Vinika Rao

Research Interests: Gender diversity in corporate leadership; male allyship; millennials & multigenerational influences in the workplace; and emerging markets strategy.

Vinika started her career with a multinational bank in India, went on to become General Manager of an American Asian JV in the field of industrial chemicals, and later became the Managing Director of a listed company in Indonesia. She co-founded a boutique advisory firm working with mid-cap SE Asian companies, before making a serendipitous transition to Education. Prior to joining INSEAD, she was Associate Professor of Strategy at the S.P. Jain Centre of Management, Singapore. She is frequently invited to speak on her research interests and has been quoted / published in leading business publications including Forbes, Economist, Business Times, South China Morning Post, Harvard Business Review and INSEAD Knowledge.

Vinika is passionate about supporting women managers to make fulfilling work-life decisions, aiming to do this through active sponsorship rather than mentorship alone. She strives to engage both men and women in the effort to foster gender balance and create equity, diversity and inclusion in their organizations and communities. She currently serves on the boards of a non-profit organization and a think-tank. She is also Ambassador, Power Women of India; Council of Leaders, Women Icons Network; and International Advisory Committee, Mody University for Women.