Prof Neha Patel, Director, Som Lalit Institute of Management Studies, Ahmedabad, has over 24 years of experience in teaching, research, consultancy and industry. She is a Professor in Integrated Marketing Communications and Strategic Brand Management.

Her research specialities lie in consumer behaviour, advertising research via semiotics, luxury branding, tourism management and marketing as well as Integrated Marketing communication.

Prof Patel has undertaken consultancy projects in the areas of training, retail mapping and communication strategy. Prior to joining academics, she had a strong corporate career in advertising with Mudra Communications Ltd and Triton Communications Ltd. She also has worked with an IT start-up where she was responsible for the visualisation and application of the Marketing Strategy as well as New Business Development in South East Asia.

Apart from being responsible for academics, administration and placements of the students of both the programmes (MBA and PGDM), Prof Patel initiated many programs in the institute such as social outreach for students, weekly seminars and interactions with the industry and focussed on the growth of the faculties by mentoring them towards research and faculty development courses.

She was recently on the panel of ELETS, Higher and Technical Education Virtual Conclave, West India for discussion on ‘Mental & Social Wellbeing of Students, Teachers & Parents during COVID-19 Crisis’.

Prof Patel has authored multiple publications in international, national journals and book chapters. The publications are in Scopus, UGC Care and peer-reviewed journals.