Transformation Leader – Executive Engagement & AI Thought Leadership
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About the Position
Transformation Leader – Executive Engagement & AI Thought Leadership
Date published: Oct 09 2026
Location: Hartford / United States
Job category: Consulting
About Us
Cognizant is one of the world's leading professional services companies, transforming clients' business, operating, and technology models for the digital era. Our unique industry-based, consultative approach helps clients envision, build, and run more innovative and efficient businesses. Headquartered in the U.S., Cognizant, a member of the NASDAQ-100, is consistently listed among the most admired companies in the world. Learn how Cognizant helps clients lead with digital at www.cognizant.com.
Leading at Cognizant
This is a Leadership role at Cognizant. We believe how you lead is as important as what you deliver. Cognizant leaders at every level:
- Drive our business strategy and inspire teams around our future.
- Live the leadership behaviors, leading themselves, others, and the business.
- Uphold our Values, role modeling them in every action and decision.
- Nurture our people and culture, creating a workplace where all can thrive.
At Cognizant, leadership transcends titles and is embodied in actions and behaviors. We empower our leaders at every level to drive business strategy, inspire teams, uphold our values, and foster an inclusive culture.
The Role
Cognizant helps companies modernize technology, reimagine processes, and transform experiences so they stay ahead in a fast-changing world.
We are looking for a Transformation Leader - Executive Engagement & AI Thought Leadership to join our journey. We’re looking for someone who is strategically minded, executive-ready, and skilled at mobilizing cross-functional teams. As a member of our team, you will lead the elevation of Cognizant’s strategic engagement with a key insurance account through thought leadership, innovation, and trusted C-suite partnership.
This role serves as the single-threaded owner of strategic engagement elevation for a long-standing, high-value client relationship. The Transformation Leader will connect Cognizant’s delivery depth, industry insight, and AI-led innovation to the client’s business and technology agenda, establishing structured executive engagement rhythms and positioning Cognizant as a strategic advisor and co-architect of the client’s future.
Responsibilities
- Own and execute the annual thought leadership calendar across priority insurance, AI, data, workforce transformation, application modernization, cloud, and security themes, including 4-6 client-tailored Points of View each year.
- Build and sustain relationships across the client’s IT and business leadership tiers, delivering executive briefings that emphasize strategic insight and measurable business value.
- Coordinate Cognizant’s global AI & Analytics, Cloud, Security, and Insurance practices to bring the strongest intellectual capital and subject matter expertise to the account.
- Identify industry events and develop joint client-Cognizant speaking and panel opportunities, targeting at least two external co-presentations annually.
- Design and lead quarterly innovation immersion and co-creation sessions aligned to priorities such as Agentic AI, underwriting transformation, claims automation, and security posture.
- Develop and refresh a three-year strategic account roadmap and contribute insights, investment cases, and capability perspectives to the client’s annual technology planning and budgeting cycle.
- Mobilize internal practice leaders, SMEs, delivery teams, and hyperscaler partners to advance strategic initiatives without direct line authority.
- Establish governance and reporting for the engagement, including executive relationship mapping, activation roadmaps, monthly dashboards, and metrics tied to client satisfaction, renewals, expansion, and revenue outcomes.
Qualifications
- 15-20 years of progressive experience in the insurance industry, technology services, consulting, or managed services, including at least 5 years in a senior client-facing or account leadership role.
- Proven success building sustained C-suite relationships with CIO, CISO, CDO, COO, and other senior stakeholders in large, complex organizations.
- Strong executive communication and storytelling skills, including experience producing client-relevant Points of View, white papers, executive briefings, workshops, or conference presentations.
- Working knowledge of P&C and Group Benefits insurance, including underwriting, claims, billing, policy administration, risk engineering, and actuarial functions; familiarity with platforms such as Guidewire, Duck Creek, PeopleSoft, ServiceNow, and Salesforce is preferred.
- Executive-level fluency in Generative and Agentic AI, cloud modernization across AWS, Azure, or GCP, cybersecurity and Zero Trust, application reliability, data and analytics, AI governance, and MLOps.
- Demonstrated ability to lead through a matrix organization, influence without authority, and manage relationships through service disruptions, security incidents, or delivery challenges.
- MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification preferred but not required; ability to travel and work in a client-proximate model, preferably near Hartford, Connecticut.
- Embodiment of the Cognizant Way to Lead and Cognizant’s Values: Work as One, Dare to Innovate, Raise the Bar, Do the Right Thing, and Own It.
Additional Employment Information
Compensation information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.
Applicants may be required to attend interviews in person or by video conference. In addition, candidates may be required to present their current state or government-issued ID during each interview.
Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Applicants for US-based positions must be currently authorized to work for any employer in the United States. The company is unable to provide employment-based immigration sponsorship for US-based positions.
If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email [email protected] for roles based in the Americas or [email protected] for roles based in India.
About Cognizant
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, bridging the gap between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process, and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, drive tangible outcomes, and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at cognizant.ai or @cognizant.
Benefits that Help You Thrive and Grow
Our benefits program is built with you in mind-so you can enjoy a fulfilling, balanced, and healthy life.
Financial Wellbeing
We regularly review market data to ensure compensation reflects the value you bring. Your benefits extend beyond pay and may include retirement plans, financial education, etc.
Physical and Mental Health
We empower you to prioritize your wellbeing through paid time off, flexible working where possible, healthcare plans, counseling, our Mental Health Allyship program, and more.
Your Career, Your Way
With 350,000+ roles at Cognizant, you’ll have opportunities to explore new technologies, industries, and locations-and build the skills you need to grow your career.
Real-World Impact
Think about the biggest brands you rely on. Chances are, they rely on us to help strengthen their business. Here, you’ll turn bold ideas into solutions that improve lives everywhere.
Your Path to Cognizant
Here’s what you can expect from our hiring process. Please keep in mind that it may vary by role and location. Explore our FAQs to learn more.
Step 1: Apply to the Right Opportunity
Find an open role that matches your skills and career goals and show us why you’re the person for the job. Don’t see the right opportunity? Consider joining our Talent Community.
Step 2: Connect with Your Recruiter
If one of our recruiters sees a fit, they’ll set up a short intro call to learn more about you and how your experiences and skills match the role.
Step 3: Show Off Your Skills
If you and our team would like to continue the process, you’ll interview with our hiring team. Some roles may also require technical assessments and/or client interviews.
Step 4: Decision Time
Our team will then review each candidate’s potential to succeed in the role. This step may take some time because we want to find the right fit for both you and us-but you can count on us to keep you updated.
Cognizant has one of the best learning ecosystems you can ask for. From sponsored certifications to training platforms to mentorship, we have all that we need to grow.
Debashish Mishra
SAP MM Developer
Cognizant offers me more than a job; it offers a community. We support each other, collaborate across borders, and celebrate wins together. If you’re looking for a culture that values flexibility, diversity, and growth, this is the place to be.
Laura Reynaud
Lead Counsel
When I first joined, I was quiet and hesitant to share my thoughts. The leadership programs and the mentoring I’ve received have helped me find my voice and grow as a leader.
Sujatha Gopalakrishnan
Portfolio Delivery Lead
I’ve had the chance to work on impactful projects and shadow colleagues, all while getting involved in internal initiatives. The world is your oyster at Cognizant-you just need to take advantage of it!
Lucas Hoffman
Consultant
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