Working at Cognizant Singapore: Company History, Culture, Benefits, and Leadership

In the dynamic landscape of Singapore's technology and consulting industry, one company stands out for its rich history, vibrant culture, enticing benefits, and visionary leadership. Cognizant, a global professional services giant, has been leaving an indelible mark on the business world since its inception. In this blog post, Aniday delves into the various facets of working at Cognizant Singapore – from its intriguing history and inclusive culture to the attractive benefits it offers and the guiding force of its leadership.

Company History: From Humble Beginnings to Global Impact

Cognizant's journey began in 1994 in Chennai, India, as Dun & Bradstreet Satyam Software (DBSS), a joint venture between Dun & Bradstreet and Satyam Computer Services. Initially, the company served as Dun & Bradstreet's in-house technology unit before venturing into broader markets in 1996. Over the years, it evolved and expanded its services, moving beyond IT solutions into business process outsourcing and business consulting.

The company's growth trajectory was marked by strategic moves, including the acquisition of TriZetto Corp in 2014, a significant step in strengthening its presence in healthcare IT services. Cognizant's commitment to innovation and client satisfaction propelled it into Fortune magazine's "100 Fastest-Growing Companies" list for an impressive ten consecutive years from 2003 to 2012.

Fast forward to January 2023, and Ravi Kumar S assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer, steering the company towards sustainable growth and long-term shareholder value. Under his leadership and the guidance of the executive team, Cognizant continues to engineer modern businesses and improve everyday life.

Culture: A High-Performing Team with Heart

One of the standout features of working at Cognizant is the emphasis on a client-first culture and an intuition-driven approach. As a high-performing team with heart, the diverse community of over 300,000 employees collaborates to transform companies globally. 

1. High-Performing Team with Heart

The culture emphasizes being a high-performing team while also highlighting the importance of empathy and heart in the workplace.

2. Diversity and Community Engagement

The diverse community of over 300,000 people is working together not only to transform client companies but also to make a positive impact in local communities through volunteering initiatives.

3. Intuition-Driven Approach

The organization applies an intuition-driven approach to its work, both with clients and internally. This approach likely involves a combination of expertise, creativity, and adaptability to address challenges and opportunities.

4. Continuous Learning and Career Advancement

Cognizant supports its high-performing team by providing the tools needed for gaining insight and speed. This indicates a commitment to continuous learning, skill development, and career advancement for its employees.

5. Engineering Intuition

The culture emphasizes engineering intuition not only with clients but also within the community, among colleagues, and in employees' personal lives. This suggests a holistic approach to problem-solving and decision-making.

6. Vision and Values

The vision is to become the pre-eminent technology services partner to the world's top companies. The values of starting with a point of view, seeking data to build knowledge, always striving and never settling, working as one, and creating conditions for everyone to thrive, underscore the principles guiding the company's actions.

7. Ethical Decision-Making

The commitment to doing the right thing, the right way, reflects a strong emphasis on ethical decision-making and integrity.

8. Alignment with Everyday Life Improvement

Cognizant's mission is to engineer modern businesses to improve everyday life, suggesting a broader societal impact beyond just business goals.

Benefits: Shaping Careers and Supporting Well-being

Cognizant understands that a motivated and satisfied workforce is the key to success. The company's benefits package is designed to empower employees to shape their careers, enhance their professional development, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

1. Shaping Careers

At Cognizant, employees are encouraged to bring their ideas to the table. The company provides opportunities for innovative career tracks, job rotations, and professional growth. This not only keeps the workforce engaged but also ensures that each employee is on a trajectory aligned with their aspirations.

2. Learning and Growth

Continuous learning is not just a buzzword at Cognizant; it's a way of life. The company invests in education and training, allowing employees to stay ahead in the rapidly changing workplace. Skills training is a fundamental part of the benefits package, ensuring that employees can adapt to new challenges seamlessly.

3. Community Engagement

Employees are encouraged to participate in initiatives and programs for causes towards the environment and communities. This helps to not only create a positive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) image but also helps foster a sense of purpose in the workforce. 

4. Health and Well-being

Cognizant values the well-being of its employees and their family. This is why they offer health plans for both employees and their loved ones. A healthy and supported workforce is a productive one, and Cognizant recognizes the importance of this symbiotic relationship.

5. Investing in the Future

The compensation and benefits packages, including holidays, are structured to ensure that employees can plan for their futures. From retirement planning to other financial benefits, Cognizant invests in its workforce's long-term financial well-being.

Leadership: Guiding the Ship to Success

At Cognizant Singapore, the company comprises individuals from diverse backgrounds and expertise. They work together to lead the company towards its vision of becoming the leading technology services partner to top companies in the world.

Let's take a closer look at some key members of the leadership team:

• Ravi Kumar S - Chief Executive Officer: Sets the strategic direction of the company, promotes Cognizant’s client-first culture, and focuses on ensuring sustainable growth and driving long-term shareholder value.

• Surya Gummadi - Executive Vice President and President, Cognizant Americas: Responsible for the strategic direction and operational performance of Cognizant’s business in the United States, Latin America, and Canada. Additionally, oversees the global large deals team.

• Jan Siegmund - Chief Financial Officer: Leads the company’s worldwide Financial Planning and Analysis, Accounting and Controllership, Tax, Treasury, and Internal Audit functions.

• Kathryn (Kathy) Diaz - Chief People Officer: Leads all aspects of people strategy, guiding how the company attracts, develops, engages, and rewards its diverse global workforce.

• Jane Livesey - Head of Cognizant Asia Pacific and Japan: Represents Cognizant’s commercial and delivery interests in Australia, New Zealand, ASEAN, Singapore, Greater China, India, and Japan.

In Summary

Working at Cognizant Singapore is about being part of a transformative journey. Aniday believes that as the company continues to engineer intuition and modernize businesses, those fortunate enough to be part of the Cognizant family in Singapore are poised for success in the ever-evolving world of technology and consulting.