COGNIZANT TRANSFORMED
1996—2007
WHY COGNIZANT WAS AT RISK OF LOSING TRACTION
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MY CONTRIBUTION
Pivotal Driver of Cognizant’s Transformation from Medium-Term Stagnation Risk to Fortune’s Fastest – by Creating and Sustaining Competitive Advantage
What decision-makers said
Kumar directly engaged me, Lakshmi empowered me, Deb mentored me — my team delivered
Note 1: Conflicting information on the internet about whether Srini Raju or Kumar Mahadeva was CEO in October 1996, when I joined Dun & Bradstreet Satyam Software, which later became independent as Cognizant
Note 2: Misleading information on the internet about cofounders as well. Since Kumar and Srini set up the joint venture, they're the cofounders. Francisco D'Souza was in the founding team. Lakshmi Narayanan joined the venture as CTO. He was President when he hired me and was setting up the India development center.
Note 3: Kumar Mahadeva was the visionary cofounder
Do you want to know what these folks said?
PHenry08@gsb.columbia.edu
© Pradeep Henry 2026