Cognizant has unveiled Shakti, a unified framework of women-centric programs and policies to accelerate careers and boost women leadership in technology. The company has partnered with Nasscom to establish and prioritize best practices in the Indian tech sector. In India, nearly 40% of Cognizant’s associates are women, compared to the IT industry gender diversity average of 36%. More than half of 13 Cognizant centers in the country have crossed over 40% in their women workforce, with two of the largest centers currently led by women leaders.
Ravi Kumar S, CEO of Cognizant, emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion in the company’s recruitment, hiring, development, promotion, engagement, and retention processes. He added “Shakti will catalyze our efforts to enable more women to advance their careers and reach their full potential.”
Through Shakti, Cognizant aims to reframe current programs and policies and bring all women-centric initiatives under one umbrella for greater impact. The initiative includes RISE, a leadership development program for mid-level women associates in India, ‘Propel’, a global leadership development program, ‘Returnship’, a 12-week paid program, and ‘Be Gritty’ that trains fresh campus hires to develop a growth mindset. Cognizant has also launched a company-wide allyship program, empowering associates with inclusive leadership training and promoting a sense of belonging through dedicated affinity groups.