For millions of managers worldwide, Philip Kotler is the marketing guru, the brilliant thinker who has defined and redefined the rules of the game.

The Financial Times considers Dr Kotler, along with Bill Gates, Jack Welch and Peter Drucker, as the world's top management specialists.

Dr Kotler is currently in India, visiting Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai on a lecture tour.

And guess what? The legend has consented to appear on the Rediff Chat along with his distinguished colleague, Professor Bala V Balachandran.

Currently the SC Johnson & Son Distinguished Professor of International Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, near Chicago, USA, Dr Kotler has published many definitive studies on marketing. His latest: According to Kotler: The World's Foremost Authority on Marketing Answers Your Questions.

Professor Balachandran, J L Kellogg Professor of Accounting Information and Management and Decision Cciences at Northwestern University, is the founder and dean of the Great Lakes Institute of Management in Chennai.

The Great Lakes Institute, Professor Balachandran's dream project, offers a postgraduate programme in business management with an emphasis on American as well as global-style management education. It has courses for middle-level and top-level managers. Professors from India and faculties abroad teach at Great Lakes.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to discuss marketing and management with Philip Kotler and Bala V Balachandran on the Rediff Chat, Thursday, July 20, 9 am IST.