About Me

My name is Anand Rao.

I work in the area of brands, strategy, and innovation, with a focus on futures and scenarios. I have been blogging at different locations since early 2005, but Canvas is a focused attempt at using the blogging platform for writing.

I live in Singapore, where I moved to in 2015. I work as a strategy practitioner in the banking and financial sector. Previously, I have worked as a strategy consultant, a brand marketing researcher, and a professional futurist.

I am a lifelong learner, with a degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering and an MBA in Product Marketing and Management. I started my professional career in the manufacturing industry. Over the years, I have also worked in the media industry and in marketing research.

I have lived and worked in Singapore, New Delhi, London, Mumbai, Dubai, and Bangalore.

A short introduction about me as a person would include the following:

I believe in optimism and radical simplicity. But I am not always able to live by these. Self improvement for me is getting better at this.

I am big fan of reading and note taking. And using that to build one's erudition. I am an aficionado of this and explore writing notes physically, digitally and in different formats like mind-maps, to-do lists, checklists, and zettlekasten.
 
I am a recovering perfectionist. I am strongly against a hustle/grind mindset always. It is not a badge of honour for me. I would like to live a unrushed lifestyle. Monotasking. And accepting of imperfections. Choose an effortless mindset

I therefore believe in consistency over intensity. Like Roald Amundsen who worked towards advancing 20miles a day towards his goal of the South Pole, irrespective of good weather or bad weather.

I thrive as an Experimental creator, rather than as a Conceptual creator. I believe in progress over perfection. Create like nature does, thru bricolage. Iterate. 

If you like more of what I do, I am @anandvrao on X.

You can reach me by email: anand.rao5@gmail.com