Bhubaneswar: Ravi Kumar S, CEO of Cognizant, has received the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, the highest honour given by the Government of India to overseas Indians.
He is the lone Odia among 27 NRIs conferred with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award by President Droupadi Murmu during the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention in Bhubaneswar recently.
Ravi Kumar S expressed his gratitude on receiving the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, stating “I am deeply honoured to receive the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. This recognition is a reflection of Cognizant’s steadfast commitment to India’s growth story. With nearly 70% of our 340,000-strong global workforce based in India, we are focused on advancing AI-first capabilities, driving innovation, and reinforcing India’s position as a global leader in digital talent.”
It is pertinent to mention that Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award recognizes the outstanding contributions of Indians living abroad who promote a better understanding of India globally, support Indian causes, and work towards the welfare of the Indian community.
Rising from humble origins in Odisha to become the CEO of global tech giant Cognizant, his tale of success is all about ambitions, resilience and excellence that resonates with Indians and diasporas worldwide.
In short, Ravi Kumar S has emerged as a shining beacon of success, bridging the distances between his humble beginnings in Odisha and the pinnacle of global leadership as CEO of Cognizant.
However, Ravi’s childhood, though simple, was fertile ground for nurturing a fierce passion for learning. Undeterred by limited resources, his innate academic talent flourished, laying the groundwork for a distinguished career. He went on to earn a degree in chemical engineering from Shivaji University, followed by an MBA from the prestigious Xavier Institute of Management in Bhubaneswar. This robust educational foundation not only honed his technical expertise but also instilled in him the business acumen that would propel him to the pinnacle of success in the technology industry.
Meanwhile, Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S met with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday and shared his plans for establishing the IT firm’s largest campus in India.
According to an official statement, the Odisha government reaffirmed its commitment to allocating land in Bhubaneswar for the proposed campus, with the Chief Minister assuring full support and cooperation from the state administration to facilitate its development.