We extend our appreciation to Arun Baheti, who will conclude his tenure as Vice President of Operations at The California Wellness Foundation at the end of this year. As Cal Wellness adopts a streamlined structure to strengthen integration across departments, the Vice President of Operations role will be phased out.
Arun has been a key member of the Management Team, an important contributor to the foundation’s work, and a valued presence across the organization.
Arun joined Cal Wellness in 2018 as the foundation’s first Vice President of Operations, building a team that has supported the organization through moments of growth, transition, and unprecedented challenge. His work has left a lasting imprint on how the foundation operates and how staff experience their work.
During his tenure, Arun transformed the IT function into a responsive and high-performing team that is now essential to the organization’s daily rhythm. He was integral in working with the grants management team to navigate complex compliance issues and system changes, offering both strategic insight and steady encouragement. When the COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down and required rapid decision-making, Arun played a central role in keeping staff informed, grounded, and protected. He closely tracked public health guidance and ensured we followed it, keeping us safe in our work. His overall leadership allowed us to shift to remote operations overnight and make grants to support communities in response.
Colleagues across Cal Wellness know Arun not only for his technical acumen but also for the humanity he brought to his work. He cultivated a strong operations team and consistently emphasized reliable, high-quality service across the foundation focused on staff feeling supported and confident in their work. One unique and valuable element of Arun’s work was establishing and building the foundation’s art collection, selecting artists whose work was reflective of the diverse cultures and communities we serve.
He approached emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, with curiosity and reasoned judgment. He has contributed generously to a myriad of cross-departmental work, often bringing a thoughtful question, a wry observation, or a moment of levity. His insight and steady leadership have enriched the foundation and those who have worked alongside him.
Arun’s professional experience prior to joining Cal Wellness reflects a career grounded in public service, organizational leadership, and systems expertise. And his civic commitments reflect a long-standing dedication to human rights and leadership development, serving as board chair of the Program for Torture Victims and on the board of Coro Southern California. Although his time at Cal Wellness is coming to a close, we are confident he will continue advancing work aligned with the values that have guided his career.
Arun, thank you for your committed service to Cal Wellness. We wish you all the best in your next chapter.