Shanthini Rajandram

R. Shanthini's career has taken her from finance into consulting, human resources and talent development, giving her a practical understanding of how people capability contributes to business performance.

Her professional journey began in accounting, where she developed a strong grounding in financial reporting, budgeting, operations and commercial decision-making. She later moved into consulting—a transition that required her to step beyond the technical environment in which she had been confident and successful.

During the difficult early years, Shanthini sometimes questioned whether she could establish herself in an unfamiliar profession. A mentor who recognised her potential continually challenged her to present, facilitate and develop the business skills that would eventually complement her financial expertise.

Her professional reinvention unfolded alongside profound personal loss. Shanthini lost two infant children in 2004 and 2007, before welcoming her son in 2009. Now a university student, he has grown up with a mother who continued rebuilding both her life and career. These experiences shaped a conviction that she hopes to share, particularly with women facing grief or uncertainty: "Believe in yourself. You can move beyond where you are and discover possibilities you may not yet see."

Shanthini subsequently built an extensive career in learning and development, HR business partnering, talent management and technical capability development. She has held senior roles within multinational manufacturing and commercial environments, including Novartis (Ciba Vision), Alcon and Bunge.

Over the years, she has developed leadership, coaching and technical-capability frameworks, strengthened succession pipelines and delivered regional leadership programmes across Asia as a trainer, facilitator and HR business partner. Her accounting background continues to shape her approach: she considers not only what an organisation hopes to achieve, but whether the proposed solution is measurable, commercially sound and sustainable.

As a trainer and facilitator, she has conducted programmes across manufacturing, services, banking, engineering, telecommunications, hospitality, pharmaceuticals, automative, and public-sector-related organisations. Her client exposure includes Agilent Technologies, Securities Commissions, Sime Darby, Perodua, Dyson, Public Bank, Telekom Malaysia, POS Malaysia, MMHE, HSBC Malaysia, Institut Jantung Negara, MCIS Zurich, American Express, Holcim and many others

Shanthini has known Gerard for many years and previously supported selected consulting assignments undertaken by Gerard & Associates. She was drawn to the firm by its reputation, practical approach and values of fairness, trust and dependable service.

As Managing Partner, she brings deep expertise in capability-building, leadership development and practical HR frameworks. Working alongside Alizia, she helps organisations strengthen their people, develop confident leaders and create systems that continue delivering results over the long term.