Finance, Business, and Commercial Strategy Advisor
2022 - PRESENT
Rathi Digi-Shastra Advisors
- Co-founded a boutique CFO advisory to be a trusted finance and strategy advisor. Worked with entrepreneurs, like startups, scaleups, and SMEs in Switzerland, Europe, US, and India. Helped them build and grow their businesses.
- Advised clients in diverse business and finance roles across multiple industries. Worked across various industries, resulting in a diverse business and finance background.
- Utilized CFO Advisory to work directly with the leadership team to achieve efficient and positive results.
- Helped entrepreneurs raise capital in the early stages of growth.
Focus areas: Business Strategy, Commercial Strategy, Portfolio Management, Resource Allocation, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Working Capital Management, Value Chain, CFO, Startup Consulting, Startup Growth Strategy Development, CAPEX Budgeting & Inventory Management, Pitch Deck Consultant, Investor Presentations, Virtual CFO, Finance Strategy, DCF Valuation, Startups, Pricing, Commercial Finance, Financial Modeling, Business Planning, Business Plan Consulting, Management Consulting, Board Presentations, Business Models, Business Process Modeling, Pricing Consulting, Business Development, Business Analysis, Business Process Analysis, Forecasting, Data Analysis, Analysis, Business Cases, Revenue & Expense Projections, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Strategy, Three-statement Modeling, Growth Strategy, Growth Strategy Consultants, eCommerce, Pitch Decks, Fundraising, Cash Flow Modeling, Presentations, Valuation Modeling, PowerPoint Design, Budgeting, Executive Presentations, Valuation, Early-stage Startups, Financing, Early-stage Funding, Clean Energy, Early-stage Venture Capital, Venture Capital, Cash Flow, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SME), Inventory, Fractional CFO, Inventory Management, Excel Expert, Business to Business (B2B), Funding Strategy, Venture Funding, B2B, B2C, Startup Funding, RiskMetrics, Investment Analysis, Investment Committee Advisory, Investment Briefs, Fundraising Consultant, Angel/Seed Funding, Cash Flow Consultant, Process Design, Market Research, Operating Models, Business Transformation, Cost-benefit Analysis, Go-to-market Strategy, Financial Model Auditing, Sensitivity Analysis, Cash Flow Management, Technology, Strategic Partnerships, Growth, Profitability Analysis, Expansion Strategy, FMCG, Data Analytics, Company Strategy, Investment Return Scenario Analysis, Profit & Loss (P&L), Board Decks, Annual Planning, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Equity Valuation, Logistics & Supply Chain, Food, Financial Reporting, Compliance
Head and Senior VP, Finance and Commercial
2020 - 2021
Livinguard
- Managed all finance and commercial set-up and scaleup needs as a leadership and entrepreneurial advisor to the founder and CEO. The scaleup was headquartered in Switzerland, with subsidiaries across the United States, Germany, Singapore, and India.
- Scaled up finance and commercial functions in response to accelerated growth, which included implementing key policies and processes.
- Maintained continuous interaction with investor groups to position the capabilities and potential to ensure capital for global expansion.
- Engaged strategically in key business development modeling, new products, M&A, and capability building for high growth.
- Secured a time-sensitive 20x hypergrowth opportunity, leading to $120 million in annual revenue, outperforming competitors by transforming a chemical licensing startup into a global medical device scaleup and building end-to-end finance capabilities.
