Voices
Get a peek into what Infosys means to its employees, what they feel as Infoscions, and what they believe makes it one of the world's best organizations. This section will continue to feature some of their best documented accounts of Life at Infosys.
Skyler Mattson
THE QUEST TO MAKE AN IMPACT
“What's next?”
However trivial they may sound, these two words have pushed humans to achieve incredible feats. From the invention of the wheel to our push to put humans on Mars, they have made possibilities infinite.
Speaking of incredible human feats, it’s heartening to see how we are coping with the pandemic. I see a similar pattern at play. Day in and day out, inspired minds are working on a plan to emerge from this situation even stronger. I see this spirit of resilience in my partners at Infosys. And the inspiration to build what’s next is irresistible.
Here are some of the things my colleagues are doing that inspire me:
- Infosys is partnering with the State of Rhode Island in launching a privacy-first contact tracing solution to help Rhode Islanders and state officials slow the spread of coronavirus throughout the state.
- Infosys is helping the State of Karnataka with the “Apthamitra” (stands for a close friend) helpline, creating an exclusive toll-free number and a mobile app aimed at providing required medical advice and guidance for those in need.
- Infosys Foundation, both in India and in the U.S., is extending their resources and technological capabilities to help people who are most impacted by this pandemic. Infosys believes it’s imperative for businesses to join hands with governments, civil society, and healthcare institutions to support the communities we live in and serve.
- Recently, we launched the “Summer of Ideas” initiative to redefine the learning experience for university students worldwide who have been disrupted by the pandemic. Along with renowned professors and technology thought-leaders, Infoscions will be mentoring the students in upskilling themselves.
Technology is the tool that we use to help people – and the biggest businesses and their customers are counting on Infosys to make their future possible. By pushing the limits of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Data and Analytics and everything else in between, Infoscions are making the world a better place. They are moving forward and taking the world with them.
Right now my colleagues across the globe are building resiliency for their clients with tailor-made “Return to workplace” solutions. When you have this spirit of entrepreneurship, and also the knowledge and belief of what technology can achieve, you tend to look at the world with greater optimism.
I’m proud to be powered by Infosys and to join my colleagues in answering What’s next?
Lara Salamano
IMAGINE A CAREER ON SKATES!
The good part about working with Infosys is the sheer variety of people you get to meet and collaborate with. The best part is what you get to learn from them. In my rather short stint of here, I’ve already come across many enterprising colleagues who are thriving in a mutually beneficial relationship with Infosys.
Unequivocally, they opine that aligning their vision to that of the organization has done the trick. What’s more, they have got the tools, support and opportunities they need to navigate their career even further. On probing more, I’ve discovered some common paths they continue to tread on.
They most certainly start with Lex, the learning platform that enables you to learn new technologies on-the-job. It offers you opportunities to re-skill or upgrade to new technologies and earn new digital skills relevant for the business. High performers in Infosys get rewarded, within 12 months of joining a project, with an opportunity to move to a new project based on their skills and career interests. Talk about a career on skates!
Meanwhile, you also get a personalized showcase for your achievements and experiences so you can apply for opportunities in other projects or career streams through internal job postings on our career navigator platform called Compass. You guessed it right. It’s the ‘skating rink’ for careers.
There are also structured interventions for you to avail hands-on training required for the new role within the organization and move up the value chain. Bridge Programs come with a guarantee of role change with associated compensation change. From a technical role, you can move into design, consulting, or become a power programmer.
Together, Compass and Bridge Programs enable you to explore skill-based roles at various stages of your career. For example, you can upgrade your skills to become an Agile Coach or a Data Scientist. Skateboarding anyone?
As you move your career forward at Infosys, based on your performance on the job and the potential you create for yourself through continuous learning, you get mentored for your career growth, you get exposed to global experiences, client interactions, and leadership forums. And the best of you are enabled by the Infosys Leadership Institute to develop leadership strengths to head a function or enter c-suite.
What Infosys offers you is more than just a career. It offers you lifelong employability for wherever your life may take you. What I’ve realized is that when you, as a professional, agree with your organization on what mutual success is, no career will ever stand still.
Skate away with Infosys!
Richard Cardwell
EMBRACE. ENGAGE. EXCEL – THE INFOSYS WAY
With the world of business rapidly evolving, your clients and mine are determined to stay ahead of the curve. With digital technologies at their fingertips, clients are leveraging these to continuously innovate and stay relevant. Digital transformation can only be successful if the organizations have the right digital skills and environment for learning.
The digital economy is creating a huge demand for specialized skills that are in extremely short supply; and this is leading to a skill crisis. But, as we have come to see, knowledge or digital economy is a great leveler. It has shown us in more ways than one that no one is as strong as the all of us.
The best way to handle the skill crisis and other challenges of digital driven knowledge economy is to be all inclusive. I’m proud to say Infosys is at forefront of providing opportunities that matter.
100+ nationalities from 200 different locations from around the world make up Infosys. Employees are not only our biggest assets but a key stakeholder. None of the amazing things we do at Infosys would be possible without an equally amazing culture, the environment in which to do them, one where ideas can flourish, and where you are empowered to move forward as far as your ideas will take you. This is something we achieve through cultivating a culture of inclusiveness and openness, and a mindset of exploration and applied innovation. We provide our employees with a work environment that is safe, secure and free from discrimination. They work in an environment that fosters mutual support and team spirit ensures the achievement of organizational goals and personal employee goals are synced and in agreement with each other.
While the workplace is changing, so is our workforce. We have identified the digital skills essential for our people to thrive and create learning paths for them. Through trainings, hackathons, lab hours, apprenticeships and on-the-job experience. We are also bringing a mobile-first convenience to our ways of working with an umbrella of on-the-go applications.
Across the globe, Infosys is committed to ‘going local’ to strengthen our profile as an employer of choice and be part of the local ecosystem. Recently we announced, Reskill and Restart - a free, online platform that brings together employees, trainers and employers in a guided journey that begins with aptitude and skills assessment, followed by curated job-specific skills training, and culminates in matching people with roles that land them in careers in tech., non-tech. and support functions.
According to estimates by UNESCO, COVID-19 has affected nearly 1.2 billion students and youth globally. The Infosys Summer of Ideas is delivering a purposeful summer learning opportunity for students impacted by this pandemic. Infosys has always believed in lifelong learning as a key strategy pillar for our employees as well as our partner universe.
Diversity and inclusion is a source of innovation and ultimately, business success for Infosys. It helps build balance in workforce, bringing in different capabilities and perspectives. We understand diversity is what makes business efficient, insightful and reliable, and believe in providing opportunities to all.
A career at Infosys means experiencing and contributing to this environment every day. It means being part of a dynamic culture where exciting minds are united by a common purpose to navigate further, together. #ForwardWithInfosys #Infocsions #Infosys
Padma Bhamidipati
INFOSYS – MY OYSTER
Spam! That was the conclusion my father arrived at when he saw the email from Infosys inviting me to attend a test and an interview. Parents and faith … sigh! But don't judge him so quickly! A commerce graduate with a post-graduation in marketing management was definitely not what the iconic Infosys would be looking for, right? “They must have made a mistake” was thus concluded. This was circa 2000.
Cut to 2019. After 18 years and nine months of being a proud Infoscion, I am filled with just one emotion - Gratitude! Join me as I share some crisp highlights that make me hero-worship this place.
Long before hiring non-STEM graduates was cool, Infosys accepted folks from liberal arts background and wove them into the ecosystem. The organization has an inexplicable way of making you be a better version of yourself. In my first few weeks, I saw all the geeks speak an alien language and got ready to take flight. Then a kind gentleman in Hyderabad development center coached me and said join them, don't run away. Thus started my foray into understanding technology, the IT industry, and what would be the start of a lot of wonderful mentors who had my back (though they never made it easy for me!).
As part of the Education, Training and Assessment unit, I have had the privilege to be close, or rather closest, to the core of this institution, that is, talent development. The corridors and campuses have always been abuzz with ideas and conversations that translated to laying of a strong foundation for the development of talent and staying ahead of the developments in the technology, domain, and the business world. After all, to be a navigator for the clients and business, an Infoscion has to be equipped with the best-in-class learning opportunities.
Let's zoom in a bit more into the work environment. The campus has a way of overwhelming you and reassuring you at the same time. The expanse of the campuses reminds you of the scale of operations and yet the company culture is an assurance that the famous N=1 was probably conceived to reflect the investments made by this organization to ensure each one felt heard and valued. Personally, for me, the work environment was dominated by my managers. Whether it was allowing me to work out of our Pune office during my first pregnancy where I had severe gestational diabetes and needed more care or making me figure out how do we rollout the first overseas roadshow for Knowledge Management in the US and Europe, trust me, my managers knew how to make me richer with experiences.
I can go on and on gushing about how the organization has made me a better version of myself, courtesy the people it has nurtured. But there are some honest confessions too. I stammered and stuttered as a child and still nurture a fair bit of insecurity about my capabilities. But this organization would hear none of it! They made me emcee and reminded me I am good at it, every time, and made the proverb ‘world is your stage’ a reality for me. I did not have confidence to step out to buy a loaf of bread as a child and today this organization has made me travel solo, anchor important business discussions, and chalk out programs which I had never imagined (and I still am pinching myself).
Infosys is my oyster. It has let me be me, even while it was chiseling away at my personality and competency, because the culture is carefully crafted and fiercely guarded to value principles and, for the umpteenth time, make an Infoscion the best version of oneself!
Sumantra Chaudhury
IF IT DEMANDS RESPECT, IT’S INFOSYS.
Recently I came across the news that Infosys has been ranked at no. 3 on Forbes’ 2019 list of The World’s Best Regarded Companies. As I read this news, I could feel a smile appear on my lips and I murmured to myself, “So true!”.
Having spent a little more than 8 years at Infosys, I can convincingly say that it is an absolute delight to be a part of this wonderful organization. And I don’t say that just for the sake of it. There is a definite reason behind why I feel this way and it is the respect that Infosys gives to its each employee.
When I joined Infosys I was pleasantly surprised to witness how each individual is respected for what he/she is. No matter what your level of knowledge or your skills are, the company respects and recognizes your skillsets and allows you to utilize them to the full potential. In fact, it also enables one to learn and develop new skills. When I was a new joinee, I had very little knowledge about my area of work. But my team and organization did not see it as a roadblock. In fact, I was given all the opportunities to learn and master the skills required. The support I received from my team was excellent and that helped me to not only to develop my skills but also excel in my area of work.
The amount of effort that Infosys puts behind each employee is an indication of how valuable each of us are to the organization and that comes from inherent respect in the company.
And this respect not only centers the area of work but also extends to areas like hobbies and passion, gender, sexual orientation, culture, nationality, disability, and other aspects of an individual’s identity. Infosys does not discriminate. It lays immense value on a person’s abilities, knowledge and expertise. It cherishes each employee the way he or she is, and allows each one to be his/her own self. This creates a very positive work environment which plays a major role in boosting employees’ morale and motivates them as well.
Infosys has been and will always be special to me for all this. I truly feel lucky to be part of this organization.
Arwa Ghalawan
MY INFOSYS AND I
When I heard Infosys is Ranked Number 3 on 2019 Forbes ‘World’s Best Regarded Companies’ List, it only strengthens my aspiration to be the example for all companies to create a more diverse work environment.
At Infosys I was able to create a healthy and productive work environment that is free of harassment, abrasive behavior and bullying. In my role as Diversity and Inclusion Representative, I successfully connect the Indy Tech Hub to create a broader ecosystem of community partners, stakeholders and organization that help to fulfill our diversity objectives. This is done through proactive communication, strong networking and promotion of various social channels and face to face interactions. I also help to develop more effective strategies to recruit and attract a more diverse applicant pool for position vacancies.
