How Kelsey found her rhythm after maternity leave at Cognizant
Kelsey shares how Cognizant’s support and community helped her find her rhythm after maternity leave—and grow as both a parent and a professional.
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Where opportunities truly feel equal: Maria’s life at Cognizant
Careers usually don’t move in straight lines—mine certainly didn’t. I joined Cognizant in March 2020, a time when the world was slowing down, employees began working from home and none of us knew what the future would hold. But as the years unfolded, my career took some beautiful turns that I hadn’t anticipated. Along the way, I learned that growth isn’t always about moving ahead—sometimes it’s about finding your way back.
Finding my way back home
After an eventful year and a half with Cognizant, I made a difficult decision to leave the organization for an external opportunity. But within three months, I realized I was missing the people, the warmth and the sense of belonging. So I returned to Cognizant, and it truly felt like returning home. Coming back never felt like I was taking a step backwards. In fact, it propelled me in my journey as a leader.
Learning to lead with trust and empathy
Cognizant is where my leadership journey began. In 2025, after working for 16 years in the IT Infrastructure domain across organizations, I became the Practice Lead for my region.
Over time, my idea of leadership changed. It stopped being about having the right answers and started being about listening with more intent. I learned that trust grows when people feel seen, heard and valued for who they are. Communication became my way of building trust—sometimes through a conversation, sometimes through a message that made someone feel included. When you lead with empathy, distance disappears. That understanding stayed with me, especially when life outside work began asking for more care and space, too.
“Cognizant showed me how much stronger teams can be when they’re built on trust, openness and mutual respect. This environment gave me the confidence to believe in myself and take on new challenges.”
Making space for life at work
Upon my return in 2022, I experienced one of the most beautiful moments in my life. I became a mom and it changed everything—not only in my personal life but also how I showed up at work.
It was a time of great joy, vulnerability and questions about the balance between my baby and work. But I was greatly supported by my leadership. That experience shaped my belief that good workplaces don’t just accommodate life, they respect it. When that respect exists, it creates a sense of fairness that goes beyond words.
“I was trusted, encouraged and allowed the space to grow—both as a mother and as a professional.”
A place where opportunities truly feel equal
At Cognizant, I found a place where everyone is valued for their talent. Cognizant has a global culture where people come together across borders and backgrounds. Working with teams spread across Argentina, Colombia and Chile has taught me collaborating across borders only makes our work stronger—because every voice matters and every perspective adds value.
When I look back on my journey, what stands out most isn’t any role or milestone—it’s the people I work with. I’ve been shown trust and given the space to grow, lead a team and be a doting mother all at once. For me, that’s what true equal opportunity is. It's not something you’re told, but something you experience, every day, through the people you work with and the community you belong to.
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