Crossover Catalyst

Connecting talent with purpose

We believe that organizations tackling the world’s most complex social challenges deserve access to the best talent, wherever it may be.

What we do

We help recruit leaders and top teams for social impact organizations

For organizations

We spend the time to learn what skills and capabilities they need, as well as their culture and context, so we can find the right fit, always maintaining discretion and independence.

For professionals

We understand their strengths, motivations and aspirations and play the role of trusted transition advisors.

Our Team

Moomal Mehta

Founder

I founded Crossover Catalyst with one simple intention: to connect the best talent with the most impactful opportunities in a transparent and thoughtful way. In the past nine years, I have experienced the excitement of learning about non-profits with big dreams, the wonder of conversations with capable professionals ready for a fresh start in new domains, and the joy of creating meaningful matches between the two. That I get to work with a team I admire and adore is a bonus!

I have studied genetics and business management, worked at a multinational bank and a non-profit, and am a parent to two girls in their early twenties. I love Bombay, gardening, yoga, spending time with friends, reading, travel and dancing, and am working on being spontaneous.

Sabiha Lala

Chief Research Officer

I became a core part of the Crossover Catalyst team very early in our journey - our intent to use talent as a lever of impact in the social sector resonates deeply with me. Research and 'solving for fit' are my areas of passion and interest, and that is the work I lead at Crossover. I have over five years of prior social sector leadership search experience, and an undergraduate degree from Nirmala Niketan.

I have lived and worked in Bombay all my life. I love Bollywood movies and songs, and Zumba is a newfound interest. I want to travel across the world, and one day, build a small school for underprivileged children.

Manu Khanna

Principal Consultant

After trying my hand at everything from HR, client management to social media and training and development, I finally found my groove in the impact sector. At Crossover Catalyst, I love that our work blends heart and strategy-placing the right people in roles that truly matter.

I studied at Delhi College of Arts & Commerce, pursued PGDHRM from Symbiosis Pune, and earned a Six Sigma credential from IIT Delhi-so yes, I enjoy both people and process.

When I am not connecting leaders to meaningful roles, you will find me reading, journaling, or bingeing a good show on Netflix and pursuing a passion to promote the holistic well-being of communities. I live in Delhi with my family.

Bianca Mascarenhas

Lead Researcher

What started nearly five years ago as an intent to contribute in a small way to social impact has, in fact, given me a deep insight into the intricacies, challenges and extraordinary work of impact sector professionals - something that I would not have gained otherwise.

My earlier career was shaped by diverse experiences across the media, hospitality, airlines and banking sectors with various corporates in India and abroad. The pivot to the social impact space came through an HR role in a management consulting firm, where I worked for over seven years. A brief stint with a top OTT platform left me yearning to get back to more purpose-driven and people-centered work.

I majored in Ancient Indian Culture from St. Xavier's College, Bombay. I am a javaphile who loves dogs, dark chocolate, craft and Country music, not particularly in that order. I live in Bombay with my husband and our two sons.

Anjana Oza

Consultant

Having been with Crossover Catalyst for over a year now, I can confidently say that it has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I am fortunate to work alongside some of the most dedicated and thoughtful individuals, and to contribute, albeit indirectly, to the social sector, which has long been close to my heart.

My professional journey began in education, where I worked as an educator. That experience deepened my commitment to societal impact and inspired me to explore ways to engage more meaningfully with the world around me.

I hold a degree in History from Sophia College, Mumbai, and am currently in the process of shaping a fulfilling and purpose driven early career. Outside of work, I am an avid cat lover and feel right at home in Bombay.

Hear from our client organizations

"We engaged Moomal and the Crossover Catalyst team to help us fill a senior-level leadership role in India. They took the time to make sure they understood our organization, the requirements of the role, and our needs in India before beginning the search, and offered thoughtful feedback based on their own deep knowledge of the social sector in the region. The team was organized and efficient, offering guidance, candor, and clear communication throughout every step of the process. Ultimately, they provided us with such a strong shortlist that we decided to build out a second role so that we could hire two candidates. We would wholeheartedly recommend Crossover Catalyst to anyone looking for high-quality talent in India."

Asha Curran

CEO

GivingTuesday

"Crossover Catalyst is a social mission driven, executive search firm that enables corporate leadership talent to transition to a "win-win fit" in the development sector. They successfully supported Bridgespan on a critical mandate to recruit managerial talent in our Mumbai office. Moomal, their founder, has a hard nose for talent and is meticulous in understanding not only the needs, ambitions and values of her client but more importantly, of leaders who wish to devote themselves to meaningful social impact work. At a time when the real crunch in India's social sector is moving beyond finances to talent, Crossover Catalyst's contribution is pivotal. Our experience with them was refreshing in all ways – keen intuition combined with strong problem solving, clear communication, friendly and candid workstyle, and razor focus on impact more than the commercials of the deal. Highly recommend them!"

