150 trainings and counting: Meet super learner Arpan

Welcome to Super Learners, a series where we celebrate our associates who have advanced their careers by mastering the art and science of effective learning. Today, we’re proudly spotlighting Arpan Kumar Pal, an associate in our Life Sciences Manufacturing group. In just 2.5 years with us, Arpan has completed more than 150 training programs! 

Hi Arpan, tell us about how you got your start with Cognizant. 
I joined Cognizant as a new grad after completing my Masters’ degree in Biochemistry. I’m fascinated by the intersection of technology and life sciences, and I felt Cognizant provided the best platform to work with leading pharma companies while developing my skills. 

That’s great! Give us some insight on the training programs you’ve completed. 
I’ve taken full advantage of Cognizant’s library of learning content and have complimented my learning with external resources from Standford University, the National Cancer Institute and more. 

This has allowed me to expand my skillsets in areas like data analysis and cloud computing, as well technologies such as PowerBI, Tableau and Python. I’ve also completed the AWS Cloud Practitioner certification and am on my way to becoming AWS Architect certified! 

Why have you made learning and upskilling a priority in your career? 
My goal is to one day be a leader, and I know I need to be a well-rounded professional with domain and technical expertise to reach this goal. However, this journey is not just about personal growth. It’s also about contributing meaningfully to Cognizant by driving client growth and ensuring we remain an industry leader. 

How have these training programs helped you advance your career?  
Each training program has boosted my confidence, making me feel more capable and ready to take on new challenges. This newfound confidence has empowered me to share my knowledge with colleagues, fostering a culture of collaboration and collective growth. It has also opened up new opportunities within my business unit. 

My leaders recently gave me the chance to evaluate a clients’ AWS infrastructure and share solutions to make it more intuitive.  The encouragement I receive from my leaders make my experience here so special—it highlights just how deeply learning and development are embedded into our culture. 

How has Cognizant empowered you to reach your career goals? 
Beyond the support from my leaders and peers, Cognizant has a dedicated team of learning professionals who help us upskill and reskill through a range of learning offerings, from live training to virtual labs to gamified experiences. We even have a dedicated team for AWS Certifications, which is how I'm working towards my AWS Architect certification.  

I'm proud to be part of a company that genuinely cares about my career goals and I’m excited to continue to build my dream career here!