Focus areas: Corporate Finance, Value Analysis, Transfer Pricing, People Development, Due Diligence, Consumer Products, CAPEX Budgeting & Inventory Management, Return on Invested Capital (ROIC), Treasury & Liquidity Management, Pitch Deck Consultant, Investor Presentations, Innovation Management, Working Capital Management, Virtual CFO, Commercial Strategy, Finance Strategy, Costing, DCF Valuation, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Change Management, People Management, Corporate Planning, Startups, Change Leadership, P&L Forecasting, Cash Flow Forecasting, Financial Forecasting, Product Forecasts, Pricing, Commercial Finance, Financial Modeling, Business Planning, Business Plan Consulting, Management Consulting, Board Presentations, Business Models, Business Process Modeling, Pricing Consulting, Business Development, Business Analysis, Business Process Analysis, Forecasting, Data Analysis, Analysis, Business Cases, CFO, Revenue & Expense Projections, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Interim CFO, Accounting, Reporting, Strategy, Manufacturing, Three-statement Modeling, Growth Strategy, Growth Strategy Consultants, eCommerce, Pitch Decks, Fundraising, Cash Flow Modeling, Presentations, Leadership, Valuation Modeling, M&A (Buy-side), PowerPoint Design, Budgeting, Executive Presentations, Strategic Planning, Workshops, Valuation, Early-stage Startups, Financing, Early-stage Funding, Early-stage Venture Capital, Venture Capital, Cash Flow, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SME), Inventory, Fractional CFO, Inventory Management, Excel Expert, Accounts Receivable, Business to Business (B2B), Funding Strategy, Venture Funding, B2B, B2C, Startup Funding, RiskMetrics, Investment Analysis, Investment Briefs, Fundraising Consultant, Angel/Seed Funding, Cash Flow Consultant, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Process Design, Operating Models, Business Transformation, Cost-benefit Analysis, Go-to-market Strategy, Financial Model Auditing, Sensitivity Analysis, Cash Flow Management, Strategic Partnerships, Growth, Profitability Analysis, Expansion Strategy, FMCG, Data Analytics, Company Strategy, Investment Return Scenario Analysis, Profit & Loss (P&L), Board Decks, Annual Planning, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Equity Valuation, Logistics & Supply Chain, Financial Reporting, Compliance
Finance Head, Global Food Strategic Business Unit
2017 - 2020
Nestlé
- Steered a global food business for the strategy and brand custodianship of brands Maggi, DiGiorno, and Stouffer's, and new strategic brands, Garden Gourmet and Sweet Earth. Resulted in $12 billion and YoY growth with profitability and ROI increases.
- Oversaw category strategic planning, including global and zone business strategy, scenario planning, competition reviews, and strategic revenue and portfolio management to leverage a medium-term plan, align on business priorities, and enhance value.
- Managed innovation, including identifying the size of the prize and resource allocation, developing a business case, and accelerating the idea to launch.
- Increased capital efficiency in capital expenditure envelopes based on prioritizing and reviewing major projects.
- Generated insights with deep-dive competitive, category, and value chain analyses and business models.
Focus areas: Value Analysis, People Development, Consumer Products, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), CAPEX Budgeting & Inventory Management, Return on Invested Capital (ROIC), Innovation Management, Working Capital Management, Virtual CFO, Commercial Strategy, Finance Strategy, DCF Valuation, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Change Management, People Management, P&L Forecasting, Rolling Forecasts, Financial Forecasting, Product Forecasts, Portfolio Analysis, Portfolio Management, Pricing, Commercial Finance, Financial Modeling, Business Planning, Business Plan Consulting, Management Consulting, Board Presentations, Business Models, Pricing Consulting, Business Analysis, Forecasting, Data Analysis, Analysis, Business Cases, CFO, Revenue & Expense Projections, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Interim CFO, Reporting, Strategy, Manufacturing, Three-statement Modeling, Growth Strategy, Growth Strategy Consultants, eCommerce, Pitch Decks, Cash Flow Modeling, Presentations, Leadership, Valuation Modeling, Health & Wellness, Due Diligence, M&A (Buy-side), PowerPoint Design, Budgeting, Executive Presentations, Strategic Planning, Workshops, Valuation, Financing, Cash Flow, Inventory, Fractional CFO, Inventory Management, Excel Expert, Accounts Receivable, Funding Strategy, Venture Funding, Food & Beverage, B2B, B2C, RiskMetrics, Investment Analysis, Investment Committee Advisory, Investment Briefs, Cash Flow Consultant, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Market Research, Operating Models, Business Transformation, Cost-benefit Analysis, Go-to-market Strategy, Financial Model Auditing, Sensitivity Analysis, Strategic Partnerships, Growth, Profitability Analysis, Expansion Strategy, FMCG, Data Analytics, Company Strategy, Investment Return Scenario Analysis, Profit & Loss (P&L), Board Decks, Annual Planning, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Equity Valuation, Logistics & Supply Chain, Food
Market and Category Controller, EMENA and AOA Zones
2013 - 2017
Nestlé
- Managed select markets and food/ice cream categories in the EMENA and AOA regions while serving as a co-pilot to the VP and regional head.
