Harish Rao is Vice President of Global Data and Analytics at Costco, where he leads data, AI, and marketing technology initiatives to drive revenue growth, operational efficiency, and enhanced member experience. With more than 25 years of experience, Harish has built a career focused on applying data, analytics, and emerging technologies to solve complex business challenges across retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, and financial services.
Harish began his career as a software engineer at IBM, where he developed an early interest in data and the application of statistical methods to uncover patterns and insights. Over time, Harish expanded his focus to include advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI, helping organizations translate data into measurable business value.
At Costco, Harish is responsible for global data platforms and products that support top-line sales growth, productivity, and customer engagement. His leadership emphasizes scalable architecture, product-driven thinking, and agile delivery, enabling data to be embedded into core business processes.
In addition to his role at Costco, Harish serves as an advisory board member for Modal, contributing to the broader data and AI ecosystem. He is recognized as a thought leader in AI and data science, a CIO 100 award winner, and a DataIQ award recipient. Harish is also a regular speaker at industry conferences.
Harish’s approach combines analytical rigor with a strong focus on execution, building high-performing teams and driving transformation that delivers tangible business results.