I made the choice to place myself in a positive, progressive and engaging environment, one that suits my needs for an open environment to learn and grow, at my own pace. Every day is a new day and learning day with positive start for me at Infosys. In order to keep myself motivated I have adopted these daily habits: motivating myself, stepping up, and staying focused. I motivate myself by having a continuous positive outlook for any situation, I refuse to let others say negative things, I always correct them with positive affirmations. Stepping up requires me to hold myself accountable in situations where I am able to help other. Being a listening ear for employee’s ideas and concerns in the hub. The ability to stay focus on the end goal is challenging in any profession, however for me I find is helpful to write a list of priorities for the day. This keeps me in tune with what I should be accomplishing daily.
At work, I enjoy having real diversity, which means the presence of difference within our contained environment, this has been proven to show an increase in productivity, profits, and employee engagement. Diversity provides a reduction in turnover, improves company reputation and produces a wide range of skills for employees. Sometimes at work you would assume that common culture is enough, but there is a significant distinction in connections with the right people help you to get things done. The way people interact with each other strongly influences the working environment. 'Face' and long-term effects are taken into consideration.
Infosys has taught me a lot, especially how to use tactics and techniques as you engage with others. The foundation of that I learned includes being bold it is all about thinking big and making bold decisions. As the famous saying by Wayne Gretzky goes,” Plan as per where the puck is going to be and not where the puck is today.” Having many successful and experienced leaders come to speak at the Indy Infosys Hub invokes so many passionate ideas and concepts that I am excited to share. It’s much easier to love your work when you’re good at it.
In the world today balance is needed in all aspects and many times we all find it hard achieve. Balance is important, I aim to help everyone achieve that balance here at Infosys. I do my best to meeting as many people as possible in the organization and building meaningful relationships. Learning to work with different people, sometimes on endless tasks you'll find yourself learning to manage upwards, spotting problems and suggesting solutions to your leaders. You may seek opportunities to improve things within the organization, even when it's not your direct responsibility. At Infosys I don’t limit myself because I know I am appreciated by my leader and whenever I need an advice he is there.
Charlotte Fernandes
WHY I THINK INFOSYS IS ONE OF THE BEST REGARDED COMPANIES IN THE WORLD
It’s been a month since the announcement and the news is still fresh - Infosys has been ranked at number 3 on 2019 Forbes list of the World’s Best Regarded Companies. One might ask what this means for the company, its stakeholders, and employees? Evidently, this has evoked sentiments of pride, achievement and so much more. Personally, I feel a sense of contentment and honor to be part of the Infosys family.
Being a renowned corporation in the IT services industry through the years, I remember Infosys caught my attention several years ago for the rapid strides it was making in technologies indispensable today. I imagined what would it be like to join an enterprise of such a stature, what would it be like to collaborate with the bright minds, would the scope of work in such a company enhance my professional experience, and most of all, I pondered what the culture of Infosys would be.
Merely one and a half years into my job as a marketing professional at Infosys while being in the profession of over 11 years, I can say without a doubt that the journey at Infosys has been one hell of a rollercoaster ride. Working here not only brings out the best in you, it also makes you feel confident to achieve what lies ahead.
At Infosys, you are bound to explore the countless opportunities that are not just exciting and brimming with knowledge, but are presented to groom you into a leader. And while you may be deep into your work to ensure you deliver quality work to the clients, what makes it all worthwhile is our team behind us and the camaraderie we share with them. I have definitely found this to be true in my team and all the other teams across the marketing floor. Teams are eager to assist, they hear you out, help you brainstorm, take work breaks over tea/coffee with you, and more, making each day fulfilling at Infosys.
The Forbes’ list rated companies on trustworthiness, honesty, social conduct, fairness to employees, and the performance of products and services. Infosys successfully moved from number 31 in 2018 list to number 3 this year, leaving me feeling ecstatic to be an Infoscion!
Tanya Ann Moraes
INFOSYS – NUMBER 3 BEST REGARDED COMPANY BY FORBES
I was overwhelmed with joy when I heard the news that Infosys has been ranked at number 3 in the Forbes 2019 list of The World’s Best Regarded Companies.
The ascend from number 31 to number 3 spot on this Forbes list is due to Infosys’ trustworthiness, social conduct, best product and services, honesty, and fairness to employees and stakeholders. All this is 100% true regarding Infosys, where great efforts are taken to painstakingly deliver the best to the world. With our brand commitment "Navigate your next”, we have been successful in helping our clients to navigate to the next in their digital journeys. By enabling AI-powered core, digital-agility at scale, and always-on learning, we have been providing customer delight.
I enjoy working at Infosys because of the company culture and values. Infosys upholds its employees, clients, and stakeholders by founding values called CLIFE. CLIFE stands for Client value, Leadership by example, Integrity and transparency, Fairness, and Excellence.
The opportunities provided by the organization are commendable . Infosys has helped me to learn and grow in multifaceted ways. The training sessions and learnings on Lex platform enables all employees to stay abreast with the latest technology trends and provide innovative ideas. All this enables new thinking and new possibilities to take wings.
Infosys promotes diversity and inclusion within the organization. This allows employees from different cultural backgrounds, geographies, and talents to work together. The team spirit and value of working in unison runs throughout the organization, enhancing overall growth.
Infosys also focuses on employee’s health, safety, leisure and emotional wellbeing by providing state-of-the-art facilities and organizing events, games, sports, competitions, hobby classes, etc. This rejuvenates the body, mind and peps up the soul to excel in all our endeavors.
Sustainability and social responsibility are taken seriously in the company. Working at Infosys campuses is working in a picturesque and eco-friendly environment. Infosys has eco-clubs for sustaining the flora and fauna and donation drives for helping the needy.
The Infosys ranking on the Forbes list has provided the necessary impetus to boost our morale and zeal to outshine and deliver the best services to clients spanning over geographies, in an excellent manner.
I just want to say that Infosys truly deserved this position on the Forbes list of world’s best regarded companies. I am greatly honored to be an Infoscion.
#Infosys #ForwardWithInfosys
Vineetha Menon
360-DEGREE VIEW OF WORKING AT INFOSYS
I have been with Infosys for past 4 years now. I still remember stepping into the lush green Infosys Pune campus for an interview and I immediately said to myself “This is it and I am going to crack this interview!”. Since then it has been an incredible journey full of learning, teamwork and passion.
An organization’s culture contains reservoirs of emotional energy and influence. I can proudly say that work culture at Infosys is amazing. Infosys gives me a platform to work with a lot of freedom. My team and managers motivate me to give my best each day. The best part is that I have never asked for any particular kind of work. Perfect work that was in sync with my skills just came in naturally. Infosys also provided me the flexibility to change my work location when I needed it. Dynamics of my team give me a lot of flexibility and recognition. To top all this, my co-workers make being at the job fun. Working for a business unit like Infosys Cloud Infrastructure Services has opened up new challenges and opportunities for me that I had never faced before.
I have heard a very popular saying that if employees are happy, clients are happy. Infosys has a well-rounded ecosystem that revolves around employee care. Be it health and wellness, hobby groups, learning platforms etc. Shortly after I joined, I realized that Infosys truly cares for its employees. I first experienced it by the way our managers truly care for us. When a team member stays back late in office, they are the ones who are constantly worried until we reach home safely. The same level of commitment is seen in all our support teams be it transport, housekeeping or food and catering.
Infosys has always given a great emphasis on foundational values. We take our value code CLIFE as a way of life. CLIFE stands for Client value, Leadership by example, Integrity and transparency, Fairness, and Excellence. The value system followed throughout the organization makes working for Infosys truly worth it.
It is truly an honor to be associated with Infosys. I wasn’t surprised when I got to know that Infosys has been ranked at number 3 in the Forbes 2019 list of The World’s Best Regarded Companies. It’s a proud moment. This honor is a true testimony of commitment, passion, and vibrancy that Infosys represents. I am sure that Infosys will win many more such recognitions in the future.
Yachna Upadhyay
MY JOURNEY AT INFOSYS
I started my journey with Infosys as a trainee. I had heard that training at Infosys is the best and it actually was a world-class training. The trainers were well equipped with knowledge and skills to train and despite the number of trainees, each of us used to get personal attention. That was the time when I realized that Infosys claims what it actually does!
When I was mapped to a project after the training, I was quite nervous and hesitant. But to my surprise, my seniors were very helpful and supportive. They not only answered my doubts but also motivated me to do something out of the box. That’s where I understood my potential to do more than what I am expected to deliver. The training, study-material, assessments and certifications provided by Infosys have helped me expand my horizon beyond my current skill level. The environment in Infosys has always encouraged me to look for ideas and express them openly, because there’s always someone to help you implement them.
Apart from my project work, I started participating in hackathon, where I got to know the skills possessed by different employees all across the company. I got the confidence to showcase my use cases which were appreciated by Infosys leadership.
And that’s not it! Infosys is a very happening organization! I started taking part in activities and events, which acted as a stress buster and helped me become more social. I am not exaggerating when I say that Infosys helped me find the hidden artist in me and I am now honing that talent to become better at it. “All work and No Play” policy does not hold true in our organization.
Infosys has been ranked at number 3 on Forbes’ 2019 list of The World’s Best Regarded Companies. I wouldn’t be surprised even if it was ranked at number 1, because Infosys holds values, wisdom, and intelligence to excel into much more than what it is now. I am proud to say that I am a part of Infosys but, actually, Infosys is a part of me.
Alok Kumar
INFOSYS AS 3RD AMONG THE WORLD’S BEST REGARDED COMPANIES - MY STORY
Recently Forbes recognized Infosys as 3rd among the world’s best regarded companies. This particular news items brought back so many memories of my 20 years journey with Infosys and I am jotting down a few as I take a trip down memory lane.
The journey started with the grueling 12 weeks training. That time there was no Mysore but a small building in BTM and a defunct factory building in Electronics City, Bangalore as lab. The entire atmosphere was filled with positive energy and the desire to learn for one and all. I was fortunate to have some really smart coders in my batch who became my first gurus as I started learning the ropes of programming world. (I had not coded a single line before I joined Infosys). All the instructors were extremely helpful and kind even as I was learning and stumbling during this period. This was the beginning of my deep belief in those key principles and have now become part of my DNA – Learning, Learnability, Team Work and most importantly to be supportive of people who are struggling while putting in their best efforts.
After the training I was assigned to project which the technology in use was totally different from the one I trained in. It was a tough and grueling 2-3 months where I kept learning on the job as I started immersing myself in the now famous global delivery model that Infosys pioneered then. These initial years further strengthened by belief in learnability and made me confident and fearless about taking up new and unknown roles and projects all through my career.
A couple of years later, I was in a building 100m away from WTC when the 9/11 disaster occurred. I was fortunate to get out of the building on time and I managed to take a ferry to Staten Island before the collapse of the twin towers. Later on I found out that while I got out of the area and was safe, my then manager who was couple of kilometers away from the building went towards WTC to check on me and got caught in the dust bowl which came down Broadway due to the collapse of the twin towers. My HR associate worked round the clock to get confirmation of the well-being of all Infoscions working in that area. Later on I learned that he was giving continuous updates to my parents in India about me. That day I learnt what it truly means to take care of your people.
