Headline

Building brands from material to market | Product positioning at scale @ ITC | Ex-Minimalist, Ex- Nestlé | IIM-K

About

A brand and product professional with 5+ years of experience across FMCG, D2C, and B2B, working at the intersection of product development, branding, and go‑to‑market execution. Career foundations were built in core packaging R&D at Nestlé, contributing to 10+ FMCG product and packaging projects, developing strong grounding in consumer behaviour, materials, compliance, and execution discipline. This was followed by experience in a 0→1 D2C environment at Minimalist, supporting 15+ product launches by translating brand and product intent into market‑ready packaging systems, balancing visual design, cost efficiency, sustainability, and scalability. Currently an Assistant Manager at ITC Limited, driving new business development, end‑user engagement, and market activation for plastic‑free and sustainable packaging solutions across Southern India. The role spans 20+ active end‑user and key accounts, covering trials to commercial conversion and repeat business. Work sits at the intersection of product, brand, and revenue including product positioning, GTM initiatives, roadshows, demos, and cross‑functional execution across sales, R&D, and supply chain. Impact: stronger end‑user pull, faster conversions, and deeper customer engagement. Currently pursuing a 1‑year Programme in Business Management at IIM Kozhikode, strengthening capabilities in strategy, finance, and marketing at scale. Looking to work with teams that view brand as a business lever built on product truth, customer insight, and execution excellence. 📩 vaani.datta1@gmail.com

Location

Bengaluru

AI stack

antigravity

codex

Work experience

Assistant Manager - New Business Development & Marketing at ITC Limited, May 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 4 mos, India, • Led innovation commercialization, GTM strategy, market activation, and customer engagement initiatives for sustainable packaging solutions across strategic market segments • Owned end-to-end commercialization and GTM execution for 5+ innovation led product launches, creating Rs 25 Cr+ business opportunity across targeted markets • Conceptualized and executed integrated 360◦ activation campaigns across digital and on-ground channels, driving ~35-40% growth in stakeholder engagement • Built storytelling-led brand presentations and commercialization pitches, accelerating stakeholder buy-in and reducing decision-making cycles by ~20% • Drove experiential activations and product demonstrations to accelerate market trials and improve commercialization conversion rates by 25-30% • Executed targeted content-led engagement and communication initiatives, resulting in 30% + increase in inbound business interest and market visibility • Owned strategic market expansion across 20+ accounts, converting multiple innovation trials into long-term commercial partnerships • Tracked market feedback, customer interactions, and end-user insights to refine positioning, communication strategy, and commercialization effectiveness • Collaborated on TVC and integrated brand communication initiatives, contributing to script conceptualization, messaging alignment, and go-to-market execution for innovation-led campaigns • Partnered with cross-functional stakeholders across sales, product, operations, and technical teams to drive commercialization initiatives aligned with brand and business objectives • Tracked engagement, conversion, and repeat business metrics to evaluate campaign effectiveness and improve ROI across successive launches

Packaging Development & Procurement Executive at Minimalist, Aug 2023 - May 2024 · 10 mos, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, • Built packaging systems in a 0→1, high‑ownership D2C environment, balancing brand aesthetics, cost efficiency, sustainability, and scalability • Launched 15+ SKUs by developing and sourcing primary & secondary packaging aligned with brand positioning and regulatory requirements • Boosted launch speed by working cross‑functionally with marketing, product, and quality teams, enabling faster go‑to‑market timelines • Optimised costs through vendor identification, negotiations, costing, and value engineering without compromising brand or performance • Managed 10+ vendors across materials, printing, and conversion, ensuring timelines, quality, and supply continuity • Strengthened scalability by aligning packaging formats with procurement, inventory planning, and rapid growth requirements Impact: Boosted launch velocity, tighter cost control, and brand‑aligned packaging systems supporting a fast‑scaling D2C business.

Packaging Analyst at Nestlé, Nov 2021 - Jul 2023 · 1 yr 9 mos, On-site, • Led packaging development and testing for 10+ food and beverage projects within a global FMCG environment • Built deep understanding of consumer behaviour, materials science, food safety, and sustainability through hands‑on R&D execution • Evaluated multiple packaging materials and formats, covering shelf‑life performance, food‑contact safety, and regulatory compliance • Strengthened trial execution by coordinating with suppliers, quality, and operations teams across validations and pilot runs • Boosted decision quality through rigorous testing, documentation, and process discipline aligned with FMCG standards • Developed strong cross‑functional working capabilities, enabling smooth handovers from R&D to operations and commercialization Impact: Built a rock‑solid technical foundation that now powers product positioning, brand decisions, and market execution.

Packaging trainee at Nestlé, Feb 2021 - Oct 2021 · 9 mos, Gurugram, Haryana, India

Education

Business Management, Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode

Post graduate diploma, Packaging technology, INDIAN INSTITUTE OF PACKAGING - IIP