Padmasini Dayananda has been on a mission to stamp out socioeconomic inequalities across 31 countries, dedicated to promoting digital skills for all globally, regardless of gender, age, racial & socioeconomic background. As global head of ESG outreach at IT services and consulting company Cognizant, Padmasini has been using her tech industry expertise to lead social impact initiatives, delivering digital skills training and education across an array of institutions, from schools to youth employability initiatives and charities. Her global duties follow success in a similar role in the UK and have led to her winning Social Mobility Project of the Year at the 2022 Women in IT Awards UK. 

Helping to develop the digital capabilities of over 1,500 students globally, Padmasini spent over 850 hours enhancing students’ critical thinking abilities, and organised digital boot camps for 988 young people from BAME backgrounds. Additionally, she established e-mentoring for female volunteer workers and students. 

Padmasini has put her 20-plus years of tech industry experience to good use when it comes to social impact and change, most of which has been at Cognizant. Prior to being appointed ESG outreach lead, she oversaw outreach for UK, Ireland and central Europe as a director of corporate social responsibility (CSR).