Many years later, I was leading a key portfolio for a large US-based banking client. This portfolio was tanking for about a year due to client-related budget issues. The CIO of the business was visiting India and we were to meet him over in Mumbai. We had planned for a senior executive ( Say Mr X.) to host him. A few days before the dinner meeting, I was informed that Mr X will not be able to join due to some urgent personal exigency. I was not sure who I might find as substitute host in such a short time. We reached out to our unit head who was based in London. Without asking any questions, he forwarded our mail to his office for tickets booking and then flew down to Mumbai just for dinner and flew back right after. The client must have felt truly privileged. I learnt another lesson that day about leadership and nurturing and building client relationships. No wonder that relationship started growing as soon as the client’s budget situation improved. Many months later, the same CIO commented –“ When I was dropping my business with you folks, you guys elevated the level of engagement with me and my team and that is why you are my first choice amongst all my partners today.”
There are so many more heart-warming incidents that I could share, which I will someday, from my years at Infosys. And when I see this recognition from Forbes for Infosys, I know it is but a reflection of the spirit and passion of Infosys and Infoscions in all we do across multiple dimensions. And it feels wonderful to know Forbes recognizes us for something we have always striven for – day after day – across all these years.
Mohan V
INFOSYS #3 IN FORBES #1 IN HEART
Forbes# 3 Why ?: We often talk about work-life balance – a much sought after, often misinterpreted, hard-to-achieve concept. But my years at Infosys have taught me that rather than strive for work-life balance, one should aim for what I call ‘Work-Life Equivalence’ – the idea that life is work and work is living. It’s not about the hours spent at work or the designations that one can aspire to. Instead, it is quest you have about learning and opportunities to strengthen yourself with skills, the so-called soft ones, are crucial to living, learning, and growing. Think about it, your achievements, your challenges, the way you deal with pressure – many of them are born on the office floor. And then, when life throws you a curveball, you are hopefully strong enough, brave enough, and wise enough to handle it.
I’m in my 19th year at Infosys! A longtime if you think in terms of a corporate career, but young in terms of life. When I look back on my career, there is so much beyond just the projects about the life skills, I accrued. As I grew in terms of responsibilities beyond what were my core skills, I discovered that my learnings first as a project manager, then as an auditor and then as part of the management committee, were similar and could be applied on multiple fronts. Whether it was quality or information security or employee safety, the visibility I gained into multiple facets of various roles allowed me to draw learnings that I could apply to both professional and personal challenges.
An experience that comes to mind was when I volunteered to be part of the management committee at the new development center in Chennai. We worked as a startup! And the culture and ethos of a small company were so different from the multinational I was used to. Not only did I take on multiple roles, but I felt the real passion, responsibility, and burden to succeed! It was perhaps the most interesting phase of my career.
At Infosys, I have handled a gamut of responsibilities – from recruitment on and off college campuses, handling lateral inductions, being a part of hackathons and ideathons, addressing food, transport and employee related escalations, working with HR teams, and interacting with various team members who come from diverse nationalities, culture, language. I’ve enjoyed interacting with multiple people and understanding their aspirations, lifestyle & travel preferences, technology, and career aspirations. And all these experiences are woven into the very fabric of what we call a professional career. For me, it has been my life!
And when you add to this the people, the celebrations – the birthdays, anniversaries, clients wins and successes, the relationships you forge (some for life), you realize that life and work are not to be balanced, but to be woven together, each supplementing the other in a rich mosaic of experience.
Infosys has been the opportunity of a lifetime! When I heard that we ranked #3 by Forbes, I wondered why not #1? Because for me, Infosys has given I think what we all ultimately seek – strengthen life along with work.
Radhika Modi
ONCE AN INFOSCION, ALWAYS AN INFOSCION
It was not so long ago when I was telling a friend how Infosys holds a sweet spot in my heart, and just about a week later came up this wonderful news of Infosys being ranked as number 3 on Forbes "World's best-regarded companies". I wonder if anyone out there was listening to what I was saying and how I was describing Infosys!
I joined Infosys in the year 2016, as an MBA graduate and clearly remember my first step in the Bangalore office where I had to report and the feeling was heavenly! I had seen no office such as this – not even in my wildest dreams – as I soaked in all that was in front of my eyes - cool buildings, food courts, infrastructure, greenery, in-house facilities like gym, swimming pool, etc. It was absolutely mesmerizing! The next step was to settle in the company guest house which we call our ECC (Employee Care Center)! No less than a five-star hotel room, it was an amazing experience!
Post this, I started meeting people, humble and welcoming even though highly accomplished and bearing fancy titles, which made me realize why Infosys so easily finds its way into people’s hearts! By the way, I have a lot of friends and relatives who have been associated with Infosys in the past and even after no longer being a part of Infosys, the Infosys in them is not dead, which clearly explains why everyone says - Once an Infoscion, always an Infoscion!
Yes Infosys became my second family. And yet, I want to be able to explain that highly emotional response with rational reasoning that anyone can appreciate and relate to. Infosys as an organization, very clearly understands the needs of its employees and is flexible enough to recreate its policies as would best fit its employees. Highlighting the key areas which are close to my heart - work-life balance, exposure to grow each day, mentor-like managers and extreme focus on the wellbeing of employees
Speaking of work-life balance, Infosys understands the importance of both work and play. On the one hand there is ample opportunity to learn and explore multiple domains to become a true professional, on the other hand, there is this empathetic understanding of the stresses in today's world and so the offer of in house facilities like yoga, zumba, gym, aerobics, swimming, badminton and many more fun activities and contests within the campus.
Infosys runs multiple clubs and drives many initiatives that help you build your skillset, puts you in touch with great experts to broaden your horizon and shine like a true star! You just need to show the zeal and then there is nothing stopping you at Infosys!
You know, I've heard a lot of people say that an employee leaves his/her manager and not an organization! I have a completely different viewpoint from this based on my experience. In this short span with Infosys, I have worked with three managers, and I cannot name a single one from whom I did not learn. They have all been great guides and mentors to me. They have supported me and helped me get where I am today. They have never stopped me from participating in any initiative or activity, rather have encouraged and motivated me to try new things – both at work and outside!
Last and the most important aspect that I have come across in Infosys is its policies towards employee wellbeing. Irrespective of gender, Infosys is very strict when it comes to employee safety. Be it sexual harassment, leaving late from office, gender equality, etc., if you are in Infosys you are in safe hands. Now as I write this, I can recall an incident that happened within one year of me joining Infosys. It so happened that due to some political issues in Karnataka, it was declared as "Bandh". There was a huge ruckus on the roads and a panic situation in the city. And, my parents called and said, and I quote, "Beta, if you've not left Infosys, better stay in the campus because we feel that the campus is much more safe than even your home!" Though they were 2400kms away from me, they had this assurance that Infosys will take care of their daughter no matter what! I wonder if any other company out there could ever instill this level of trust in an employee's family!
On this note, I would conclude by saying, "Infosys is a workplace which grooms you like a teacher, protects you like a parent and comforts you like home."
#Infosys #Mystory #thebestcompany #feelslikehome
Abhinav Jain
HIGH JUMP!
This is what that has been happening at Infosys in recent times and with our rankings in this year’s Forbes list of world’s best regarded companies. Being ranked 3rd among the global players, is a great achievement. This is a testament to the company’s focus on key areas, wide range strategic initiatives, developing strong and diverse workforce, and in delivering world class solutions for our customers.
As delivery leaders, we see a culture shift in our approach of IT Services with Digital Transformation at the center stage. Specifically, in the U.S. the formation of regional technology and innovation hubs, having diverse people from different backgrounds, partnering with leading universities in developing talent pool in new-age technology areas such as Cybersecurity, Data & Analytics, AI, etc. are examples of some of the steps that give us the competitive advantage and put us ahead in the market.
One of the things that I like the most about the company is the ‘platform of opportunities’ that it provides to work across many technology areas, industry and business segments, and geographies around the world. In many cases, this ability to move across is a life changing experience. It enables all Infoscions to learn, grow, and steer their career to stay relevant in today’s fast changing business and technology landscape.
The other important aspect is our culture, that goes beyond a typical corporate-employee relationship and focuses on holistic aspects of engagement and belongingness. Whether it is at development centers in India, or at the hubs in the U.S, we have opportunities to engage in client site projects, internal projects, innovation items, groups and community events, and many more. The dynamics, energy, and passion of our teams to make things happen, is noteworthy.
Personally, I have worked with so many inspiring leaders and mentors who have shaped my professional career and in some of them I have found good friends for life. I also consider myself lucky to have had very talented, knowledgeable, relentless team members who helped us navigate through difficult and tough situations.
In the last 14 years at the company from starting at state of the art learning facility in Mysore, to learning new technologies and domains, to helping deliver cutting edge services globally in niche’ areas of Cyber Security, I have witnessed how Infosys has evolved over these years and has aligned itself to changing needs of the market. Back then, it was, and still remains, one of the top companies in India to work for and one that is regarded very highly among the corporates. It is therefore, so encouraging and satisfying to see that recognition getting expanded at a global level now with us being in the top 3 in Forbes rankings.
I like to congratulate everyone at the company and wish for continued success. This is our proud moment and we will scale much higher in years to come!
Sameer Suryakant Kulkarni
INFOSYS – A NAME THAT COMMANDS RESPECT AND COMMITMENT
Infosys has always been the most powerful, meaningful, and satisfying part of my identity. It’s been my company for the past 15+ years! Working here has always been a proud feeling – something that makes me feel flattered, exulted, and cheerful. These days, it is rare to meet someone who has worked at the same organization for so many years. For me, working at Infosys is not just a job! It is a mutually beneficial relationship standing erect on the foundation of integrity, opportunity, growth, and trust. I have entered the 16th year of my career at Infosys and I feel as fresh, energetic, and eager as I was when I joined this iconic company back in June 2004. This is the precise reason why I am proud of Infosys as an organization.
The honor of Infosys being ranked 3rd on the Forbes List of The World’s Best Regarded Companies for 2019 has yet again proved company’s commitment towards its customers and employees. Infosys has built an image for itself since its inception in 1981. When you think of Infosys as a brand, your heart is filled with positive attributes such as unimagined scale of operations, excellence in software and digital solutions, extremely employee-friendly culture, revered globally for values, unwavering emphasis on accountability and ownership, and steady growth opportunities. I have lived these attributes for the past 15+ years. I am still in awe of Infosys as a company. I always feel mesmerized by Infosys’ resilience as a business house. The way it has continually upgraded its standing in the global market is simply outstanding. Infosys was, is, and will continue to be the most preferred technology and digital transformation partner for world’s leading companies, brands, and businesses.
Infosys is a truly global company in all aspects. Its infrastructure, processes, policies, and values represent Infosys as a place where different people from all over the world feel connected with each other by an invisible thread of integrity and accountability. When I traveled to the US for the first time in my life in 2008, all I had to do was look up the Infosys directory to find out Infoscions working there. Everything else became quite easy for me after that. Within a couple of days, I was able to get a fine accommodation for myself.
Over the past 15 years, I have learned a wide range of skills at Infosys. I have grown both as a professional and as a person here. When I joined Infosys, I was a rookie in the field of content writing. I was barely able to use MS Word for creating content. As time passed, I began to notice that my repertoire of skills was expanding steadily. My seniors and colleagues were extremely supportive. They mentored me and made me feel comfortable when I was striving to learn new skills. And now when I have completed 15 years and 4 months here, my heart brims with a sense of gratitude and satisfaction. The teams I presently work with boast of great camaraderie, unflinching support for each other, and team spirit unheard of.
I have always given more than my 100% to Infosys. And I am glad my contributions to large engagements, promising proposals, key initiatives, and employee engagement activities have always received critical appreciation. This culture of valuing employees has elevated Infosys to a level that is rarely achieved by many other companies.
Dipinder Kaur
BORN AND BROUGHT UP AT INFOSYS
Today, as a professional, I am happy and proud of:
- Being loyal
- Learning with each day
- Believing in the organization that I work for
- Believing in my managers
- Opportunities I have received to reskill and demonstrate
- Dealing with challenges
- Sharing with my colleagues
I believe all this has been possible because of Infosys.
