Forbes India: Cognizant CEO Honored as the “Best CEO” in the Multinational Company Category

Francisco D’Souza was recognized as the “Best CEO” in the Multinational Company category by Forbes India magazine as part of its 2013 Leadership Awards. The annual awards recognize transformational leadership across the entrepreneurial firmament from start-ups and mid-sized firms to the more mature organizations of global scale. They recognize outstanding CEOs, entrepreneurs and business leaders who have built enterprises that have had a deep and enduring impact on the wider society. The award was presented to D’Souza at a glittering ceremony in Mumbai attended by the who’s who of business.

When asked what his advice to young CEO aspirants was, D’Souza replied, “Dream big. Anything is possible.” He dedicated the award to the more than 160,000 employees of Cognizant who, he said, “deserve all the credit for this award”.

D’Souza also participated in a debate on whether India Inc. is bipolar and whether it overreacts to highs and lows. He spoke against the motion and maintained that India Inc. is level-headed. “If there is one lesson of the last five years, it is that in today’s business environment, volatility is the new normal. In both emerging and established markets around the world, dramatic highs and dramatic lows are a regular part of business life,” he said.

“In a volatile environment, the agility to respond quickly to changes is the killer behavior,” he added. “The ability of India Inc. to respond to volatility, far from being bipolar behavior, is a sensible way of running the business. Let us not dismiss India Inc.’s agility as bipolar trash, but look at it for what it really is—a competitive treasure. India Inc. has shown remarkable consistency in responding to volatility, thinking for the long term, and taking prudent steps to respond to what will inevitably continue to be a volatile environment.” D'Souza swung the pre-debate verdict on the topic by a huge margin with his arguments.