Shailendra Rao

About Shailendra Rao

PRODUCT {Scientist, Founder, Architect}I’m a product builder who has spent 20 years toggling between the high-speed ambiguity of startups and the massive scale of companies like Meta and Uber. My foundation is in the science of how people interact with technology. My specialty is navigating high-stakes problems where there isn’t a clear playbook. I love taking systems that are incredibly complicated and making them feel intuitive for billions of people around the world.SCIENTIST: My Human Computer Interaction background (Stanford PhD, UCSD Cognitive Science) is the \"why\" behind everything I build. I began my career at Google pre-IPO, where I co-authored the company’s first-ever HCI publication. This foundation of data-driven empathy provides the scientific framework I use to bridge the gap between extreme technical complexity and intuitive human-centered experiences.FOUNDER: I have a deep \"Founder Mode\" background, building experiences from scratch. I move fast, wear every hat, and build a product vision from a blank page.SCALE ARCHITECT: I’ve driven product experiences that the whole world uses (Facebook / Messenger / Instagram Direct 3B+ people, Uber 10B trips annually)PRESS-MARKET FIT: My work has been consistently featured in the global press—not for the sake of PR, but because the products redefined their categories and changed the conversation. I build experiences that generate signal and set new benchmarks for human-centered technology.FIXER: I’m the person you call when a mission-critical project is on fire and needs a high-velocity turnaround.PEOPLE LEADER: I don’t just build products. I’ve built teams across big tech, startups, and academia. I strive to be a multiplier.LET’S CONNECTFounders / Researchers: DM me with a framed ask. I prioritize these conversations when I have cycles to support your 0→1 innovation.Builders at Scale: To help me manage a high volume of requests, please include a brief note on why you\'re reaching out so I can prioritize.

Experience

1. Product Management Lead

   Meta

   May 2024 — Present · Menlo Park, CA, US

   FACEBOOK APP EXPERIENCEConnecting HCI & AI innovations for billions.INSTAGRAM DIRECT & MESSENGER FOUNDATIONLaunched Instagram Direct in Mixed Reality to translate complex social interactions into immersive 3D environments.

Education

• Stanford University

  PhD, Human Computer Interaction

• Stanford University

  MA, Media Studies

• UC San Diego

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Cognitive Science, specialization in Human Computer Interaction

• Stanford University Graduate School of Business

  Summer Institute for Entrepreneurship

• The Athenian School

  High School

Skills

• Market Research
• User Research
• Entrepreneurship
• Rapid Prototyping
• Human Computer Interaction
• Wireframes
• Android
• User-Centered Design
• Usability
• Information Architecture
• Product Management
• Digital Media
• Usability Testing
• User Experience
• Social Networking
• Personalization
• Contextual Inquiry
• Mobile Applications
• Ethnography
• Persona
• Interaction Design
• Start-Ups
• User Experience Design
• Online Marketing
• User Interface Design
• Mobile Devices
• User Interface
• Ipad
• Iphone
• Blogging
• Web Analytics