Infosys as a brand has an amazing culture, provides great exposure and vast opportunities, and has people who are down to earth, humble and approachable. Above all, the employee care by company is just unmatched!
This is the best that I can summarize about “my Infosys”.
Yes, I was born and brought up at Infosys!
I was fresh out of college and I was like any other young graduate. My mind was free, I was full of enthusiasm, eager to learn, and afraid of making mistakes.
Time flies… I still can’t forget my first day at Infosys Bhubaneswar Development Center on 4 October, 1999. It was an awesome experience with mixed emotions, excitement being on top of the list.
During all these years that I have spent at Infosys, I have seen myself grow both personally and professionally. Therefore, being an Infoscion means the world to me. This has been a home away from home.
While I can write a book on my Infosys journey, it is not difficult to list down the highlights that have made this journey worthwhile.
When I look back, the first thing I can recall, is the EnR (training) period. I had never thought I will have to study so much again, even after completing college! But it was real fun and a great learning experience. As the years passed, there was a plethora of opportunities to learn and enhance my skills. Great initiatives that Infosys has been constantly driving, have made a huge impact on the way I think or approach any problem or situation.
I took ample opportunities to learn technology, increase domain knowledge, and to stay abreast with the market trends. And these opportunities did not stop at work. I also hosted programs, participated in cultural and sports events, and nurtured my hobbies and passion. In all these years, I have learnt to work hard and party even harder!
I met some of my best friends and found great mentors and colleagues at Infosys. There have been ups and downs in my journey, but I have dealt with all of those with the help of this wonderful support system.
That is why I consider Infosys being ranked at number 3 on Forbes’ 2019 list of The World's Best Regarded Companies as a milestone to my own happiness. This is a gift for me!
All that I have experienced in my career here has been encapsulated in this prestigious ranking. We will undoubtedly become number one soon!
As I complete 20 years with Infosys, there is only one thing that I feel – extreme pride. Proud I was, when I joined this organization on 4 October, 1999. Proud I am, for carrying the same image and feeling in my heart for all these years. Proud I will always be!
Infosys is my company and I love it!
Rodney Pomfrett
Starting Careers in Tech on the Right Foot
I joined Infosys 10 years ago and it’s been an exciting journey! In my role as the Delivery Manager for Infosys in New Zealand, I help enable our teams to bring digital innovation to our clients, which include some of the largest businesses in the country.
We offer our clients in New Zealand access to a plethora of digital tools and technologies, and importantly, our teams help them accelerate their digital journeys. Our teams have grown significantly over the last decade across a diverse range of digital skills, and integral to this journey are our graduate and internship programs.
I am really passionate about nurturing talent in the technology sector in New Zealand. Many of our programs in the region that I help drive, contribute to advancing digital skills in New Zealand. This includes our graduate program, our InStep internship program, and even some of the community focused initiatives that we drive like GovHack – one of the largest hackathons in the Southern Hemisphere.
As an organisation, we’re committed to advancing digital skills among New Zealanders, and I thoroughly enjoy helping to make a difference. Our graduates and interns have an opportunity to work on challenging digital projects, where they help move businesses along their digital journeys across different sectors in the region – this includes banks, retailers, telcos and other industries. I enjoy working with our grads, mentoring them and just as memorably, learning from them.
As a graduate, it can be tricky as you begin your career, so here’s some advice from me on building a successful career in the technology sector, and a bit about the graduate experience at Infosys.
Growing your skill set in the right way is very important
Research we conducted at Infosys recently found that companies who are successful at attracting the best talent approach their recruitment by hiring people with potential, rather than credentials. In other words, they don’t look for specific technical expertise, but rather candidates who demonstrate an ability and willingness to develop the skills they need. As technical skills tend to have a lifecycle of around two years, their use will generally be limited. So, understanding a particular programming language isn’t going to make you attractive to an employer – but your curiosity, learnability and ability to be adapt are crucial.
I always advise teams that I work with that if there is anything they have an aptitude for, pursue it with formal qualifications. They will then understand both the theory and the practical realities, and be able to build on their skills from there. I also learned early on in my career to play to my strengths, which for me means working with people to identify problems and improve processes.
Finally, remember that the world is changing rapidly with digital technology, and within the tech sector particularly, skills have evolved from the days of being all about writing a spec and coding it. Today it’s more about finding problems and creating solutions, which means soft skills like teamwork, communication and leadership are crucial to your progress and should be a focus for development.
Always keep the future you’re aiming for in mind
A career in technology – and certainly life at Infosys - is not just about bringing your technical prowess. A good combination of EQ and IQ skills will help you to build an exciting career. Softer skills - including your ability to network with your colleagues, clients and partners for instance – go a long way.
I’ve been a graduate fresh out of Uni myself and I know it can be difficult to establish yourself when you begin your career. Within the technology sector for example, as a grad you would not yet have domain knowledge or deep knowledge of the business landscape that a client is operating in and so on.
Learnability hence is a crucial skill throughout your career. In addition, it’s important to have mentors, whether in a formal capacity, or informally through stakeholders you work with. There are opportunities to be inspired all around us.
Building a career that never stands still
Finishing a degree at university should never signal the end of your learning, especially in a world that’s always moving ahead with technology. Technology changes rapidly and you should always be looking for what more you can learn. Take every opportunity to develop your skills, update your knowledge and stay current with real-time, real-world experiences. With this in mind, I always encourage folks to explore learning opportunities as a way to gain practical exposure to a variety of technologies, tools and processes. Leverage digital tools that you have access to and learn new skills. At Infosys we use our Next-Gen digital leaning platform, Lex, to stay ahead of our learning journeys. Identify where you can apply your learnings and make a difference.
The hard work does pay off. In your career, there will always be milestones achieved along the way which are stepping stones towards a successful career. To help prepare grads for a career in the technology space at Infosys for instance, we’ve designed world-class training programs. These are focused on augmenting the technology skills learned at university. Our grads begin their journeys with us with an intensive training period, before joining real-time digital transformation projects with some of the biggest brands in Australia. We encourage our grads to experience working on different projects as they begin their careers, as it helps with learning new skills and importantly understanding the broader business landscape.
It’s very satisfying for our graduates at Infosys to be able to point to their part in the launch of a real service offering, or improvement of an existing one. Being immersed in genuine projects and having a tangible impact on successful outcomes is an inspiring and motivating way to kick-off a career. Excited to get your career off to a flying start with Infosys? Head to our website for more info on our graduate program!
Rachael Zavodnyik
Why I Put Music on Pause to Become a Lawyer
When thinking about the leaders of a digital services company, ‘Lawyer’ might not be the first job title that comes to mind. Since joining Infosys after years of government and private sector practice, I’ve felt nothing but welcomed by all sectors of the business. I’m so proud to say that my team within the business has grown - I’ve been able to achieve new levels of personal and professional success, and my team assures me they feel the same.
I find my work genuinely satisfying. When I started at Infosys, it was just me and one other lawyer in Australia. I’m fortunate to have been provided with so many opportunities for career progression over my years. I took on management of a great team, grew the people and the profile, and eventually came to lead the entire APAC team.
On a day-to-day basis my job is highly varied. I manage a very professional legal team, review contracts, talk to government officials and advisors, and answer questions around ethics and compliance. I write papers, brief people internally, and negotiate with customers. While I love being a lawyer, I almost took an entirely different career path. I had a flair for music as a child and for many years I thought I would pursue a career in that area. After completing high school, I enrolled at the University of Sydney to study a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Music, English Literature and Medieval History. Less than a year into my degree, I realised I would not be satisfied pursuing this career. “Bored” is an adjective that comes to mind! So I told my parents that I wanted to drop out and study Law instead.
I enrolled at Bond University and had the best three years of my university life. I found Bond so engaging. I love the study of Law - how intricate and stimulating it is. I made the right call - this fulfills me so much more. In my professional life, I’ve worked in a variety of environments; a number of private companies, a top tier firm, and the Australian Federal Government. I feel that I’m able to bring valuable learnings from these experiences to my current role leading Infosys’ legal and government affairs functions across the Asia-Pacific region.
Managing an international team presents unique challenges, so I’ve really had to examine and refine my leadership style. Some might say it’s good for building character! Cultural differences need to be considered, and I have to keep up with every public holiday in every jurisdiction. Of course, there are language barriers too - but Infosys does a fantastic job of making sure its leaders are equipped to navigate these challenges successfully, respecting and celebrating differences, encouraging collaboration and friendships.
The work I do is intellectually stimulating, but it’s the people I work with every day who keep me here.
Nathaniel Jahromi
My Happy Golden Career
From a very young age, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in the field of advanced technology. I could not be luckier to be where I am today. My day to day in InfoSys provides me the opportunity to work with incredible bleeding edge technologies such as AR and VR. InfoSys values high technologies and truly believes in a connected future where technology brings humans together and allows opportunity for advancement as the next generation of the brilliant beautiful human race unites to create a brighter future going forward.
I knew InfoSys was for me the second I met with managers from the company for my preliminary interview. The second I began speaking with managers from the company, it was very clear to me the level of expertise and mastery of tech only obtainable throughout a lifetime career of hard work and dedication. InfoSys gave me a lead into my bright future by taking my wonderful career and elevating it to the next great level by providing many resources to help upskill and match me to projects that fit my abilities.
I am very lucky to call myself an Infoscion. Infosys maintains massive libraries of information for associates to utilize in order to grow their knowledgebase and navigate their next. The huge global outreach of the company gives employees the opportunity to work with technologies and people from all over the world and pursue an international career in the tech field.
If you’re looking to skyrocket your career, I’d highly recommend InfoSys. This company will take care of you and make sure you’re on the right track for success. There are always plenty of opportunities to travel, so if you’re looking to see the world, InfoSys is for you. Navigate your next with InfoSys!
Disclaimer: I wasn’t paid by InfoSys to write this, I genuinely think it’s a great company. To put things in perspective, I’ve worked in other companies in which I didn’t feel particularly important or integral. InfoSys on the other hand will assess your specialties and skills and match you to a career mapped specifically for your skills.
Amber Czesnolowicz
My Experience as an Experience Designer at Infosys
From a young age, the realms of design and technology maintained as a crucial point of curiosity for me. It was the interest of using my hands to be creative and producing work that gave me the greatest satisfaction. From my fascination of the inner workings of simple mechanical objects to more complex processing systems that currently support the extensive reaches of the internet, through the years, I had developed a keen interest in combining these two passions into a single career, in which I had found at Infosys as an Experience Designer.
When I first interviewed for this position, I deeply appreciated that Infosys highly values curiosity and learning. Education is a core value to me, and I deeply believe that learning is a lifelong pursuit, not just a four-year commitment. After graduating from Rhode Island School of Design with a degree in Illustration, I wanted to utilize my passion for storytelling and visual narratives to enter the world of user experience. Thanks to Infosys, I was granted the opportunity to infuse my visual design background with my desire to simply lives through simplified digital interfaces.
What attracted me to field of user experience, was the idea that technology can be inclusive and relatable. I loved the prospect of redesigning digital platforms to be user friendly, and the idea of transforming old or antiquated technology and redesigning it to be more efficient for the user was highly appealing. Taking personal experience from years of interacting with computer programs that could be infuriatingly complex, I naturally adopted an attitude and appreciation for simple, efficiently designed web-based platforms. Thanks to Infosys, I am now in a position to take inspirations from my frustrations and create more simplified and user-friendly digital platforms.
