Cognizant, a global professional services company, has announced the launch of ‘Shakti’. The initiative will serve as the company’s comprehensive framework to help women advance in their careers and take leadership roles in technology.
The move comes in alignment with the company’s commitment to becoming a preferred employer, prioritising diversity and inclusion (D&I) across all aspects of its operations, as emphasised by Ravi Kumar S, CEO, Cognizant.
Shakti consolidates various women-centric initiatives, such as the ‘RISE’ leadership- development programme for mid-level women associates in India. Another is the global ‘Propel’ programme empowering senior-level women through coaching. The ‘Returnship’ initiative supports those returning to work after a career break, while the ‘Be Gritty’ programme trains fresh campus hires with a growth mindset.
Moreover, to ensure best practices as per industry standards, Cognizant has collaborated with Nasscom, with an objective of making diversity and inclusion (D&I), a distinguishing factor in India’s technology sector.
As per an official statement, Cognizant’s commitment to diversity is evident in India, where nearly 40 per cent of its associates are women, surpassing the industry average of 36 per cent. Additionally, over half of Cognizant’s centres in the country have achieved over 40 per cent women’s representation, with two major centres currently led by women.
Recently, the company introduced a company-wide allyship programme to address workplace challenges faced by women. The Women Empowered Affinity Group, boasting around 50,000 members and allies in India, aims to enhance the work experience for women and contribute positively to the business.
Furthermore, as part of its dedication to inclusivity, Cognizant has launched a year-long campaign highlighting the company’s commitment to creating an inclusive workplace for women. The campaign shares inspirational stories showcasing the impact of empowering initiatives on women’s personal and professional development. It also emphasises leadership and the positive outcomes of diversity and inclusion initiatives.