Meet the first woman to work at Cognizant: Joyce Devadason

One company, many roles 

Joyce embarked on her Cognizant journey in 1994 in India. Her passion for learning and her domain expertise quickly set her apart, earning her an opportunity directly from Cognizant’s CEO. “When it came to learning a clients’ architecture, I ensured I knew it inside and out,” she says. She moved to the U.S. for this new role, where she began as a programmer analyst and was promoted to a manager within four years. 

Today, Joyce is in her dream role as a Global Solutions Architect, proposing Quality Engineering and Assurance (QEA) solutions to clients. It suits her so well because she’s “acquiring knowledge and rolling it out to clients every day.” 

What makes her successful? 

Joyce attributes her success to her mother who was widowed at 45 with ten kids to care for and a small business to run. Her mother’s resilience and belief that “women can do anything” profoundly impacted Joyce and her siblings, ensuring they all completed their education. 

Influenced by her mom's focus on education, Joyce continues to earn certifications with each new role she takes on. When she became a manager, she earned her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification to master the nuances of being a manager. “I strengthen my career by putting 100% into understanding what I’m working on,” she explains.  

Joyce also credits her mentors for her career success. From her early days at Cognizant, she was empowered to attend leadership summits, giving her valuable insight into our business priorities. Today, she is proudly guided by a female leader who empowers her to leverage Cognizant’s learning resources, lead high-impact client presentations and so much more.  

Cognizant leaders even asked her to ring the bell for the company’s 25th year anniversary at Nasdaq, an opportunity she’ll never forget. 

Inspiring future generations 

Joyce’s remarkable 30-year career in tech has inspired her daughter to study data science. When she visits on breaks from college, they exchange stories of what they’ve learned.

Joyce's impact reaches far beyond her family. At Cognizant, she mentors many women, guiding them to excel in their careers. Her advice to all women professionals reading this blog is:

• Find your community. Engaging with other women who share similar experiences can foster a sense of belonging and support. Joyce discovered her community through Women Empowered, Cognizant’s Affinity Group dedicated to providing career opportunities for women.  

• Zero in on your passion. Whether it’s programming, design or anything in between, focus on what you love. Disregard detractors and the pursuit of prestige; strive to engage in work that you find fulfilling. 

• Focus on self-improvement. During her college days studying computer science, Joyce felt discouraged by her peers who had been coding since childhood. She even questioned if she was suitable for the field but realized her potential as her skills improved each year. “If you’re continuously learning and improving, acknowledge and celebrate this growth. You are on the right path.” 

Joyce’s journey at Cognizant is a testament to the power of continuous learning and a strong community in developing one’s career. For more on Cognizant’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, visit our careers page.