Deverre Lierman
Digital is Taking Flight at Infosys Technology and Innovation Hub in Raleigh
The past three months have been a wild ride. I joined Infosys as the Head of the Raleigh Technology and Innovation Hub after 25 years helping companies navigate their digital transformations. What excites me most about joining Infosys isn’t just the chance to work with some of the area’s renown companies or even building an operation from the ground up. Rather, it’s the opportunity to have a real impact on the Raleigh community by cultivating the workforce of tomorrow right here at home.
Today, we got to celebrate a major milestone along that journey: the inauguration and formal opening of our offices in Raleigh. When we first moved into the building, let’s just say things were still a work in progress. We had desks, an internet connection, and a coffee machine, but that was about it. Over the past few months, it’s been amazing to watch it transform into a state-of-the-art, interactive space that will serve both our clients and our team well. I enjoyed celebrating with my colleagues today, but I’m even more excited for what’s to come.
The opening of the Hub in Raleigh is all about doing things differently to better serve Infosys’ clients, which means recruiting and training a local workforce. Our ongoing campaign to Boost American Innovation has committed to creating 10,000 American jobs—2,000 of which will be right here in North Carolina.
After starting with Infosys, all new Associates receive eight–twelve weeks of intensive training before diving head first into some of our most exciting and challenging work. We are also partnering with the North Carolina Community College system to create a new pipeline between a community college degree and a high-paying, local job. As part of the partnership, we have welcomed several students from Wake Technical Community College to the Infosys family, and we’re looking forward to deepening our relationship in the future.
Doing things differently also means rethinking the way we work with our clients. Having a physical space right down the road from so many great companies is truly a game changer. As a DevOps and Agile evangelist, I’m passionate about transforming the way we tackle large digital projects. Now our clients will be able to co-locate and co-create in our offices and see what it’s like to work in an agile environment before we even kick off a project! Not to mention, we developed several labs where clients can explore the applications of different technologies—whether it’s using virtual reality to train the next generation of aircraft mechanics or artificial intelligence and predictive modeling to reduce supply chain costs. The Hub is a place for them to get outside their four walls, learn, and join us in thinking about navigating their next innovations.
What we’re building in North Carolina is special and exactly what I was hoping to do when I first joined Infosys: work with clients on business-critical projects that differentiate them in the marketplace while building a diverse and inclusive team of people committed to the local community. I can’t wait to see where this take us!
Ian Co
Get the Job Done. Hire a Vet.
I understand people like Josh Crowell. As a recent graduate and former member of the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, he knows what is expected of him. He’s expected to be disciplined, to persevere, to serve as a role model. He’s expected to do the right thing even when no one is watching.
People like Josh Crowell aren’t afraid to work hard. They take the lead when no one else will. They’re highly skilled and are good at what they do because, simply put, they can’t afford not to. When someone like Josh Crowell comes across my desk as a candidate for a position at Infosys, I instantly feel a connection with him or her. I know what it took for them to become who they are today—and it wasn’t easy.
I know, because I’m a veteran too.
I was a Hospital Corpsman in the Navy attached to a Marine Unit; a Petty Officer 3rd Class assigned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina under the 2nd Medical Battalion, Alpha Company.
As a Corpsman I performed preventative care duties, treated diseases and provided medical care to sailors and their families, not to mention advance emergency medicine and fundamentals of Marine Corps life, while emphasizing physical conditioning, small arms familiarity and battlefield tactics. I joined the military to find my purpose in life. I knew I was going to come out changed by the experience. I welcomed it. But I had no idea just how much.
If it’s two principles I apply from my time on active duty to my job as a campus recruiter, it’s discipline and leadership. In the military, we’re trained to be meticulous in everything we do. We had to be. One unnoticed detail can spell disaster and lives literally hung in the balance. Planning’s been ingrained into my DNA. I never tackle any task without a clear strategy.
To me, leadership is more than issuing orders. It’s about holding yourself accountable to your employees, teaching and caring for them. They depend on you to be an example; to do the right thing, always. An ideal candidate knows and embodies this quality.
I hire veterans not just because I am one, but because I can tell you from experience that they’re motivated and resilient in everything they do. Their work ethic and attention to detail are unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere. They know how to dedicate themselves to a task and see it to completion of the highest degree of satisfaction. They couldn’t do it any other way, even if they tried. This is what I saw in Josh and it’s why he was offered an Associate position at Infosys.
And Infosys is a company that truly values its veterans. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I applied through LinkedIn for my current position as a campus recruiter. They saw that I was older than the other candidates. Despite that, they didn’t discriminate and made me feel valued for what I could bring to the company. They saw that I was trained in different software during my time in the military and wanted to see me grow. I wanted to grow, too. I had offers at five other companies at the time, but I took the one at Infosys because of their commitment to giving back to the community; to helping servicemen and women get back to civilian life.
Technology is all around us and it’s ever-changing. What we do here at Infosys literally shapes our future. At Infosys, candidates will learn 20 different technologies and be exposed to 10 different market segments, not to mention endless opportunities to grow in your career. Infosys is a place where veterans can cultivate and enhance the leadership qualities they’ve gained in the military. We recognize the hard work veterans have put in for our country. We know what they’re capable of and that they can handle the challenging projects here. They have what it takes to make a difference for our clients and charge forward with what’s next in tech.
Veterans help veterans. If you’re pursuing a career in tech, a position at Infosys might be for you. Apply
here: https://jobs.infosys.com/TGWebHost/jobdetails.aspx?partnerid=25633&siteid=5157&areq=25050BR
Xheni Collaku
No shortage of opportunities
If I ought to describe myself, I would say I am passionate about languages (foreign and programming ones). On my journey to success, I have been looking for a company that accommodate my passions, contributes to my personal growth and helps me grow.
I recently graduated from the University of Mannheim where I acquired a Master of Science in Business Informatics which has greatly influenced my desire to foster my personal portfolio. I was on the lookout for a global company that values its people, gives them ample flexibility, maintains a healthy work environment and treats every employee as equals. I have finally found it in Infosys and it makes me realize the special emphasis it provides for maintaining high level of professional excellence. The friendliness and welcoming recruiting process has impressed me a great deal. Here, I have found an amazing team of hand-picked, authentic, open-minded individuals that brought something unique to the table. To top it all, if you want to learn something new every day and show what you are capable of, there is no shortage of opportunities at Infosys. I am proud of my choice and extremely grateful of being offered this amazing opportunity. I believe working with some of the most driven and smartest people in the industry teaches me a lot and brings the best out of me.
And if you are interested in fast paced innovation then do not hesitate to join the Infosys family.
Chun Wing Pun
Awesome working atmosphere
Infosys is an international company specializes in software development. Numerous opportunities and projects are present here no matter what your background is. The client coverage is wide here thus different type of challenging topics are given to employees. For example, in banking, retail sector and manufacturing industry etc. Infosys also emphasizes on in-job training that equips employees with proper and state-of –the-arts skills, technical knowledge, or management, to stand out among its rival. The working atmosphere is awesome. Talents from various cultural background blend together and create a friendly working environment. Work life balance is also maintained. With the newly launching office in Düsseldorf, the future of the possibility of working in Infosys is countless.
Mihai Lassel
Infosys has really given me a home! Once I enter the office, it feels like home
As a child, I'd spend thousands hours surfing the web to understand how technology works. While I grew, this interest turned into a passion for computers and technology. And very soon it was time for me as a young adult to decide upon the path I wanted to embark on. As my appreciation for technology grew, I started wondering how does everything work? I built my first computer at the age of 14. It neither had the most expensive equipment nor had the latest OS, but it was built with my hands and that was something I was really proud of. In high school I was often called the 'IT guy'.
I joined Infosys because of the opportunity of growing and the various platforms which Infosys is offering. Infosys's motto, "Navigate Your Next" essentially means that every day we are growing and learning new things while being a part of Infosys. As a company, Infosys gives its employees various platforms to advance their career. In fact, our internal comprehensive learning platform is a huge help for new joiners to go to the "Next".
Infosys has really given me a home! Once I enter the office, it feels like home. It is a nice place and I enjoy talking to my colleagues on various topics. Working with such nice people, I hope to continue this journey with for a long time!
Elena Albu
I feel that Infosys creates the perfect conditions for innovation and creativity
As a child, I was fascinated by the idea of cultural differences, I loved travelling and discovering the specifics of different cultures. As time went by, this "hobby" translated into the need of being part of a multinational environment, where I could interact with colleagues and customers from different countries. Having said that, my dream was to work for a company that would offer me all this and Infosys was the perfect choice, as it operated in a global market, being the 2nd largest company in India and working with big names like Microsoft, Google, IBM, and Adobe.
Before Infosys, I worked in a couple of other companies, on different areas: project management, business analysis, sales and finance operation, escalation management, being certified in Lean Six Sigma and ITIL. At Infosys, as an ITIL Process Consultant, I feel like all this preparation work, all these trainings and certifications on Lean Six Sigma and ITIL are put into practice, as I have the chance to assist with the design and implementation of different IT processes and tools that enable our customers to improve the way they operate and to increase the quality of their services. Therefore, working at Infosys represents for me a translation into practice of all the knowledge I have previously acquired, so a step forward in my personal and professional development.
In addition to this, I feel that Infosys creates the perfect conditions for innovation and creativity. It provides me with international work experience, opportunities, and networks that take my career to the next level. And this is something that I am really excited about!
Andrea Hendrickx
Our secret ingredient – each other!
As human beings, we are all wired differently, driven by diverse needs. We are also enabled by different gifts. While some may enjoy the heat of a client-facing delivery role, others are excited by a more academic position in the research lab. Yet others may find their mojo in dealing with data, while a bunch of us may revel in designing client journeys. All of these factors influence why we work in the role and company that we are at. In turn, the combination of interests, needs, talents, abilities, motivations, cultures, ethnicities, and people coming together in the cauldron of a workplace can be like the core of a nuclear reactor, generating tremendous energy.
In my year and a half at Infosys, I experience this energy every day in everything that we do, as we constantly expand the boundaries of finding and then building out what's next for our clients. In many conversations with my colleagues here, both young and experienced, I've often asked, "What pushes you to achieve the next?". I've tried to determine if there's a common, identifiable thread that pushes them to succeed for their clients and themselves, progressing their careers in the process. I recall a young colleague who once talked to me about how this organization houses amazing pools of inspiration in every nook and corner. "All you need is to take a dip," he said, grinning from ear-to-ear, referring to the people who are ever ready to help.
That is our secret ingredient. The power of One Infosys that our CEO Salil Parekh referred to in a recent media interview, on how everyone in the organization rallies around a client transformation idea or opportunity, seeking how they can contribute to making it happen. I couldn't agree more. I'm in awe of the opportunities and the world of possibilities one gets to experience at Infosys. I'll admit that I'm a little envious of today's youngsters who join the organization at the scope of what is before them. Immense opportunities for learning and upskilling, a tremendous amount of experiential knowledge, tools, templates, and methodologies within the company, 1,500+ clients operating across 46 countries, and the melting pot of 249K+ employees – that is the size of the opportunity Infosys offers!
I see the art of the possible here—the most cutting edge of technologies at play, orchestrated by a zealous bunch of professionals. The power of tomorrow's technologies like AI, cloud, blockchain, combined with inspired individuals' expertise and commitment, continues to help our clients worldwide navigate their next. Take, for example, Roland Garros, which hosts the French Open every year. Our technology, Infosys CourtVision, is made possible by tennis statisticians in Paris, data modelers in Bangalore, and UX designers in London. One knows the game, the other translates the game into technology, and the third takes the technology into a visual form that is a delight to consume. It takes all of them to shape a digital game, and it will take all of us to shape our digital future.
