‘Just go for it’: Cognizant’s Sreedevi Palit talks about imposter syndrome, framing policies, and more on Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on March 8 to celebrate women’s rights to equality and liberation, as well as equality of opportunity. This year’s theme is ‘Give to Win’, highlighting the importance of mentoring and paying it forward.

But even as women grapple with social and institutional challenges to break the glass ceiling, many are still torn between child care, family needs, elder care and other personal responsibilities, sometimes stalling their careers.

Mint spoke to Sreedevi Palit, Director, Head of Human Resources and D&I India at IT division Cognizant, about her career journey and how she shapes company policies that ensure an inclusive workplace for women in an industry that is often male-dominated like IT.

‘Defining work-life balance, avoiding guilt and imposter syndrome’

Recalling the two flagship programs that Palit helped create at Cognizant, which made him proud, the executive stated that the main thrust was to enable women to define work-life balance and avoid guilt and imposter syndrome with a growth mindset.

Palit, who spent twenty years of her career at Cognizant, drew attention to the 2018 Propel program for senior female leaders. “The goal was to amplify what women bring: building your brand, your network of supporters, and paying it forward. By 2026, we had 30 women’s groups around the world.”

The second program is called RISE and is for mid-career women; Because personal and professional commitments conflict among these women, some withdraw from the workforce. “We help them own their career journey, define work-life balance, avoid guilt and imposter syndrome with a growth mindset, and emphasize the importance of networking and financial literacy,” Palit said.

He believes it is important to build the ecosystem in general. “In 2023, we launched the SHAKTI initiative, bringing together our women-focused policies. This includes Be Gritty for startups, MATRI for pre- and postnatal transition and integration, and building a pipeline for ecosystem support.”

‘You are your best advocate, be aware’

Palit also emphasized that it is important to own your journey and learn how to position yourself. Especially when it comes to those rejoining the workforce after maternity leave or medical leave. “It’s a long road and you need to be conscious. The first thing to do is define your goals,” he advised.

According to Palit, you are your best advocate. Giving an example from his own career, he reminded that prioritization has become very important. “When you have to prioritize caregiving (like me), how do you do it without feeling guilty? It’s important not to look over your shoulder to compare with others…this will lead you down the path of self-pity. Instead, it’s important to create a narrative and learn how to position yourself. You are your best advocate,” she emphasized.

Second, never stop learning. “It’s about letting go, not giving up. If you take a break, it’s also important to keep learning. Technology is changing rapidly and it’s important to educate yourself and improve your skills. Find your sponsors and mentors, because you can’t do it alone,” he advised.

Embrace differences: ‘Everyone’s experience is very different’

Palit talked about the challenges she faced and how they shaped her views on diversity and inclusion. Palit talked about how early in his career at Cognizant he had the opportunity to work in the UK and India. “For the first time, I was stepping out of my comfort zone and doing something on my own. My father’s words never left my mind: “Never get worn out by the challenges you encounter.” So I adopted this and it gave me a great opportunity to work in a multicultural organization,” he shared.

This was a turning point. “The benefit I got was being curious, being non-judgmental, and understanding that everyone’s experiences are very different. So I realized early on that this was the seed of inclusivity,” Palit said.

This also helped when developing the Propel and RISE programs, Palit added. “So I was subconsciously looking at my journey. Did I build a good network? Or did I just rely on my manager? After a certain level, you need someone to advocate for you. So how do you make sure you’re visible?”

She added that it is difficult to find a balance between frustration and trade-offs as a caregiver. “I would say having a career has become very, very important. Sometimes you get frustrated with some of the compromises. But after a certain period of time, the penny dropped. I realized that’s what I want to do, I’m finding the balance. I’ll just have to define it that way and not feel guilty about it. So that’s how I moved on and tried to do the best I could,” he added.

‘You don’t have to be the man in the room’

Palit also spoke about the double standards women face in leadership roles; While the qualities praised by men are criticized in women (e.g. assertive or aggressive, expressive or nagging, etc.). This conversation needs to be reframed, he said, because for many the default idea of ​​”leadership” is automatically linked to masculinity.

She thinks women should “bring what they’ve got” to avoid being stuck in this mold. “You don’t have to be the man in the room,” she noted, advising women to use their unique strengths to create their own stories and seek opportunities.

But Palit also acknowledged that you can’t do this alone. Pay equality is still some time away, and there are inevitable breaks for some women, so finding the right sponsor is crucial, she added. “What we instill in men and women through our programs is the element of paying it forward. Once you acquire the skills, it’s a huge opportunity to pay it forward to those who come after you. It’s a huge responsibility for them,” he added.

‘Allyship is difficult sometimes’

Palit noted that in terms of ensuring the implementation of policies, this requires a change of mentality and that alliance plays a role at this point. But allyship is sometimes difficult in a fast-paced work environment.

“So we designed our allyship program to include men and women. And it’s not just a training program. We create labs with specific scenarios, like women returning from maternity leave, and create a safe space for interaction,” she shared about Cognizant’s practices.

Additionally, Palit added, there is a commitment plan in place where senior leaders and managers measure the exact actions taken to ensure this is reflected in the real work environment. “This starts a conversation – I commit to taking this step, and I also commit to a call to action to go back and measure what’s actually being done. Because unless it’s measured, it’s still just rhetoric,” he said.

‘Imposter syndrome is lethal, just keep going!’

Addressing young women entering the workforce and those looking to infiltrate boardrooms, Palit has one piece of advice: follow it.

He noted that research shows that women have higher levels of imposter syndrome, saying that if they tick nine out of ten boxes, they get the opportunity, while men continue with five boxes on the list. “We need to readjust that. It’s okay not to (have it all) and miss the opportunity to learn more and therefore grow more. So it’s very, very important to change that narrative in your head,” he said.

Palit pointed out that there will be those who oppose and object, so in such cases, it is necessary to start with small steps. “There will be people who come as obstacles… You may not get support, so the first move is very, very critical. Telling yourself this is where I want to be and setting small goals. That’s okay, not being too ambitious,” he added.

Once again, he emphasized the need for a support system and the necessity of gaining a mentor who will advocate for you and do his best. “It’s important to acquire the necessary skills, guide someone to learn the craft, and then move forward accordingly. Don’t step back because of failure, learn and move forward. I think it’s a journey.”

‘Give to Win’ is a call to action for every organization

Keeping in mind the ‘Give to Win’ theme of International Women’s Day 2026, Palit feels that this is a call to action for every organization, emphasizing reciprocity and support. She emphasized the need to create a platform for underrepresented women with the mindset that “as they advance, we all rise.”

“These policies need to be intentional. From an organizational perspective, we must dispel the misconception that giving means subtracting; this is not the case, it is a multiplier effect! So it is an organization’s responsibility to intentionally provide visibility, because there is power in paying it forward. And this is a call to action, there are no two ways about it!”