Gita R. Rao

Gita R. Rao is a Senior Lecturer in Finance and Associate Faculty Director of the Master of Finance program at the MIT Sloan School of Management. She holds a PhD in Finance from the University of Rochester, an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, and a BA in Economics (Honors) from Delhi University’s St. Stephen’s College.

• Education: PhD in Finance (University of Rochester), MBA (Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad), BA Economics (Delhi University)
• Affiliations: MIT Sloan Impact Investing Initiative (Faculty Director), Society of Quantitative Analysts (Former President), CFA Institute Research Foundation (Board of Trustees)

Rao specializes in ESG and impact investing, with expertise in integrating ESG factors into investment portfolios and managing large-scale institutional assets. She pioneered the first global ESG portfolio in the U.S., developed MIT Sloan’s impact investing course, and advises on sustainable finance strategies. Her research focuses on climate change implications for investing, corporate governance, and the evolution of ESG data standards.

Publications and media engagements highlight her work on ESG fund transparency, gender pay equity in investing, and geopolitical risks in portfolios. She has held senior roles at MFS Investment Management, Wellington Management, Fidelity, and Kidder, Peabody & Co., managing over $15B in assets.

Rao’s advisory contributions include roles as Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois (pre-MIT) and editorial board memberships for the Financial Analysts Journal. She advocates for customized index funds to mitigate geopolitical and environmental risks, emphasizing long-term investor horizons.