Working here is challenging and fun. Not one bored soul onboard, feeding off the palpable energy from each other, and focused on the common purpose of building the next! The power of the problem-solving mind, combined with an entrepreneurial spirit, pushes us all to navigate further, together, partnered by dozens of other Infoscions who share the same aspirations and ambitions.
Eric Laffargue
A life-long journey through learning
‘Never stop learning because life never stops teaching.’ An A3-sized poster with these words grabbed my distracted attention as I was exiting a meeting one day, juggling a hundred different thoughts. The words in the poster stuck on the cubicle of one of our young and promising associates, who had joined us recently, stopped me in my tracks, bringing me back to where it all began. Everything that I am, and have achieved professionally today, boils down to learning.
Realizing that my next meeting was an hour away, I sparked a conversation with her. “Wise words you’ve got there,” I began. She smiled back and said the poster had been with her since school. Curious, I inquired about her experience since joining Infosys, and her eyes lit up. She said that her job at Infosys had already given her the confidence of a lifetime. On probing further, she told me how she had joined us directly after graduation along with students from 57 other educational institutions in Europe. She is friends with most of them already, she said, and they are now attending a basic eight to 12 weeks training program. She couldn’t wait for the training to get over, for she was excited at the prospect of being allocated to an industry project based on her skills or interest area. And I was excited for her, knowing that she would be embarking on a career journey that would never stand still, where she could follow her curiosity to help build what’s next at Infosys.
She then explained how the tools at her disposal were making gaining new knowledge and skills easy. She had already gained access to Lex, our learning platform that enables Infoscions to learn new technologies on-the-job and stay relevant in the dynamic, ever-changing business and technology space. I then updated her on how she can also upskill, “After 18 months, you can also pick up new digital skill tags on Lex and apply your learnings in your project.”
Overhearing our conversation, our onboarding coordinator, who was sitting close by, shouted across the room, thanking me for “doing his job”. Everyone around joined us in a hearty laugh. As their conversations moved on to the newly-opened restaurant in the neighborhood, I walked back to my seat, jogging back down the memory lane of my journey so far.
At Infosys, I got the support and opportunities I needed to navigate my career. As any Infoscion will tell you, as you move your career forward at Infosys, based on your performance and the potential you create for yourself through continuous learning, you will get mentored for your career growth. Additionally, you get exposed to global experiences, client interactions, and leadership forums. The best of the lot is handpicked and enabled by the Infosys Leadership Institute to develop leadership strengths and head a function or enter the C-suite. In this environment, which respects and promotes meritocracy, one enjoys more than just a career. It opens up the doors to navigate further, together with other Infoscions, who share your aspirations and ambitions.
It is this journey that makes the destination worthwhile.
Anjana Raman
What makes for a Great Place To Work: Empowering People, Enriching Lives.
Having spent a considerable amount of my career working across geographies with Infosys, it gives me great pride in knowing I’ve chosen to invest my time in a Great Place To Work, and vice versa. A steadfast focus on training and empowering its people is what makes Infosys the thriving organization it is today.
I started my career with Infosys in China, back when they were trying to expand their presence there. I found their roadmap to be very interesting, and thus began my journey of personal growth and development, led by the amazing people I met along the way. A journey that would take me halfway around the globe just a few years later.
After an exciting time during which I participated in growing the ERP practice in China and establishing Infosys’ presence there, I moved to Infosys Canada, where I currently work with Infosys Public Services, a subsidiary of Infosys Limited that provides services to public sector clients in North America. My focus is delivering programs for our provincial, municipal and federal government clients in Canada.
When I heard that Infosys Canada has been bestowed with the Great Place To Work title, it came as no surprise. Right from my first day with the organization, what struck me was how open the communication channels were. Guidance was always readily available, and reaching out meant team members across verticals would be by my side until a sound solution was found. Through the years, I have worked with multiple units and teams, and each experience enriched my knowledge and helped me grow.
At the heart of this, I believe, is the culture of collaboration that Infosys values so dearly. It’s a value system driven by real people in the real world, and not just words plastered on the walls of a regular office reception area. Add to that an organization that actively invests in its employees through upskilling programs that always keep you one step ahead of the times, and you have the perfect recipe for a successful business that respects the importance of attracting and retaining talent.
In addition to the human factor, Infosys is also a very client-focused organization, where everyone comes together to find robust solutions that make a real impact on our clients’ businesses. A keen focus on constant innovation and transformative business solutions also ensures that we always remain relevant in an ever-changing world. In my opinion, we seem to live by the saying that if you don’t disrupt your industry, someone else will. And that truly is a winning formula in our line of work.
Last, but certainly not the least, is the unabashed admiration I have for our C-LIFE (Client Value, Leadership by Example, Integrity and Transparency, Fairness, and Excellence) core values, something that drives our ESG initiatives. It’s this belief system that makes me a proud member of an organization that takes its CSR responsibilities to heart and makes a real difference to the world we all share. And it’s this feeling of pride I’m experiencing as I write these words, that makes the Great Place To Work title so unsurprising to me.
Tatiana Leroy
Working Towards Growth: Infosys Canada as a Great Place To Work
After 6 months as an associate, it comes as no surprise that Infosys Canada has been bestowed with the title of Great Place To Work. Driven by a culture of continuous learning and creative application of that knowledge, the honor truly echoes my feelings.
When I first attended the Infosys Career Readiness Workshop during my last semester at Concordia University, the thing that stood out most was the philosophy and culture that Infosys operates with. Their presentation introduced me to their world of innovative services and focus on professional development. The emphasis they laid on continuous learning and the creative application of that knowledge for problem-solving attracted me instantly, and at the end of my graduation, I was chosen as an associate with the IVS Business Unit in Canada. As a person inquisitive by nature, the fit was perfect. And soon, I was certain I had made the right move.
There are many reasons an organization earns the GPTW title, but in my opinion, it’s primarily the endless opportunities for growth that have done it for Infosys Canada. By making significant investments in their employees, providing them with the tools and education required to chart their career paths and grow into positions they desire, Infosys has time and again proven that people come first. I’ve gained a great deal of knowledge and experience through training programs which have significantly broadened my understanding of new technologies that shape our services and further our digital transformation.
From my first day here, I have experienced open and transparent communication at all levels of the organization, allowing me to engage with others freely and clearly understand the expectations the company has from me. It’s this and the fact that they actively seek feedback from employees that truly sets our culture apart. By encouraging employees to embody an entrepreneurial spirit, ask pertinent questions, work both independently and collaboratively, learn new skills, and take initiative when needed, working at Infosys is essentially working towards your growth while the organization grows with you.
The icing on the cake is that Infosys also offers employees carefully considered mentoring programs and tools that are accessible to everyone. Not only does this create a welcoming and approachable environment, but also provides us with timely advice on how to tackle any problems we might face, right from time management to advancing our careers. With clearly defined channels to seek assistance, I was able to reach out to the right resources every time I needed to.
With the advent of the pandemic, Infosys adapted to our new normal by shifting its onboarding process from in-person to virtual, with minimal disruption. I was encouraged to learn about new technologies, compete in contests to test my knowledge, and attend events to be inspired by new ideas, a convincing demonstration of Infosys' ability to adapt and its commitment to creating positive employee experiences. With this future-focused approach to problem-solving at our core, it gives me great pride to work for a company that takes an equitable, sustainable approach and is willing to invest in the growth of its employees. Explains why so many of us love our careers at Infosys.
Vikas Tatwani
Leadership is a journey of continuous learning
What Separates a Good Leader from a Great One?
There’s no doubt leadership can be a tricky thing, but it doesn’t need to be complex in approach. Above all, teams tend to just want clarity and support from their leader. By keeping things simple and logical, encouraging an open and friendly culture, and always remembering that everyone deserves respect, I think a leader successfully provides that.
Over the years, I’ve also noticed that the really great leaders I’ve been around do more than just give direction and encouragement. They are right there with their teams on the ground, leading the way while being an integral part of the journey.
I keep that in mind now that I’m a leader myself. It’s important to me to be very much ‘on the team’, not just a manager pushing people down a path. I aim to walk that path with my team every step of the way, and before I tell anyone to do anything, clearly explain the outcome I’m expecting and why it’s important for that individual, the team and the company.
Driving my team at Infosys
At Infosys, I am responsible for driving our Cyber Security, Cloud and Infrastructure business across Australia & New Zealand. I lead a highly effective team in building our market in this area and delivering our goals in a rapidly evolving digital technology environment. There are many aspects to this: meeting clients and helping them achieve their goals by contributing to their strategy, creating a partner ecosystem, working with various groups across industries and, leading a team and keeping them motivated to drive towards a common goal.
Supporting my team at Infosys means understanding their strengths and weaknesses and helping them succeed. In our business, we have to work with both internal and external stakeholders and hence, communication and collaboration are key. I encourage them to build a personal rapport with stakeholders, be consultative, patient, and understand the unsaid.
I also encourage them to understand the personal wins of stakeholders, and have a very respectful, open line of communication.
Dealing with the more difficult moments of leadership
Difficult conversations with everyone, from team members to senior executives, are part of being a leader. These are unavoidable, but there does seem to be a way to approach them that minimizes confrontation, as well as any damage to the relationship between the two people involved.
I believe that no person wants to be unnecessarily difficult to work with, but often, they fail to understand the real issue. Therefore, it is important to make sure you truly understand the other person’s position. Ask the right questions to uncover the right problem, and do it with respect. Then, explain where you are coming from as well.
In my experience, there’s nothing in the world that can’t be solved through a creative and empathetic dialogue.
Great leadership is a journey of continuous learning
We are very focused on creating great leaders at Infosys, people who can inspire teams to achieve exceptional outcomes. We believe everyone should have an opportunity to discover their leadership potential and develop a future that thrives on guiding others as well as themselves to success.
All employees are offered courses on leadership skills, effective communication, having a consultative mindset, technical programs and many more. This is such an exciting field to be in and there is so much career potential within Infosys and this industry at large. It’s our hope that employees will embrace these opportunities to find out just how far their skills can take them.
There is also a mentor and buddy program within the company that helps aspiring leaders learn from more experienced leaders across the company. We encourage all our people to explore the skills and attributes of leadership in the tech industry so they can make a positive difference to their own teams – whether today or a few years down the track.
Would you like to take the next step in your tech career with our team at Infosys? Head to our website for the latest job opportunities in Australia and New Zealand!
Andrew Groth
Collaboration and Diversity: The Keys to Leadership
My career in the digital services industry has taken me through a diverse array of experiences across the world. I've found it to be equal parts rewarding and challenging, and I would encourage any young person to consider pursuing a career in our ever-evolving industry. Part of the reason I'm so passionate about supporting a new generation to enter digital services is my own early experience.
As a young person, I was interested in technology subjects back when computer coding was stored on cassette tapes! I'd always enjoyed the logic - or perhaps the art - of programming. I vividly remember being at a careers night, freshly Eighteen years old, and suggesting an interest in technology and computing. I was told not to do it because "it wasn't a real industry, and it wouldn't lead to a career".
Thankfully, I ignored that advice - and 30 years on, I've had a fulfilling journey in the digital services industry. From strategic design, technological innovation, business development, building customer relationships, and everything in between, I continue to have tremendous opportunities to learn and grow and, importantly, help improve our community.
In my role today, I lead the Infosys business in Australia & New Zealand and our Financial Services business across APAC. This means I'm responsible for leading our teams, including five and a half thousand people on-shore plus ten thousand offshore. While I play multiple roles and manage various business units, what excites me the most is the opportunity to help our teams bring digital innovation to some of the largest businesses in the region, ultimately making a difference to millions of lives through technology.
While my roles and responsibilities are extensive (and make for a long business card), I have three goals at the end of the day.
