Finding my place at Cognizant: Sujatha’s journey from intern to leader

Picture a young woman in the early 2000s, fresh out of college, nervously clutching her bag as she steps into an office building. Every hallway echoes with possibilities and every face, a stranger. Her mind races with questions but she’s too shy to ask them out loud. 

There’s no manual for these first days in the working world. You just show up, hoping you’ll find your place, wondering if you will ever feel as confident as the people around you. 

That was Sujatha Cherukura Gopalakrishnan on her first day at Cognizant. Little did she know, that day would be the start of a twenty-year leadership journey. 

Prioritizing growth at the start of my career

I joined Cognizant in 2003 as an intern after graduating with a Mathematics degree from Madras University. I had no real understanding of the corporate world, but my managers trusted me with real-world projects and responsibilities. 

It was around this time that I decided to not stay in any role for too long. I made sure that I took on new projects that offered new learning. Thankfully, I had some great leaders and mentors in my corner who ensured that I kept growing. I went from being an intern to leading a small team within two years. By my fifth year, I was managing multi-cultural teams, leading global programs and travelling to multiple countries in Europe.

A lot of credit also goes to the soft skill training that I received. When I joined, I was quiet and hesitant to share my thoughts even when I had ideas. But the leadership programs and mentoring that I received here helped me find my voice. Today, I lead large-scale programs and global teams with confidence.

Building trust with stakeholders

For me, honesty has always been the key. Whether I’m talking to a client or working with my team, I believe in being upfront. If something is realistic, I will say yes and do it; if it’s not, I say so early on and explain why it isn’t. This approach has helped me build strong relationships with people all over the world.

Living our core values

I always challenge and ask myself, “Why am I doing this? Can I do it better?” These questions keep me motivated and moving forward. It’s never about me as I rely on my team, mentors and peers. We work as one and strive to raise the bar in everything that we do.

Even outside of work, I do my part in making a difference in my community. In 2016, my husband and I started SUPRA, a daycare service for working parents. It began as a small effort and today, we’ve supported over 900 children and their families with services such as speech therapy, developmental support and after-school support.

Finding my balance

As a woman, I feel every stage of life brings its own challenges, whether it’s marriage, motherhood or resuming career after a break.  
 
The empowering work culture at Cognizant made me realize that I don’t have to choose between work and family, I can thrive with both together.

Reflections

From humble beginnings to making a significant impact within Cognizant, I’m incredibly proud of how much I’ve grown in the past two decades. As I look ahead, I’m excited to keep making a difference at work, at home and in the world around me.  

My advice to anyone just starting their career or making a career move is simple: You don’t have to have all the answers when you start. Sometimes, you just need to trust yourself to take the first step and see where it leads.