her Executive MBA from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College, her Master’s in Urban Policy and Management from Milano, The New School University and her Bachelor's from Barnard College, Columbia University.
