That One Bold Move From Engineering to Marketing: In Conversation with Nikita Roy

Picture this: a young woman perched on the eleventh floor of a Navi Mumbai office, staring out at a city humming with possibilities. Below, a bold Zomato ad flashes by — jazzy, irreverent, alive. For Nikita, it wasn’t just an ad; it was a wake-up call. Trapped in the monochrome world of IT, she felt the pull of something brighter—something creative. What followed was a leap from engineering to marketing, fueled by a love for simple words and a hunger to shape stories that matter.

At The Story Bar, Garima sat down with Nikita, former Senior Manager of Brand Marketing at ClearTrip, to uncover her journey, breaking into a world she didn’t even know existed. Her story’s a nudge for anyone ready to carve their own path.

Here's an excerpt from their conversation, read along!

Watch the full conversation on The Story Bar YouTube Channel and don't forget to subscribe!

I’ve noticed a lot of engineers and tech folks moving into writing, advertising, and marketing — and they’re doing well. What pushed you to make that transition?

I was quite miserable in my IT job at Accenture. I was good at it, but I didn’t like it. Within a year, I knew it wasn’t for me.

I’ve always been creative—writing and reading started young with Enid Blyton books, then being on editorial teams in school, college, and university. That spark was always there.

But coming from a small-town, middle-class family, advertising wasn’t on my radar. I didn’t even know what ‘copy’ meant until I joined the industry.

So, growing up, you didn’t see writing as a career option?

No, not at all. Back then, we only knew medicine or engineering. I was sharp in school—good at literature, loved reading and writing — but I rote-learned physics and chemistry to fit the mold. Writing as a career wasn’t discussed. The internet wasn’t what it is today; we loved writing but didn’t see it as a job. It was either become an author or a journalist—nothing stable.

You couldn’t tell your parents, ‘I want to be a writer.’ They’d ask, ‘What does that mean? How will you earn money?’ Stability mattered.

How did you stumble into this world then?

I enjoyed my four years in engineering college, and I focused on dramatics and the editorial board. I even met Ruskin Bond once through the university’s international school — he was an ambassador because his granddaughter studied there. That was a dream come true.

After college, I joined Accenture through placements. Two and a half years in, I realized I couldn’t do it for 50 more. In 2016, from my 11th-floor desk in Navi Mumbai, I saw a Zomato ad — those viral ones, like the butter chicken MCBC ad. It was cool, jazzy, and I thought, ‘I want to be part of that.’

I had no clue how, so I Googled it.

It took me a year and a half to figure out advertising existed.

I did a digital marketing course online, internships while still at Accenture, then joined a web development agency. That’s when I learned what advertising, marketing, and copy were.

Now, almost 10 years in, do people get what you do?

The world’s changed. Early on, explaining it was tough — I gave up after a while. The internet’s helped; even my parents kind of understand social media marketing now.

Seven years ago, it barely existed or wasn’t taken seriously. If you were a social media manager, people thought you just posted on Instagram.

As a young woman in this industry, what does writing mean to you?

It’s very personal. Even before it was my job, I wrote — diary entries, angry letters, long Instagram captions, Facebook updates. It’s always been part of me. My first author was Ruskin Bond — simple, no fancy language, stories from experience. That shaped my style of writing.

I want to write simply, so people can see themselves in the story, not struggle with a dictionary like I did reading heavy opinion pieces in newspapers. Simple writing connects.

Do titles matter in this field?

I was a Senior Manager of Brand Marketing at ClearTrip. Titles don’t matter much, though. A typical day is briefs — campaigns, CRM, performance marketing, app storefronts. I work with stakeholders, assign tasks to my team, manage deadlines, and spend time in meetings or explaining copy choices to non-copy folks.

How do you view AI in your work?

I was a purist at first — AI felt radical, like it’d take our jobs. But I’ve realized creative people worth their salt can’t be replaced.

AI can’t tap into nostalgia or memories — like 90s TV shows, snacks, or a song tied to a metro ride. I use it as a tool, not a crutch, to kickstart ideas when I’m stuck. It gives a starting point, but experience filters it.

I tell my team, ‘use AI if you’re stuck, but don’t let it sound generic.’ It speeds us up, polishes work, but human effort still drives it.

What trends are you watching in the next five years?

AI’s at the top — we experiment with it constantly. It enhances creativity and cuts production time. The future’s unpredictable but bright. With internet access and smart devices, creativity has no rules. Trends hit fast, and we adapt quickly.

What’s your advice for someone starting in brand marketing? And why this space matters?

This space matters because we shape perceptions — of people, products, organizations. My advice: effort trumps talent. I wasn’t the most talented, but I worked hard and stayed sincere.

In creative jobs, you learn daily — there’s no end. Come with a mindset of ‘I’ll never know it all, but I’ll keep growing.’ That’s key.

Every Story Matters

Nikita’s story is a quiet rebellion against the expected — a reminder that life’s script can be rewritten with courage and a few well-chosen words. From a small-town girl who didn’t know copy from code to a marketing maven shaping how we see brands, she’s proof that creativity finds a way.

At The Story Bar, we’re all about cracking light into life, and Nikita’s journey does just that — highlighting the power of hard work, the courage to believe in your dreams, and the human spark no technology can steal.

This felt natural — like chatting with a friend over coffee. I love that every story matters here. We’re all unique yet similar. I did this to give back. If one person hears this and feels inspired, it’s worth it. Pass on what you’ve learned, it helps us all grow.

 - Nikita Roy on her experience of sharing her journey at The Story Bar.

Written by Garima, the Founder of The Story Bar, this article features an exclusive account of our conversation with Nikita Roy. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube for more such stories.