In episode 463 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Rah Mahtani, head of marketing, North America at Alibaba.com, a leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce. Listen in as Mahtani discusses the launch of Alibaba Guaranteed (0:55), how the solution addresses global sourcing challenges (2:45), and the process of incorporating feedback from buyers and suppliers into the new offering (4:50). He details how Alibaba Guaranteed simplifies logistics (6:20), evaluates program success (8:40), and helps mitigate the impact of unpredictable global events (10:15).
In addition, Mahtani shares how Alibaba.com is marketing the new solution (11:40), identifying different types of users on the platform (14:45), and staying on top of product and consumer trends (16:20). Lastly, he touches on how early adopters are utilizing Alibaba Guaranteed (17:55).
Rah Mahtani is a marketing leader with a proven track record of steering innovative branding campaigns. In his career he's hung a car on the side of the Los Angeles Convention Center, rallied across the country with over 3,000 people, participated in winning a Guinness World Record, and, on separate occasions, hung out with Snoop Dog (at his house) and Martha Stewart (in her studio). Today, Mahtani is the head of marketing for North America at Alibaba.com where he is at the forefront of shaping the strategic direction working to elevate Alibaba.com's presence in the U.S. market.
Before joining Alibaba.com, Mahtani served as the U.S. MINI marketing communications lead at BMW, where he played a pivotal role as the digital, creative and paid media lead in the market for five years. Ahead of his time with BMW, Mahtani held digital marketing and social media leadership positions with leading food service and auto brands, including Jack in the Box and Volvo. Mahtani is a graduate of Syracuse University, holding a bachelor's degree in industrial design. His multidisciplinary background has provided him with a unique blend of creativity and analytical thinking, which he leverages to drive marketing success. As a thought leader in the marketing industry, Mahtani's insights on branding, creative narratives, and effective marketing strategies are valuable for any audience seeking to gain a competitive edge in their own strategies.