- Led multiple group initiatives, portfolio management, and M&A projects.
- Steered the projects for zone-based business performance, including growth, profitability, and ROI increases.
Focus areas: Value Analysis, People Development, Due Diligence, Change Management, Costing, Consumer Products, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), CAPEX Budgeting & Inventory Management, Return on Invested Capital (ROIC), Working Capital Management, Virtual CFO, Finance Strategy, Corporate Planning, P&L Forecasting, Rolling Forecasts, Cash Flow Forecasting, Financial Forecasting, Product Forecasts, Portfolio Analysis, Portfolio Management, Financial Modeling, Business Planning, Business Plan Consulting, Board Presentations, Business Models, Business Process Modeling, Business Analysis, Forecasting, Data Analysis, Analysis, Business Cases, CFO, Revenue & Expense Projections, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Interim CFO, Reporting, Strategy, Manufacturing, Three-statement Modeling, Growth Strategy, Growth Strategy Consultants, Cash Flow Modeling, Presentations, Leadership, Valuation Modeling, Health & Wellness, M&A (Buy-side), PowerPoint Design, Budgeting, Executive Presentations, Strategic Planning, Workshops, Management Consulting, Valuation, Financing, Cash Flow, Inventory, Fractional CFO, Inventory Management, Excel Expert, Accounts Receivable, Funding Strategy, Venture Funding, Food & Beverage, RiskMetrics, Investment Analysis, Investment Briefs, Cash Flow Consultant, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Process Design, Business Transformation, Cost-benefit Analysis, Go-to-market Strategy, Financial Model Auditing, Cash Flow Management, Growth, Profitability Analysis, FMCG, Data Analytics, Company Strategy, Investment Return Scenario Analysis, Profit & Loss (P&L), Board Decks, Annual Planning, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Equity Valuation, Logistics & Supply Chain, Financial Reporting
Regional Senior Controller, M&A and BD – South Asia
2010 - 2012
Nestlé
- Managed cross-functional M&A and business development projects to accelerate business performance in the South Asia region.
- Contributed to business development projects for inorganic/M&A growth opportunities.
- Oversaw the development and implementation of a dynamic planning framework for improved monthly and quarterly business planning processes for all business units.
Focus areas: Change Management, Consumer Products, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), CAPEX Budgeting & Inventory Management, Return on Invested Capital (ROIC), Pitch Deck Consultant, Investor Presentations, Finance Strategy, DCF Valuation, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), People Management, Business Process Re-engineering, Change Leadership, Financial Modeling, Business Planning, Business Plan Consulting, Board Presentations, Business Models, Business Process Modeling, Business Development, Business Analysis, Business Process Analysis, Forecasting, Analysis, Business Cases, Strategy, Manufacturing, Three-statement Modeling, Growth Strategy, Fundraising, Cash Flow Modeling, Presentations, Leadership, Valuation Modeling, Health & Wellness, Due Diligence, M&A (Buy-side), PowerPoint Design, Executive Presentations, Workshops, Management Consulting, Valuation, Financing, Cash Flow, Excel Expert, Funding Strategy, Venture Funding, Food & Beverage, B2B, RiskMetrics, Investment Analysis, Investment Committee Advisory, Investment Briefs, Fundraising Consultant, Cash Flow Consultant, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Market Research, Operating Models, Business Transformation, Cost-benefit Analysis, Financial Model Auditing, Auditing, Sensitivity Analysis, Cash Flow Management, Growth, Profitability Analysis, FMCG, Data Analytics, Company Strategy, Investment Return Scenario Analysis, Profit & Loss (P&L), Board Decks, Annual Planning, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Venture Capital, Equity Valuation, Logistics & Supply Chain, Food
Regional Finance Head, Foods Business Unit – South Asia
2005 - 2009
Nestlé
- Served as the CFO, steering a $300 million regional food business with YoY growth in revenue, profitability, and ROI.