Pritha Venkatachalam

Partner

The Bridgespan Group

"The Search cum Selection Committee of the IIM Calcutta Board of Governors had to follow a rigorous process in the choice of a search partner for the crucial position of Director for the Institute. Our experience in working with Crossover Catalyst, and Moomal, in particular, was excellent; she was very professional and responsive to our varying demands and added value at every stage of this complex process with her thoughtful, meticulous, and incisive actions, in her commitment to getting the right outcome for IIM Calcutta. I believe we made the right choice in selecting Crossover for this important search: they are experienced, dedicated, and diligent, and I wish Moomal and her team many more successes in their journey ahead."

Rupa Mahanty

Member BoG

IIM Calcutta

"We were very fortunate to work with Moomal, and Crossover Catalyst, during our CEO transition period at Akanksha. What is unique is their care for the work that social sector organizations do, for their ability to dive deep to learn the DNA of an organization and to understand who would best meet its needs and fit its culture. Along with this are wonderful qualities of listening, empathizing and yet being relentless in the pursuit of ultimate success - matching great organizations with effective leaders."

Vandana Goyal

Former CEO

The Akanksha Foundation

"Patience and persistence - leading to perfection. This could well be the Crossover Catalyst motto. The depth with which they seek to understand the organisation and the position, right at the outset, has always ensured good fits. For HUF, Crossover Catalyst has evolved as a valued partner we trust - with grace, with efficiency and with empathy."

Shraman Jha

CEO

Hindustan Unilever Foundation

"Crossover Catalyst was an exceptional partner for our Managing Director search at Code.org, where our mission is to bring computational thinking and AI literacy to children in K-12 classrooms across every school in India; they delivered highly strategic candidates and guided us through the entire recruitment process with expertise and care."

Forest Key

VP International Development

code.org

Hear from our candidates

"Moomal brings to her job a most unusual combination of robust professional experience and deep human understanding. Having spent many years as a corporate executive herself, she is able to connect with both organisations seeking talent and senior individuals looking for opportunities and achieve the right outcomes for both. I was the first person for whom she paved the way into a new career, and I can understand completely where the name Crossover Catalyst comes from."

Ali Imran

Vice President, External Engagement

Ashoka University

"When I applied for a role with GivingTuesday's new hub in India, I was certain that joining the organization would be absolutely fulfilling. Little did I know that the whole recruitment process for this role, managed by Crossover Catalyst would also be equally fulfilling. From the very first conversations with Moomal, Bianca, and the rest of their team, I was impressed by a rare form of professionalism that oozed with compassion and a desire to deeply understand each candidate's aspirations and skills. They turned the usually lonely process of recruitment into a joyful ride with moments when I felt like they were a part of my team, cheering me on. I really appreciated the preparatory calls, reminders, and follow-ups which clearly show that they go beyond just being facilitators of this process. I wish you continued success in supporting civil society organizations in the country, tackle the much talked about talent crunch with one successful crossover at a time."

Kavita Mathew

Director of Programs and Partnerships - India

GivingTuesday

"Rarely does one come across people, let alone recruiters, who are able to 'see you' in the manner you see and understand yourself. From my first conversation with Moomal and thereon with Bianca, I felt the way they carried and communicated my journey and my future aspirations was exactly the way I would have liked to. This was evident in the detailed conversations both had and the copious amount of notes they took! The continuous and constant support that they provided, for validating what I was looking for but also carefully shaping it for what worked best for both me and the organisation reflected their determination to ensure a mutual match in a respectful, sensitive, fair, generous and transparent manner. At a certain point I knew that even if nothing lay at the end of the road, the journey and experience with them itself had been rewarding!"

Priyanka Varma

Country Director

Inlaks Shivadasani Foundation

"Crossover Catalyst has been such a wonderful support system throughout my transition into the social sector. They helped me land my current role at Avanti, and the entire process — from understanding the role, clarifying my doubts, to scheduling interviews — was incredibly smooth. They were always available, super responsive, and genuinely invested in making sure I was comfortable and well-informed at every step. What really stood out was the continued support even after I joined. They kept checking in regularly, just to see how things were going and if I was facing any challenges. Moving from the corporate world to the social sector can be a big shift, and they truly understand that. Their empathy, guidance, and commitment to making sure you're equipped to navigate that change is something I deeply appreciate."

Ruchika Khemani

CSR Lead

Avanti Fellows