Email: hema.vishwanathan@bairdscmc.com
Linkedin: hema-viswanathan

With more than 25 years of research experience, Hema Viswanathan is a veteran in the field of social and development research. In 2004, Hema set up her own consultancy organisation, Barometer Research, which offers high-end research and advisory services to social and development clients all over the world. In addition, and almost at the same time, Hema joined hands with Baird’s CMC to work on a range of research projects around the globe. Before setting up her own company, Hema worked for over twenty years at the Indian Market Research Bureau. During her tenure, she set up and led the Social and Rural Research Institute there, and was the country manager and senior VP for a unit called the Probe Qualitative Research that offers clients insight into consumer perceptions and behaviour.

Hema is adept at managing and delivering both qualitative and quantitative research projects at all levels, working with clients to formulate and answer the right questions for policy makers, academics, donor agencies, and commercial organisations, to meet their objectives.

Over the span of her career, Hema has conducted research on diverse social issues, including a national study on water and environmental sanitation in India; a study among key influencers of HIV vaccine utilisation policies in 27 countries; and a seven-year study for the Novartis Foundation for Developing Countries that looked at three countries (India, Mexico and Zimbabwe) to assess behaviour change for the safe and effective use of pesticides. Apart from her extensive field experience, Hema has also taught market research at the Mudra Institute of Communications Ahmedabad (MICA) for several years, as well as at other institutes, including the Indian Institute of Management – Ahmedabad.

Roles

• Associate at Baird’s CMC
• President of Barometer Research

Services offered

• Exceptional research skills and insight in quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Extensive experience of social and rural research, in India as well as internationally
• Advice and consultancy for those undertaking social research internationally

Client examples

• The Johns Hopkins University
• BBC World Service Trust
• International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
• the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
• World Bank
• Merck & Co., Inc.