Swati Patil Rao

VAB is an exclusive, highly personalised boutique platform that brings together outstanding C-suite leaders from around the world to address complex business challenges across industries, categories, and geographies.

Took on expanded remit for Dr. Jart+’s Global Hub in Korea, supporting APAC, EMEA, and US markets. Rebuilt the fulfillment strategy to maximize ROI from network transformation and enable scalable channel growth with superior customer experience. Led a Pan-APAC CI program to tighten cost discipline and boost efficiency across warehouse operations, fit-for-use requirements, and last-mile delivery. Leading a team of 14 (with 4 directors) and matrix responsibility for market fulfillment teams.

Spearheaded APAC’s distribution transformation, moving from in-house to outsourced 3PL operations with strengthened VAS capabilities and warehouse automation. Delivered new Omni-DCs in Singapore, Australia, and Thailand and consolidated component/materials warehousing in Japan. Responsibility for APAC’s regional DCs in Singapore (70% of APAC volume) and Japan, and oversight for 20+ Omni-DCs outsourced by leading 3PL partners. Built the region’s operational excellence framework, drumbeats, PDCA culture, and best-in-class standards for network studies, RFPs, and contract management. Led a regional team of 8 (2 Directors) with matrix leadership across market fulfillment teams.

Developed and designed "Supply Chain: The Inside Stories" — a practitioner-led content series used in teaching and executive sessions to bring real-world supply chain decisions and trade-offs to life. Guest Faculty in Supply Chain and Operations at SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business and NUS Business School, delivering focused sessions on supply chain nuances. Panel Moderator at the 4th Smart Supply Chain & Logistics Innovation Summit (2025), facilitating discussions on digitalisation, resilience, and future-ready supply chain capabilities. Speaker at She Circle – Singapore American School (2023), sharing career and leadership insights with emerging female leaders. Speaker at Movers & Shakers, APAC Summit (2020), presenting on supply chain adaptation in a rapidly shifting global landscape.

Leading supply chain & logistics for the USD 1 billion animal pharma business in APAC & Greater China with unique responsibility for demand planning, supply planning, logistics and warehousing operations for 24 markets, 8 core business units and 5 major product categories in the region. Leading a team of 40+ colleagues to deliver supply chain excellence (cost, cash & customer service)

Responsible for the USD 400 million Asia Pacific Skin & Personal care supply chain with unique responsibility for regional S&OP process, supply chain strategy and Operational Excellence (Supply Planning, inventory management, long term capacity planning, customer service, initiative delivery, Transportation & warehousing) Led a team of 20+regional managers to deliver planning excellence (cost, cash & customer service) Part of Business unit Leadership Team . Managed career planning, budgets and performance appraisals.

Responsible for the innovation program for USD 400 million Asia Pacific Skin & Personalcare Portfolio with unique responsibility for innovation planning & portfolio sufficiency, resource capacity planning and top management engagement. Part of Business unit Leadership Team and Global Domain Innovation Lead Team. Led a team of 5 program managers to deliver product & packaging restage (upgrade) for 70% of the portfolio in record 11 months.

Responsible for driving the innovation programs for $0.7bn Personal Care portfolio (Global Safeguard, Olay Body & Camay Brand) As the project manager, orchestrated a diverse and geographically dispersed multi functional team including Marketing, Market Research, Finance, R&D and product design with unique accountability for planning & execution of new product launch & global whitespace launch. Pioneered the creation of operating processes and management drumbeats to enable flawless startup for the newly constituted global franchise team. Partnered with GM/ Marketing directors to revamp the Brand strategy to meet unique Asian consumer needs.

Program manager for $250 milliom Olay Skincare portfolio across 7 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Philipinnes, Indonesia, Korea, and India. Revamped the Brand Innovation strategy to meet unique Asian consumer needs by partnering with GM/ Marketing Directors Coached a team of 3 program managers in managing complex initiative operations including supply chain setup, product conversions and initiative inventory management.

Lead the S&OP process & demand forecasting for 450 million India business (growing at 150% Y-O-Y, on a volume basis). Part of the Core team which successfully launched Pampers, Whisper Choice, Olay and Shiksha (CSR initiative) in India. Delivered best-in-class forecast accuracy for 3 years in a row. Crafted a market-focused Innovation strategy & business growth model by partnering with Sales, Finance & Marketing Directors. This model has since been replicated across 5 countries in APAC. Key player for the P&G Asia Gillette Integration Team.

Responsible for supply chain (cost, inventory & service) and logistics (warehouse operations) for the biggest P&G manufacturing facility/plant in India - First ever women manager of P&G India! Led a team of 11 members in designing & delivery of end-to-end supply chain readiness plan for the biggest value correction interventions in the history of P&G India. Member of the plant leadership team responsible for developing & executing agile competitive defense plans, delivering storage/inventory cost savings (~22% YoY) and leading SAP 4.5 implementation

Joined as Graduate Engineer Trainee - 1999. Among top 3 students to be selected via campus recruitment Part of the team which led implementation of ERP (BaaN) implementation at the Heavy Engineering Division (Powai Site).