We are so pleased to welcome Nikhil Vardhan Maroju, Marketing & Creative Strategy Intern, to the team. You can learn more about Nikhil below.
Tell us about yourself. Where are you from?
I’m currently based in Fairborn, Ohio, and originally from India, where I was born and raised before moving to the U.S. to pursue my master’s degree. My college journey here has taught me a lot about adaptability and consistency especially in today’s AI-driven world, where learning never really stops. Outside of work and studies, I enjoy exploring new places and going hiking whenever I get the chance. I’m also a big fan of memes not just scrolling through them, but occasionally creating a few myself.
Where did you go to school?
I’m currently pursuing my master’s degree at Wright State University’s Raj Soin College of Business. I completed my undergraduate studies in India, which gave me a strong academic foundation and inspired me to continue my education internationally.
How did you get into Marketing? What areas of your field do you like to focus on?
My interest in marketing started during the pandemic, when I saw how businesses rapidly shifted online and relied on digital marketing and technology to survive and grow. What really caught my attention was how strategy, creativity, data, and storytelling could shape perception and influence how people understand a brand or a message.
I began learning through courses, and later gained practical exposure through a couple of internships before joining a pharmaceutical marketing company toward the end of my undergraduate studies. That experience helped me understand how marketing works in real-world settings and how strong narration and strategy can drive measurable impact. Today, the areas of marketing I like to focus on are strategy & analytics, where creativity meets decision-making.
Do you have a code of ethics or a mantra that you live by when doing your work?
When I get stuck, whether it’s in work or in life, I try to pause and zoom out instead of forcing a solution right away. Looking at the bigger picture helps me understand where I am, what I’m trying to solve, and what actually matters, rather than getting lost fixing one small piece. That habit usually gives me clarity and helps me move forward with more intention.
How do our core values (collaboration, initiative, ingenuity) align with your own?
Buckeye’s core values show a strong resemblance to how I approach my work and life. I’ve learned through group projects and team settings that collaboration is what truly brings ideas to life when you share thoughts and listen to others; ideas grow into something stronger than what you could create alone. Taking initiative is just as important because ideas only move forward when someone is willing to act on them. And through that process, ingenuity comes naturally, as collaboration and initiative push you to think differently and create meaningful outcomes.
What do you want to learn during your internship as a Marketing & Creative Strategy Intern? What do you want to learn about the web development industry?
During this internship, I want to understand how marketing strategy connects with web development, design, and product thinking in real projects, and how those disciplines work together to create digital experiences that are not only well-built but also purposeful, scalable, and impactful for users and clients.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received was “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” a quote by Wayne Gretzky. I was reminded of this during college when I hesitated to apply for internships and roles I felt underqualified for. Taking that advice seriously pushed me to apply, speak up, and step into opportunities despite uncertainty. That mindset has helped me grow faster, learn more, and gain experiences I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
What is the one thing most people don’t know about you?
I enjoy learning random things outside my field, especially when I fall into late-night curiosity mode. One search usually turns into five tabs, three videos, and a new topic I didn’t expect to learn.
