FAQ: Insights from Menaka Thillaiampalam, CMO of Hitachi Digital Services

What attracted Menaka Thillaiampalam to marketing?

Marketing appealed to her as the intersection of business strategy and human connection, where complexity is turned into actionable insights, driving real outcomes beyond just visibility.

Why did Menaka choose to join Hitachi Digital Services?

She was drawn to Hitachi Digital Services because of its focus on solving real challenges in critical industries, delivering meaningful innovation in areas like energy resilience and healthcare systems.

What is Lean Leadership according to Menaka?

Lean Leadership is about clarity and focus in resource-constrained environments, emphasizing agility, budget innovation, and human-centric strategy to do the right things well.

How did a challenge early in her career change Menaka’s approach to leadership?

A lack of alignment and integration in a previous role taught her the importance of cultural fit and collaboration, shaping how she builds teams and leads within a business.

What accolades has Menaka Thillaiampalam received?

She is the recipient of the 2022 OnCon Icon Marketer of the Year Award and is a member of several prestigious councils and groups, including the Forbes Communications Council.

What is Menaka’s educational background?

Menaka holds a Master in Global Business Administration degree from Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School.

What previous roles has Menaka Thillaiampalam held?

Prior to Hitachi Digital Services, she served as CMO for Lionbridge and Banking Circle Group, and held marketing leadership roles at AWS, Dell Technologies, LinkedIn, and Accenture.

What does Menaka believe is key to successful marketing?

She believes successful marketing is about creating momentum by making sense of complexity and turning it into something people can act on, not just about storytelling or positioning.