Asha Rao joined ROC USA Capital as its Deputy Director in January 2025, bringing years of experience in community development finance, both lending to CDFIs and within CDFIs to support affordable housing in lower-income communities across the country.
Laura focuses on loan origination and management, loan product development, and supporting the management and culture creation to help manage both current operations and future growth.
Previously, Asha worked at LISC Bay Area as Senior Director of Investments, where she led the office’s involvement in the Partnership for the Bay’s Future, a $500 million affordable housing initiative, as well as the local office lending activity. Prior to LISC, she spent seven years at Wells Fargo as a relationship manager, providing below-market-rate capital to CDFIs nationwide.
Asha earned an undergraduate business degree from Emory University and an MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University. Outside of ROC USA, Asha spends her time enjoying various outdoor activities and baking. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two children.