Rahul Rao
Bengaluru
Summary
Strategic and execution-focused Chief of Staff with extensive experience in program management, product operations, and R&D strategy planning. Adept at driving organizational efficiency, structuring high-performing teams, and aligning execution with business objectives. Proven track record of optimizing cross-functional collaboration, budget management, and supporting C-suite executives in high-growth environments.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief of Staff – COO’s Office
Mindtickle
Pune
02.2022 - Current
- Led R&D strategy planning and execution, aligning product and engineering initiatives with overall business goals
- Partnered with the finance, product, and engineering leadership teams to drive capacity planning, budgeting, and cost optimization
- Developed strategic frameworks for roadmap planning and prioritization within R&D
- Monitored and optimized Product & Engineering costs, improving cost of goods sold (COGS) and gross margins
- Provided executive support, preparing leadership for customer and board meetings, and driving alignment across R&D
Program Manager – CTO’s Office
Mindtickle
Pune
04.2020 - 01.2022
- Designed and structured product and engineering teams to enhance productivity
- Managed strategic initiatives, including SOC2 Type II certification and migration of legacy systems
- Defined and tracked OKRs for the Product & Engineering teams to improve performance
- Resolved customer escalations by coordinating with GTM, Product, and Engineering teams
Lead, Product Operations
Mindtickle
Pune
07.2018 - 03.2020
- Managed cross-functional projects, improving efficiency across product, engineering, and operations teams
- Defined metrics for cloud hosting cost calculations, optimizing cost of goods sold (COGS)
- Spearheaded team meetings and set strategic agendas to ensure alignment across functions
Sales Engineering & Operations
Mindtickle
Pune
11.2015 - 10.2017
- Provided technical support for revenue teams, from pre-sales to post-sales
- Led pilot programs and secured technical wins for over 40 accounts
- Developed sales collateral, pitch decks, and custom demos tailored to client needs
Customer Success Manager
Mindtickle
Pune
08.2013 - 10.2015
- Managed enterprise accounts across India and the US, ensuring customer satisfaction and retention
- Led client onboarding, account management, problem resolution, and renewal negotiations
Business Operations Associate
Mindtickle
Pune
01.2013 - 07.2013
- Handled post-sales customer engagement, billing, and renewals
- Implemented best practices to improve customer deployments
Team Lead, Training & Data Management
Atharva Informatics Pvt. Ltd.
08.2011 - 09.2012
- Designed and led a two-week onboarding program for sales teams, enhancing training efficiency
- Managed website content creation for new customers, ensuring brand consistency and market visibility
Tele-Marketing Executive
Atharva Informatics Pvt. Ltd.
04.2011 - 07.2011
- Achieved monthly sales quotas by selling advertising spots and website packages to MSMEs
Skills
- R&D Strategy Planning & Execution
- Program & Project Management
- Budgeting & Cost Optimization
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Roadmap & OKR Planning
- Customer Success
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Executive Support & Board-Level Reporting
Professional Development
On Deck Fellow – Chief of Staff Program, 08/01/21, Present, Continuous learning in leadership, strategic planning, and business operations.
Timeline
Chief of Staff – COO’s Office
Mindtickle
02.2022 - Current
Program Manager – CTO’s Office
Mindtickle
04.2020 - 01.2022
Lead, Product Operations
Mindtickle
07.2018 - 03.2020
Sales Engineering & Operations
Mindtickle
11.2015 - 10.2017
Customer Success Manager
Mindtickle
08.2013 - 10.2015
Business Operations Associate
Mindtickle
01.2013 - 07.2013
Team Lead, Training & Data Management
Atharva Informatics Pvt. Ltd.
08.2011 - 09.2012
Tele-Marketing Executive
Atharva Informatics Pvt. Ltd.
04.2011 - 07.2011
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