HYDERABAD, September 12, 2025 : Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) today announced that Citizens
Financial Group’s Global Capability Centre (GCC) has joined its
flagship Outreach program to advance skilling and employability for
college students in rural communities across Telangana.
The program launched in Hyderabad in 2019 has reached
over 4,000 students in Telangana, with 478 hired into technology
roles at Cognizant—92% of them women. Nationally, the program has
impacted 60,000 students through partnerships with more than 100
institutions, including colleges and nonprofits.
“Our Hyderabad GCC is designed as a hub for innovation and collaboration, and
partnering with Cognizant’s Outreach program allows us to extend that purpose
beyond business into communities,” said Michael Ruttledge, Chief
Information Officer and Head of Enterprise Technology & Security, Citizens
Financial Group. “This marks the beginning of our volunteering journey in
India, and we are proud that our GCC associates will volunteer their time and
expertise to help students unlock new opportunities and pathways to pursue
careers in technology.”
As part of the collaboration, Citizens GCC associates will volunteer
weekly to deliver a structured five-step employability training program for
students in rural and tribal areas. The sessions will cover generative
AI, communication and soft skills, life skills and include readiness
for the AMCAT employability test.
“Cognizant Outreach is a powerful example of how our people bring purpose to
life—using their mentoring skills to uplift communities and create pathways to
opportunity,” said Surya Gummadi, President – Americas, Cognizant. “Our
collaboration with Citizens’ GCC in Hyderabad strengthens this mission,
combining shared values and collective action to equip students—especially
young women in underserved areas—with the skills and confidence to thrive in
technology careers. Together, we’re bridging the gap between skilling and
industry, and scaling impact where it’s needed most.”
Launched in April 2025, the Citizens-Cognizant Global Capability Centre
(GCC) in Hyderabad serves as a next-generation innovation hub supporting
Citizens’ digital transformation and technology modernization. The GCC is
expected to scale up to 1,000 IT and Data and Analytics professionals by March
2026.
Cognizant Outreach is a global, employee-driven volunteer platform focused
on driving digital inclusion and supporting community
development through initiatives in education, employability,
and environmental sustainability.
About Cognizant
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) engineers modern businesses.
We help our clients modernize technology, reimagine processes and transform
experiences so they can stay ahead in our fast-changing world. Together, we’re
improving everyday life. See how at www.cognizant.com
or @cognizant.
About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s
oldest and largest financial institutions, with $217.5 billion in assets as of
December 31, 2024. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a
broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to
individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and
institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening
to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice,
ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated
experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer
contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,100 ATMs and
approximately 1,000 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer
Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending,
savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking,
Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions,
including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services,
foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as
well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt
and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com or
visit us on X (formerly
Twitter), LinkedIn or Facebook.
