Helmi is a director at the Global Policy Leadership Academy, a firm that specializes in creating immersive educational programs for policy leaders focused on fostering knowledge of best practices in housing around the world. During a 25-year career with the City of Los Angeles Helmi served as Deputy Mayor of Housing and was a senior level manager at the Los Angeles Housing Department and the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency. Throughout her career, she has worked with a wide range of civic, community, and elected leaders to advance affordable housing and economic development in the City of Los Angeles. Helmi is currently leading delegations of California policy makers to Vienna Austria to learn about the Vienna Social Housing Model. Helmi earned a BA in Comparative Literature from University of Southern California and an MBA from Cornell University with an emphasis in finance. Helmi attended the Harvard Kennedy School Program for Senior Executives in State and Local government and was awarded a Stanton Fellowship in 2016 for thought leadership in housing. She lives in Los Angeles.