Forbes: Cognizant CEO Outlines His Vision to Create an Innovation Culture in the U.S.

Francisco D'Souza, CEO, Cognizant

“Despite recent efforts by the government and the private sector to encourage students to pursue careers in STEM-oriented disciplines, the gap between those pursuing STEM education in the U.S relative to other countries shows no signs of closing,” writes Francisco D’Souza. “Many of the statistics we see every day are a stark reminder that the well educated STEM workforce that forms the backbone of our country is at risk.”

So what can be done to arrest the shortfall of STEM graduates? “What we need is an ecosystem characterized by new approaches to education that will re-kindle the desire to pursue STEM-oriented disciplines,” writes D’Souza. “In mitigating the far-reaching impact of inadequate STEM talent on our economy, competitiveness, global stature, and quality of life, we need to help our children rediscover the joy of innovating, creating, and solving. And once they find that joy, we must find ways to keep it alive.”

D’Souza states that the U.S. is home to millions of children who are dreaming big and willing to work hard. “We can develop the next generation of globally competitive STEM workers—but we’ll have to dream big and work hard too,” he observes. “We can create and sustain a world where making and playing become learning, a world where scientific and technical models become the building blocks for our future leaders. Our children have the energy and talent to become the next generation of global innovators—they have the passion and motivation to fuel positive change. It’s our job to translate that passion and motivation into a desire to pursue opportunities in STEM-based endeavors. Our future depends on it.”

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