Priti Malhotra, MBA (she/her)
Director of Community & Human Relations
Hi, I’m Priti, Director of Community & Human Relations here at Blue Wave Behavioral Health. With four years of experience in mental health combined with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and background in business development, marketing, and project coordination, I bring a strategic yet deeply human approach to building meaningful relationships–both externally in our community and internally within our team.
I previously had the privilege of working alongside the founding members of the Blue Wave team at Teen and Family Therapy Centers of Silicon Valley, where I supported a team of 25 clinicians in operations and outreach while building relationships both within and beyond the organization. What drew me to Blue Wave is the shared vision and commitment to excellence that I’ve always valued in this team—and the opportunity to be part of something that’s truly mission-driven and community-rooted.
In my role at Blue Wave, I lead our community partnerships and outreach, strengthening existing connections and creating new pathways that connect young people, their families and care providers to the help that they need. I’m especially passionate about adolescent and school mental health. I thrive on collaboration and relationship-building, and I’m motivated to expand referral networks, deepen partnerships with schools and providers, and support Blue Wave’s growing impact in the Greater Bay Area. Whether I’m connecting with community partners or other providers, I always approach each relationship with warmth, genuine care, and a commitment to our shared goal: mental wellbeing for young people, their families, and those who support them.
Internally, I help shape our company culture and human relations, ensuring Blue Wave remains a place grounded in our core values of connection, ease, and holding each other. I’m known for my energy, empathy, and ability to bring people together—creating meaningful connections both within our practice and across the broader community. My MBA training and business operations experience allow me to support our growth strategically while staying true to our mission.
The Bay Area mental health community has been incredibly supportive and empathetic, and I’m honored to be part of it. Beyond my professional work, I’m deeply involved in my local community—volunteering at schools, writing recipes for the Town of Los Gatos newsletter, and always on the hunt for new coffee shops and hiking trails with my dog. I also love food blogging and finding hidden culinary gems around the Bay.
We’re building something unique here at Blue Wave, and I’m excited to help grow our community connections and partnerships. I can’t wait to connect with you!
From Founder, Makenzie Wesner:
Priti brings infectious energy, strategic vision, and genuine warmth to her role as Director of Community & Human Relations. Her ability to build authentic relationships—both within our team and across the broader community—has been instrumental in shaping Blue Wave’s culture and expanding our impact. What makes Priti truly invaluable is her unique combination of people skills and business acumen—she seamlessly bridges community-facing work with the behind-the-scenes operations that keep our practice running smoothly. I’m so grateful to work alongside her as part of our founding team!
