Dr. Ullas Rao

Dr. Ullas Rao brings over 15 years of rich experience in academia, consulting, and training, specializing in Finance and Strategy. He has held prominent positions at globally renowned institutions such as the London Institute of Banking and Finance (LIBF) MENA, Abu Dhabi, and Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University Dubai. In India, he has been previously associated with the SDM Institute for Management Development, Mysore.

A prolific researcher, Dr. Rao has published more than 20 research papers in esteemed journals, including ABS 2*/ABDC-B and Scopus-indexed publications. His contributions extend beyond academia as a columnist for Deccan Herald, where he writes on Finance, Banking, and Economy. His insights have also been featured in The Hindu Business Line. He also writes for India’s leading think-tank, Observer Research Foundation (ORF) headquartered in New Delhi on diverse areas in Economics

An accomplished educator, Dr. Rao employs Participant-Cantered Learning (PCL) methodologies, achieving high student satisfaction scores. He teaches a range of Finance courses such as Corporate Finance, Investment Analysis & Portfolio Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Applied Financial Modelling using Python.

Dr. Rao’s earned his PhD from the University of Mysore, India under the guidance of Dr. M.R.S. Murthy (PhD, Brimingham, UK). His work Mergers & Acquisitions is widely recognized for its significant contributions to theoretical finance receiving critical acclaim from the Delhi School of Economics. He has also authored the book Posterior Analysis of M&A in the International Financial Scenario, published by Scholars’ Press.

In addition to his academic prowess, Dr. Rao has consulted extensively with industry partners, designing customized finance programs and generating over USD 70,000 in revenue. He has organized four international conferences in Finance, bridging academia and industry collaboration.

He also earned the Post-Graduate Certification in Higher Education (PGCE) from Heriot-Watt University, UK. An Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Securities & Investment (CISI), UK, Dr. Ullas Rao is a thought leader in Finance, combining academic rigor with practical expertise to make impactful contributions to the field.