Role Players 2024

Shalini Rao is a seasoned marketer with a diverse background in retail, FMCG, and hospitality. With a track record of successful product launches and redefining marketing strategies for global brands, she has held leadership positions with renowned companies like the Taj Group, TetraPak, Mars, Gillette, Marico, Captain Cook, and McKinsey & Company. Shalini's career highlights include relaunching the Taj Inner Circle loyalty program and crafting market entry strategies for Pedigree.
In her current role as Chief Marketing Officer and Diversity & Inclusion leader at Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), she shapes brand stories, fosters inclusivity, and contributes to social change through board membership in the organisation’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Foundation. Shalini's leadership style emphasises a balance between performance metrics, coaching and learning, promoting collaboration within and between teams.
Despite spending over two decades in the industry, she maintains a commitment to continuous learning, evident in her recent completion of the Senior Executive Leadership Program at Cornell. Recognised as one of Asia's 100 Women Power Leaders 2023 by White Page International, she continues to be one of the top voices to follow on LinkedIn