The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Director of Compliance and Enforcement at the Governor’s Office of the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), Yeshi Choki, was a Director in the Audit and Assurance team in the prestigious international company, Deloitte in Australia.
She could have stayed on in her job in Australia with a much higher pay package, but after the GMC announcement by His Majesty The King, Yeshi wanted to come back and serve.
Yeshi traces her roots to Mongar, though she was raised in Thimphu after being adopted by her biological mother’s sister at just five months old. Thimphu has been home ever since.
She completed her schooling at Jigme Namgyal Primary School, Motithang Higher Secondary School, and later at Yangchenphug Higher Secondary School. Her early years, she says, were defined by a childhood full of love, resilience, and deeply ingrained family values that shaped her path forward.
The values that stayed with her throughout her journey are simple but powerful: never lie, never cheat, and never bring shame to the family. Her mother’s outlook, that it was okay to fail, freed her from the fear of setbacks and encouraged her to explore with confidence. Her father’s promise of a reward if she scored well in school offered a light-hearted, motivating push. That balance of unconditional support and playful accountability gave her a mindset that would later allow her to thrive in some of the most demanding professional spaces.
After completing high school, she moved to Mangalore, Karnataka, to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce. Surrounded by peers who were preparing for tough professional courses like Chartered Accountancy (CA) and Company Secretary, she was inspired to pursue CA herself. With strong support from her Indian friends, she endured the rigorous demands of the program. “Every exam felt overwhelming. I remember crying just looking at the size of the books,” she recalls. But she persevered. After clearing her final CA exams, she uploaded her CV to a job portal, and soon received a call from Deloitte US-India for an audit role.
That opportunity led her to a three-year stint with Deloitte in India, during which she was selected for a secondment to Australia. Her performance there earned her a full-time role at Deloitte Australia. She rose through the ranks to become a Director in the Audit and Assurance team, where she led a specialist group responsible for national regulatory audits and stakeholder relationships.
Now 38, Yeshi looks back on her time abroad with gratitude. “I truly loved my time at Deloitte, well, maybe not during audit busy season!” she says. The work was challenging, but it pushed her to grow. What she values most are the people she met along the way, colleagues who became lifelong friends and mentors who helped her thrive in a competitive environment.
In October 2024, she began actively looking for opportunities to return home. By January 2025, her resume had reached Governor Dasho Dr Lotay Tshering, who got in touch immediately. After sharing a presentation on how her experience could contribute to GMC, she was invited for an interview and selected through a formal recruitment process.
She remembers vividly the moment she first heard His Majesty’s announcement of the Gelephu Mindfulness City on 17th December 2023. “This is such a remarkable opportunity for Bhutan and the Bhutanese people,” she recalls thinking. As someone from a financial background, she was particularly excited about the vision of an economic hub zone, one that could redefine Bhutan’s role in the global economy.
At GMC, Yeshi’s role is not just a professional shift, it’s a personal mission. Where her previous work focused on financial regulations and safeguarding investor interests, her responsibilities now extend far beyond. “I’m no longer just thinking about investors, I’m thinking about the King, the country, and the people,” she says. Every decision, she emphasizes, has an impact on the economy, the community, the culture and even the environment.
She acknowledges that the compensation isn’t on par with international roles, but that was never her priority. “I saw an invaluable opportunity to learn from the incredible leaders and experts involved in this project,” she says. “Sometimes, the knowledge, exposure, and sense of purpose outweigh monetary benefits.” Still, she jokes, “If I find my hair has turned completely grey, I might consider revisiting the conversation!”
Her personal vision is deeply aligned with the national vision: “If my contribution can help advance even 1% of His Majesty’s vision, I would consider it a privilege.” Drawing from her global experiences, she hopes to offer practical, grounded frameworks suited to Bhutan’s context. More importantly, she wants to empower her colleagues, sharing knowledge, building capacity, and helping ensure that the work they do today remains impactful and inclusive for generations.
To Bhutanese youth living or studying abroad, her message is clear: “This is a rare and meaningful moment in our nation’s history.” She urges them not to wait for the perfect job to come knocking. “Come forward and see how you can contribute. If you have ideas, skills, or energy to offer, there is always going to be a space here.”
“Bhutan is evolving,” she said, “and while there are more fulfilling career opportunities than before, it’s also about how you choose to create your own path.”
Quoting President John F. Kennedy, she concludes with conviction: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. This is that moment.”
