About Me

My name is Anand Rao.

I explore topics which encapsulate Origins and Edges - a practice of thinking in public to trace where ideas come from, where they could be going and what they might mean next. Across marketing, culture, tech and the craft of designing the self. I have an active interest in the areas of branding, strategy, and innovation, with a focus on history and futures. I have been blogging at different locations since early 2005, but Canvas is a focused attempt at writing consistently.

Since 2015, I have lived in Singapore and I work as a marketing and strategy professional in the banking and financial sector. Previously, I have worked as a strategy consultant, a brand marketing researcher, and as 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 worked in the media and in marketing research.

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

A short introduction about me 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, therefore, is getting better at this, incrementally.

I am big fan of reading and note taking. And using that to build one's erudition. I am a note-taking geek 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 an always hustle/grind mindset. It is not a badge of honour for me. I aspire to live an unrushed life. Monotasking, and accepting of imperfections. Actively choosing 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. But as always I am changing my mind. And now believe that in some seasons of life, focused intensity is necessary. 

I thrive as an Experimental creator, rather than as a Conceptual creator. I believe in progress over perfection. Create like nature does, through bricolage - or by slowly iterating. Never complete.

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

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