As a television journalist who began her career with Star Television, Nidhi Alexander's life revolved around deadlines, stories, and the pursuit of clarity. Those formative years taught her to be endlessly curious, to listen intently, and to always seek the question behind every question. For a long time, she believed this would be her permanent professional home.
A Pivotal Move to Bengaluru
Life, however, had different plans. A relocation to Bengaluru early in her career forced her to pause and reassess her options. She had no degree in technology and no experience in human resources. What she did possess was a strong foundation in branding. She loved storytelling and was genuinely fascinated by how brands live and thrive in people's minds.
Finding Her Footing at Infosys
This realization led her to Infosys, where she worked on InStep, the company's global internship programme. The initiative brought students from top-tier institutions into the heart of an Indian technology company, long before the term 'global employer brand' became commonplace. Her brief was both simple and bold: InStep could not be just another summer internship. It had to feel like the beginning of a long-term relationship and stand among the best programmes of its kind globally.
Every intern was seen as a potential brand ambassador, and getting into the programme was intentionally rigorous. A stringent selection process brought in top students who returned with genuine India-based technology experience, creating a steady year-round campus presence worldwide. InStep went on to become a globally awarded internship and remains Vault's number one programme. It became the first business-enabling process to be appraised at CMMI Level 5, featured in journals from Asahi Shimbun to The New York Times, and turned into a case study at business schools like IIM Ahmedabad and London Business School.
Lessons from a Mentor
For someone who had arrived with no technical background, it was a powerful lesson in what focused execution can achieve. Those years also gave her one of her most important mentors: NR Narayana Murthy. He was her reviewer at the start of her Infosys journey, and she had the chance to work on his vision of a world-class internship programme. His clarity on values, simplicity in thought, and focus on doing the right thing deeply influenced how she thinks about work and leadership. One lesson that has stayed with her: strategy is only as good as its execution.
Continued Growth and Transition
Since then, her career has moved through analyst relations, branding, and marketing. She has often stepped into roles where she did not look like the obvious choice. Each time, she relied on the same basics: learn fast, ask questions, stay curious, and lean on your strengths when entering the unknown.
Leading as CMO at Hexaware
Today, as Chief Marketing Officer at Hexaware Technologies, she still thinks of herself first as that curious journalist. The backdrop has changed. She now looks at brand health, content performance, and the impact of campaigns on real outcomes. Instead of one internship programme, she works with teams across global brand, digital, content, and communications. This year alone, her team has won over 30 awards. It is proof of what a committed team can achieve when vision, purpose, and execution align.
A Message for Aspiring Professionals
If there is one message she would share, it is this: you do not need a straight-line career to build a meaningful one. Once you keep learning, stay open, take thoughtful risks, and show up even when it feels uncomfortable, the path begins to open. Industries and titles keep changing; the mindset you bring is what ultimately shapes your story.
Nidhi Alexander is chief marketing officer at Hexaware Technologies.