One: help our teams drive purposeful digital innovation for organizations
Two: foster a culture of respect and collaboration within our ecosystem
Three: help build a more equitable community
This is what I'm ultimately trying to achieve… all with a little bit of fun along the way.
Throughout my working life, I've spent long stints in Europe, Asia, and a short period in the US. Living and working in different areas and with diverse teams gives you fresh perspectives, both in your professional and personal life. One of the most important learnings I've had is that the best recipe for success is a collaborative and diverse team.
My job as a leader is to harness the best bits of Infosys from all corners and distil them to be relevant to our teams, our clients, and the community. To foster a truly inclusive environment, we need to embrace diverse nationalities, genders, experiences, and abilities. We work across cultures and industries, so it's essential to have that in our people and approach.
Today it's exciting to see young talent buzzing with ideas that will help make the world a better place through digital technology. At Infosys, we're committed to helping nurture the next generation of digital talent. I also really value my role as the chair of our CSR committee for Australia & New Zealand. Our vision is to help create pathways to learning and education for underprivileged communities.
When I interact with students at university engagements or hackathons, they're often curious about what a career within the technology sector looks like. And I look back at the beginning of my journey, back to that careers night, and it brings a smile to my face.
If you're looking for a career that never stands still and have a passion for technology, the digital services space could be a place for you. Explore opportunities to join our teams in the region.
Patrick Kouwenhoven
Leveraging New Zealand onto the Global Stage
After nearly ten years with Infosys, I like to think I’ve learned a thing or two about leadership. As Country Head of New Zealand, I leverage connections from across the world to support clients and employees in my home country. Obviously, scaling our business presence in New Zealand is a huge focus of mine, and I hope to make Infosys one of the largest IT companies in the region. However, we’re a people company that is full of technology, and I really enjoy the people aspect of my role.
Infosys provides a huge range of digital careers for the people of New Zealand. As an organisation, we’re committed to nurturing digital skills in the region from the ground up - at schools, and university and graduate training. For New Zealand to be a world leading digital economy, digital skills will play a crucial role. We need to invest in our young people and Infosys is making great strides in this area. One thing I’m particularly proud of is our CSR program, Infosys Springboard, which is designed to improve opportunities for Maori and Pasifika people to explore digital careers in the IT industry.
I’m passionate about helping create pathways to learning and education for our community. More so since I was once a young person growing up in New Zealand, unsure of where my career path would take me.
I have seven siblings, which was definitely a character-building experience. My parents might have called it ‘fighting’ - I like to call it ‘negotiating!’ I was the second youngest in the family, so I grew up in hand-me-downs. But we were a close-knit family; I spent a lot of time with aunts, uncles and cousins.
After completing my education, I undertook a three-year commercial management cadetship with a freight company. The experience exposed me to many different areas of business, and I ended up in the computer division. I trained up in this sector for a few years before I decided it was time for a change.
While I grew up in New Zealand, my ancestry is Dutch, so as a young man I took a working holiday to Europe - to visit family and to satisfy my wanderlust. During my first year in Europe, it was difficult to find work. I ended up delivering pamphlets for a local real estate agency. I’d had plans to visit home, but I was struggling to keep a roof over my head. My first few paychecks went straight towards paying the rent. For my 21st birthday, I had to sell my plane ticket home - again, to pay the rent. Throughout my working career, my experiences have taught me the importance of hard work and persistence. I ended up living in the UK for 13 years, holding management positions in various companies - from a major oil brand to leading investment banks. On my return to New Zealand, I began working for a technology company and was still there when Infosys bought my division and I moved across to become an Infoscion.
Now, I manage all of our business in New Zealand. I like to get involved in everything; graduate training, resourcing strategies, governance, revenue tracking, building relationships with new clients, or reporting on the status of our deliverables with existing clients. With 300 people in New Zealand, and the same amount supporting us offshore, my project management is very varied! It’s been a privilege to be part of the team that has built Infosys in New Zealand over the past ten years. The support of Infosys teams across the world has allowed our regional capabilities in New Zealand to grow in incredible ways.
Often, I connect with graduates and interns from our InStep program who've joined Infosys and are beginning their career journeys. They always seem curious about balancing life and work. I really believe in the importance of balance and encourage them to focus on enabling this in their lives. I’ve always been the ‘outdoors’ type - I’ve participated in everything from tennis to waterskiing to motorcycle racing. My stress levels skyrocket if I don’t make time for myself - for my physical and mental health. It’s something I think everybody should consider. This is just what makes me tick, but it’s different for everyone. It might be reading, or volunteering for causes. It’s important to find things that give you balance in life and carve out time for them.
I hope my story will help inspire young New Zealanders to consider a career in the Technology sector. At Infosys for instance, we work with some of the most exciting organisations in New Zealand to help advance digital innovation across different sectors and there are huge opportunities here, but you do have to grab them and forge your own path. Technology is rapidly evolving and making a difference to our lives every day, which is why it’s vital to stay ahead of your learning journey! And if you’re committed, the experience and benefits can lead to a career that never stands still. From soft leadership skills, to technology, to creative confidence, to diversity and inclusion training - there are so many avenues for personal and professional growth at Infosys.
Ashok Mysore
“Are You OK?” The Powerful Question We All Need to Ask Every Day of the Year
The simple acts in life are often the most powerful. Taking the time to ask someone, “How are you? Are you OK?” is such an easy thing to do, yet how often do we do it? And when we do, do we ask mindfully? Do we fully listen to the answer, without judgement, with only the genuine desire to understand and help?
R U OK? Day is an important reminder for us in Australia and beyond that small gestures of connection matter, and can even save lives. On September 9, R U OK? Day encourages us all to start meaningful conversations with our colleagues, families, and friends. It’s a fantastic opportunity to check in, show that we care, and offer a compassionate ear for those who are struggling.
But the R U OK? Day message extends far beyond just one day. We must remember that mental health matters every day, for each person and organisation. This is something we at Infosys firmly believe in.
We all have a role to play in good mental health
All of us have known someone who has struggled with their mental health. Sadly, most of us will suffer a mental health issue ourselves. Beyond Blue states that one in seven Australians will experience depression in their lifetime, and one-quarter will experience an anxiety disorder.
These are sobering statistics. And the current climate of the pandemic induced lockdowns and social isolation are adding further pressure.
The economic impacts of the global pandemic are widely known. Yet, the effects on people’s well-being are less visible but just as profound. When in lockdown, we are isolated from our extended family, friends, and colleagues. We’re less active. Our sleep suffers. We turn to digital devices such as TV and social media to fulfil our human need for connection, but these platforms are poor substitutes that make us feel worse.
All this creates a perfect storm for poor mental health. And it has far-reaching effects for organisations, leading to ineffective decisions, service delivery, and client interactions.
For me personally, I have lost friends to depression. The tragedy is that when people are struggling, they often don’t reach out. They may not want to be a burden to others, or they may feel ashamed. They may not know who to turn to or what to say.
Consequently, they keep their problems to themselves, and spiral further downwards.
We all have a role to play when it comes to mental health and suicide prevention. Mental health issues are complex, and there are no quick fixes. But the power of a simple phone call, text message, or “Are you OK?” cannot be underestimated.
Creating a culture of connection and care
To feel well and happy, people need to feel connected. They need to feel valued, heard, and able to speak up. That’s why at Infosys, we’re dedicated to creating a culture of connection. We strive to enable our leaders, managers, and team members feel safe to reach out, start conversations, and work towards better health outcomes.
As Vice President, Regional Head (Delivery & Operations), one of my top priorities is to help nurture a culture of connectedness through active engagement with our teams. I firmly believe leaders should constantly reach out to their people and have those informal yet impactful one-on-one conversations. Without open and compassionate communication, issues are often not identified until it’s too late.
Recently Infosys unveiled a global research report on the state of digital workplace readiness and the evolving priorities of workplace strategy. The research reveals that digital transformation will have the largest impact on workplace transformation. Employee experience and well-being were seen to be top priorities for businesses looking at reimagining their workplaces.
At Infosys we have a strong culture of caring for our people. We have a team of 27 accredited Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Officers, distributed throughout our organisation in Australia and New Zealand, these officers are equipped to identify issues and support all our employees. Our staff also have the option of private consultations with psychologists through our Employee Assistance Program.
Our HALE (Health Assessment and Lifestyle Enrichment) program also aims to improve employee health and quality of life. This program runs throughout the year and includes fortnightly yoga, meditation, and personal training sessions. We’ve also partnered with Virgin Pulse, a dedicated well-being app that helps employees create habits that matter, so they can be their best selves at work and home.
At the heart of these initiatives are communication, connection, and care. We want to remove the stigma surrounding mental illness so that our people feel empowered to ask each other, “Are you OK?” Above all, we want our people to know it’s OK to be vulnerable and seek help when they need it.
How you can make a difference
So, what steps should you take if you or someone you know is struggling?
Firstly, the most important step is to identify that there is a problem. Unfortunately, many people and organisations fail to identify issues in a timely manner - if at all. You may even discover that the problem is not a mental health issue - it could be a problem with a work project or colleague. In any case, it needs to be identified so it can be dealt with accordingly.
The second step is to start a conversation. Ask, “Are you OK?” Listen, and seek to understand. Encourage the person to take action, then check in with them again to see how they’re going. If you are struggling yourself, talk with Human Resources, your manager, or an MHFA Officer. Whatever you do, don’t keep it to yourself. Help is available, and people want to support you.
At Infosys, we focus on wellbeing and mental health across our hybrid workplaces. We are passionate about reaching out to all employees by offering programs that enable better connectedness and well-being. We want our team members to thrive professionally and personally, not just on one day but every day of the year. And it often starts with just one conversation.
Karthik Deivarayan
My learnings from Infosys’ journey to Carbon Neutrality, and how it inspires me
In 2020 Infosys became carbon neutral – a full 30 years ahead of the Paris agreement. This was no small feat – it has been an ongoing journey over the years; a fact that the figures make plain:
- 26 million square feet of workspace has been LEED Platinum certified.
- Half of all electricity across Infosys campuses are from renewable sources.
- Infosys’ Scope One, Two and Three emissions have been brought down by 46% across an employee base of 279,000+
The organisation’s efforts were recognised in 2019, when it was awarded the prestigious UN Global Climate Action Award in the ‘Climate Neutral Now’ category at COP 25, UN’s annual climate change conference. Infosys was also inducted into the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), on being verified against the PAS2060:2014 standard at the end of the 2021 fiscal year. This was the second consecutive year of carbon neutrality, adding to Infosys’ ongoing commitment to enable sustainable operations.
Before I share my learnings from Infosys’ journey to carbon-neutrality I would like to reminisce on how or why the concept of circular-economy and therefore Sustainability.
Growing up in rural India, having a cow in the house was quite common – and there were plenty of benefits to it. Ask a child back then and they would rattle at-least 10 of them off the cuff from the most obvious one – that of the milk (which in and of itself lends to a whole chain of commerce both in household and commercial kitchens) to the less evident ones such as the fertiliser benefits from the waste it produced.
I deliberately use the term waste here – as that was another concept that we were less familiar with because every byproduct invariably found use somewhere. This applied to food that eventually found its way back to cows, to crows to other friendly scavengers that formed a menagerie of stray animals that would take food. This also applied to clothes, books and toys that were preserved for use by the younger siblings – I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the better grades the younger ones got on the back of notes from the elder ones.
At a more personal level, I believed in less consumption of fuel and came up with more creative ways of getting to work – jogged to office, cycled to office and then of course I drove to office all the while thinking how I could make it more effective – which is when I came up with my app for carpooling. I was an avid proponent of the shared-economy and while I always managed to drive to office and back with friends and constantly equated empty seats in my car to wasted transport potential – I wanted to have a more industrious approach that suited the zeitgeist of the early 2010s. This was also one of my commitment to the nature and carbon neutrality.
