Nidhi Aggarwal MS ’06, PhD ’08
What are you currently doing professionally?
I am an early stage tech-investor and board member. I like learning about new technologies and helping start and scale new companies. My work is at the intersection of business and technology, and I am continuously learning while leaning into my strengths.
Is there a project or accomplishment that you’re especially proud of that has defined your career?
I am really proud of my work with the non-profit Pratham, which focuses on early education in India and other developing nations. Making education accessible has been a defining passion for me because I credit access to good quality education as the key driver for my success. My startup also enabled access to hands-on education for students worldwide and continues to do so as part of Google.
What motivated you to study computer science?
I liked math and physics in school and that led me to study electrical engineering for my undergrad. During my engineering degree, I took a computer architecture class, and I was hooked.
Why did you come to UW–Madison?
UW–Madison was one of the best programs for computer architecture and had an inspiring group of professors whose research had a major impact on the field. There is an incredible community of Badgers in industry and academia, and I wanted to be part of that community.
Are there lessons you learned at UW–Madison that have stuck with you ever since?
I learnt a lot about focusing on the impact of research at UW–Madison and especially from my advisor, Jim Smith. UW has very strong ties with industry, and I benefited a lot from that interaction. I did internships at VMware, Intel, and HP Labs during my PhD, and the ability to work at the intersection of research and real-world applications was invaluable.
What are one or two things you did at UW outside of your classes (clubs, study abroad, employment, conferences, internships, etc)? How did these benefit your education, your current career, and/or your life?
I made a lot of friends during my days in Madison, and they are still some of my closest friends. I did a lot of my PhD research at HP Labs and was incredibly fortunate to have Norm Jouppi and Partha Ranganathan as my mentors there. My unusual PhD journey taught me the value of forging my own path and my own definition of success.
Do you have any advice for current CS students?
My advice would be to consider the real world impact of your work and research. Learn the business side of things and really build stuff.
What do you like to do for fun?
I like to hike, read, and travel for fun.