- Focused on market and business strategy, annual operating plans, rolling forecasts, investment budgets, and evaluating new business opportunities.
- Managed decision support, including consumer value pricing, replacement costing, action on deviations versus plans, marketing spend analysis, and co-manufacturer coordination.
- Assessed competitiveness, including benchmarking with competitors and Nestlé markets, transfer pricing, new product introductions and contributions, cost optimization, monitoring commodity prices, and strategies for tax holidays.
Focus areas: Value Analysis, People Development, Change Management, Consumer Products, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), CAPEX Budgeting & Inventory Management, Return on Invested Capital (ROIC), Innovation Management, Working Capital Management, Virtual CFO, Commercial Strategy, Finance Strategy, Costing, People Management, Business Process Re-engineering, Change Leadership, P&L Forecasting, Rolling Forecasts, Financial Forecasting, Product Forecasts, Portfolio Analysis, Portfolio Management, Pricing, Commercial Finance, Financial Modeling, Business Planning, Pricing Consulting, Business Analysis, Forecasting, Data Analysis, Analysis, Business Cases, CFO, Revenue & Expense Projections, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Interim CFO, Accounting, Reporting, Strategy, Manufacturing, Three-statement Modeling, Growth Strategy, Cash Flow Modeling, Presentations, Leadership, Valuation Modeling, Health & Wellness, Due Diligence, M&A (Buy-side), PowerPoint Design, Budgeting, Executive Presentations, Strategic Planning, Valuation, Financing, Cash Flow, Inventory, Inventory Management, Excel Expert, Accounts Receivable, Venture Funding, Food & Beverage, B2B, RiskMetrics, Investment Analysis, Investment Briefs, Cash Flow Consultant, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Market Research, Operating Models, Cost-benefit Analysis, Go-to-market Strategy, Financial Model Auditing, Sensitivity Analysis, Cash Flow Management, Growth, Profitability Analysis, FMCG, Data Analytics, Company Strategy, Investment Return Scenario Analysis, Profit & Loss (P&L), Board Decks, Annual Planning, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Logistics & Supply Chain, Food
Data Standardization Team Lead, SAP Project – Finance and Integration
2002 - 2004
Nestlé
- Implemented SAP data integrations in Nestlé India, including overall data cleansing, standardization, and management best practices.
- Championed and managed the change to treat master data as an asset to ensure a successful SAP implementation and leverage the master data for future benefits.
- Integrated the data strategy into functional and process designs.
Focus areas: Data Cleansing, Data Standardization, Change Management, System Integration, Communication Strategy, Business Process Analysis, Leadership, PowerPoint Design, Workshops, Food & Beverage, FMCG, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs)
Regional Business Planning Manager – South Asia
2000 - 2002
Nestlé
- Provided decision support to the CFO and business units for rolling forecasts and target gap management for the South Asia region.
- Coordinated market and business strategy for the South Asia region for approval by the global board.
- Reviewed the monthly and quarterly performance and target management for CEO and CFO discussions with business units for global reporting and investor meets.
- Generated competitive and economic insights for inclusion in monthly reports to the group.
Focus areas: Corporate Planning, CAPEX Budgeting & Inventory Management, P&L Forecasting, Rolling Forecasts, Cash Flow Forecasting, Financial Forecasting, Product Forecasts, Portfolio Management, Portfolio Analysis, Business Process Analysis, Forecasting, Analysis, Business Cases, Revenue & Expense Projections, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Accounting, Reporting, Strategy, Manufacturing, Three-statement Modeling, Cash Flow Modeling, Presentations, PowerPoint Design, Budgeting, Executive Presentations, Strategic Planning, Valuation, Cash Flow, Excel Expert, Food & Beverage, B2B, Cash Flow Consultant, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Process Design, Auditing, Cash Flow Management, Profitability Analysis, FMCG, Profit & Loss (P&L), Annual Planning, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Food, Financial Reporting, Compliance