The Economic Times: Cognizant CEO Shares Insights on Leadership as a Young CEO

Francisco D’Souza, CEO, Cognizant

“No single individual can execute successfully in this fast and complex world,” Francisco D’Souza tells The Economic Times, India’s top selling business daily. “We no longer support command-and-control, climb-the-ladder models or densely layered organizational hierarchies. It is important to remain consensus-driven and comfortable with a partnership approach to client management,” he says.

In a report on young leaders, the paper writes, “Francisco D’Souza was 38 when he became the CEO and president of Cognizant in 2007. In five years since, he has led the company from $1.4 billion to over $6 billion in revenues. The board picked him young, but only on merit.”

D’Souza says, “It was all about expertise and track record. If anything, my age was seen as an advantage.” When asked about what he does next, he replies, “There is always an expectation to do more and faster.

“It’s about seizing opportunities and proving your mettle,” D’Souza adds. “Early in my career, I was presented with an opportunity to work with a team to build Dun & Bradstreet’s IT captive in India. I jumped at the opportunity, and that captive became Cognizant,” he says.

D’Souza says the current environment of volatility is something that most CEOs have never faced before. “We have all the elements of rapid change combined with economic, political, and social uncertainty. Uncertainty is the new normal. Being a young CEO isn’t much different from being an older CEO,” he says.

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