My takeaways from Infosys’ approach to carbon-neutrality
Sustainability is part of the ethos at Infosys and any successful sustainability program is built on three key pillars:
Renewable energy
In 2021 Infosys managed to generate ~50% of its electricity from renewable sources by investing in solar photovoltaic (PV) plants. The first solar PV plant was commissioned back in 2011 at the Infosys Jaipur campus. Following this initial success, Infosys has increased its renewable investments across the country, and between on-site and off-site systems the organisation now has approximately 60 megawatts of capacity. There’s a significant difference in the long-term when it comes to investing in renewables.
Carbon offset
Addressing carbon utilisation within Infosys campuses proved comparatively easier to address emissions in the form of employee commutes and business travel. Infosys made the decision to avoid buying carbon credits to offset these emissions, instead choosing to invest in projects that would provide broader social and economic benefits to the community.
Infosys worked with Indigenous communities of Vidarbha, reducing their reliance on firewood cooking methods by offering them efficient cookstoves. The organisation help set up a rural carbon offset program based on household biogas. These projects have so far reached no fewer than 119,000 families, while creating over 2,600 jobs.
Energy efficiency
Infosys’ approach to energy efficiency is based on constructing buildings that are efficient from the ground up, conducting comprehensive green retrofits on existing buildings, and using smart automation to reduce energy needs. This approach has been applied to its campuses across the globe, which are designed to conserve energy and water and responsibly treat waste.
In the last fiscal year Infosys implemented over 15 energy efficiency projects across HVAC and lighting spaces, and deployed smart automation across 30 million square feet of office space, enabling remote operations, optimisation, and insight into asset health that allows us to take corrective action whenever needed.
Lighting the path to carbon neutrality
Having achieved carbon neutrality 30 years ahead of the Paris agreement, Infosys continues to improve its sustainability practices and help inspire its partners and the broader community along this journey.
Infosys launched a REF-OR-M Eco Watch - Sustainability Solution that enables our teams to guide our partners across different aspects in their journey to enable a more sustainable community including decarbonisation, PLM circularity, ESG finance among others. Built on the Microsoft stack, this service already grants institutions the opportunity to monitor, track and collect energy, water, waste and GHG data within institution-owned facilities and spaces, and the tool’s functionality will only expand into the future.
Our broader emissions efforts can also be seen through a wealth of strategic partnerships. Infosys signed a memorandum of understanding with bp to develop an integrated Energy as a Service platform. Infosys will leverage its technology and carbon reduction expertise, while bp has committed its renewable energy expertise.
Infosys is also the Digital Innovation Partner for The Economist Group’s global initiative to advance discourse and unlock long-term thinking on sustainability amongst world leaders and businesses.
How everyone can make a difference
While nations and organisations work towards a carbon neutral future, individuals have an important role to play. There are some simple yet effective ways in which we can all help reduce carbon footprint. Below are some conscious changes you can make:
- Consider a one-in-five plan: Use public transport once a week; and have one night a week where you choose a book or board game over electronic entertainment, which majorly reduces carbon footprint
- Consider buying local produce wherever possible, as an apple delivered from half a world away has a far greater carbon footprint than an apple sourced locally.
- Consider switching from red meat to white, better yet, meat to veg; and check for ethically sourced seafood.
- Help inspire the next generation of leaders. For instance you could discuss the 17 Sustainability Development Goals with kids, and teach them about ways to offset carbon emissions.
When undertaken en masse, these seemingly small and incremental changes certainly add up to make a bigger impact, and could potentially bring about a seismic shift in the global warming equation. Governments and large organisations like Infosys undoubtedly have an outsized responsibility for combating climate change, but if every person plays their part, we can make a difference to the world that we’ve borrowed from our children.
Sidharth Bhardwaj
My Career Journey since joining Infosys as a grad 21 Years ago
When I graduated over two decades ago, Infosys was an up-and-coming technology company and well known within the graduate community. They were the very first company to come to my campus on a recruitment drive and I was lucky enough to be selected for one of its graduate positions.
Today, I could write a very interesting book about my 21 years here! I have worked in varied roles, travelled the world, and learnt a continuous stream of new technologies. But while learning about technology and its applications has been fantastic, I’d say that the biggest benefit of my long career at Infosys has been engaging with people. I’ve learned so much about relationships and what makes people tick, and I’ve become a better person myself in the process.
From software engineer to the sales department and everything in between, here’s a snapshot of what my Infosys journey has looked like.
From Tech to Sales
I started out as a software engineer, designing, and writing code. This role took me all over the USA and Australia for five years, and I was lucky enough to work across a wide range of technologies. I learned all the fundamentals which still help me to find solutions for complex technology questions today.
Then I moved on to various project management and technology architecture roles, which helped me to develop my understanding of our business. After four years, I was ready for more challenging leadership roles but decided to take a career break for a while first.
I returned to Infosys in New Zealand for a sales role and what would end up being the most challenging phase of my life. I had never done sales before and was in a new country with no connections.
This break was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It allowed me to refresh, learn everything I could about business with probably some of the best minds in the industry and draw out my future path.
It was intimidating to say the least!
I remember sitting in my office watching the door, trying to gather the courage to ask clients for a coffee meeting. However, everyone around me at Infosys gave me tremendous support. Mistakes were a moment to learn from. I really learnt on the job, with the backing of an organization that really comes together to solve any customer problem. That makes the job of a salesperson much easier.
Moving into leadership
In 2016, I was asked to lead the industry vertical. Leading a team gives you a whole new perspective. Being a superstar doesn't matter anymore; it is all about my team, and my role has switched from a performer to a coach.
Admittedly, it can be a difficult adjustment as you have to learn to let go and help your team to grow. I describe my role now as a sweeper in curling, preparing the ice so my team can run onto it and do their best!
My advice for others hoping to follow a similar path? Find the right company
I think you always need to find purpose in your job and if you can’t relate to the company you’re working for or the work you’re doing, it’s time to go back to your inner drawing board. I have never planned anything based on money or status but have followed my inner purpose. I also think that finding a company who supports and enables your growth is key to being happy with what you’re doing.
Most of our constraints are self-created in our mind. I have had to overcome a lot of my own demons and false boundaries I created, but through it all, the support from Infosys has helped me to deal with everything and sail through every transition.
Above all, I have discovered that the world is a welcoming and forgiving place when people can see the drive and passion within you. When you give something your everything, the world does come together to help you.
If you’re interested in exploring career opportunities at Infosys, head to our careers page.
Dhananjay Subramanyan
How Infosys is Paving the Way for the Next Generation of Technology Professionals
Tech is an incredibly fast-paced industry. The unrelenting demand for digital services has been accelerated by the pandemic. Unless companies stay abreast of the constant rapid-fire changes, challenges, and digital trends, they risk losing relevance.
Yet, tech is an exhilarating industry to be in. It is the future of work, brimming with rich opportunities for graduates and those looking for a career change.
The key to thriving in this industry? In my opinion an unwavering commitment to continuous learning.
At Infosys, continuous learning is fundamental and core to our culture. To remain relevant in this volatile world, we must invest in our education and prioritise creative and entrepreneurial thinking. As such, the organisation is committed to providing exceptional learning experiences for our graduates, interns, experienced professionals, the broader community and even folks from diverse backgrounds looking to embark on a digital career. After all, Infosys is a people company full of technology and as a global digital services and consulting firm, we continue to deliver the digital innovations that make a difference to millions in Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
So, how is Infosys nurturing the next generation of technology experts?
Through two fundamental ways:
i. Through talent development programs such as the Infosys graduate program, Infosys’ flagship internship program - InStep, by providing pathways to a digital career for people from diverse career backgrounds among others
ii. Through our community engagements such as GovHack, collaborating with Tennis Australia to nurture leaders in the future among others
Bringing in a fresh perspective through our graduates and interns
To help some of the largest businesses in Australia and NZ advance through their digital journeys, we need to continually identify and develop our future talent. Infosys’s graduate program nurtures the next-gen of tech professionals, ensuring we help organisations in Australia & NZ remain relevant in a disruptive digital landscape.
While our graduate program is, of course, aimed at university graduates, it’s also for those who are a few years into their careers but unsure about their career paths and curious about the technology sector.
Predominantly, our grads have a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) background. In Australia and New Zealand we face a massive shortage of digital talent, and those with a STEAM education tend to thrive in this space. Interestingly our graduate program has also helped pave the digital careers of people with hybrid skills like HR, marketing, sales, designers among others. As long as an individual is highly motivated to contribute to the digital space, they have every opportunity to excel in our graduate program.
Training is intense, ranging from six to twelve weeks. But what truly sets our graduate program apart is the sheer scope for growth. Given the diverse range of organisations we work with across sectors there are so many career pathways. Example: Cyber security is a massive area that draws many graduates. Other pathways include data analytics, cloud technologies, software engineering, application development, and artificial intelligence. If a graduate shows interest and aptitude in a particular area, they are supported to explore it. By having ownership of their learning, our graduates can step into a career where they can deliver - and derive - the greatest value.
Internships can be a career defining learning experience
InStep is Infosys’ world-renowned internship experience. Ranked the best internship program globally for four years in a row by Vault’s Internship Rankings, this program enables university graduates to work on real-time projects under the mentorship of senior technology professionals from Infosys and our partners. It’s a valuable way for students to gain real experience and “trial” the tech space they want to build a career in.
Aimed at students in their penultimate or final year of their uni education, InStep blends intensive learning, business skills development, and networking opportunities. Our interns work and experience some of the cutting-edge programs we drive such as the digital innovation for the Australian Open. As Infosys is the digital innovation partner for the Australian Open, our interns experience how we’re leveraging digital technology to help create an immersive experience for everyone associated with the sport of Tennis including fans, players, media, and coaches.
The best part about interning at Infosys is it allows our interns to choose a project of their choice, so they can bring their impactful ideas to life in a way that resonates with them.
Pathways for mid-career professionals with hybrid skills
Beyond building career pathways for students and graduates with tech skills, at Infosys we’re hiring people for hybrid skills and an ability to learn. Today digital technology is making a difference to billions – whether you’re buying your groceries, commuting on public transport or even going on a date – everything is all becoming digital first. Hence, it’s important to have diverse teams working on building break out human experiences for all.
One way we do this is through our partnership with the Victorian Government’s Digital Jobs Program. the government’s $64 million digital reskilling program is aimed at mid-career professionals who want to switch roles and enter the digital workforce. Many beneficiaries of this program who have a wealth of life and work experience now have a new pathway to explore a digital career and want to learn in-demand skills to future-proof their careers.
Participants receive 12-weeks training, delivered by institutions such as RMIT and the University of Melbourne, in areas including analytics, cyber security, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.
Learning is a lifelong journey
At the heart of Infosys’ culture are learning programs is a goal to empower our teams to succeed. Our graduates and future leaders are set-up to explore different pathways. Personally I try and help our grads align their interests, prior learnings, and passions, with their projects.
I feel it comes down to an individual’s curiosity to learn. While transformative learning experiences are abundantly available at Infosys, equally important are an individual’s motivation to learn and ability to self-manage.
My advice to anyone who wants to begin a career in technology is to master the art of self-management. Manage and be proactive with your learning. Make it a priority. the Infosys mobile learning platform, LeX for instance delivers a plethora of courses and learning opportunities, which can be accessed by our interns and employees anywhere, any time.
If you would like to find out how you can be a part of our graduate program, explore #LifeatInfosys in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Auckland.
