Mariesa Coughanour is Cognizant’s Head of Advisory, North American Delivery and Mindshare for the Intelligent Automation Practice at Cognizant. She helps clients to accelerate and scale their automation programs, significantly impacting both her company and its clients. Leveraging generative AI, she drives business outcomes at scale, delivering value for her clients. If Mariesa were to be described in one word, it would be that she is a ‘catalyst’ – she is a change-maker that asks ‘why not’, challenges the status quo, and is committed to making things happen.
The Non-Traditional Path to Automation
While Mariesa holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, she began her career in operations. While at GE she had the opportunity to move through various sectors and business units as a graduate of two of their top leadership grooming programs, gaining knowledge across industries while deepening her business acumen through work on strategic programs. One such project that focused on global metrics was an enlightening experience for her, revealing the power of technology in generating business insights. This was her “Aha moment,” “I realized I had a real passion for technology and was fortunate to work with a truly special leader who encouraged me to shift gears in my career,” she shares. “I also feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with such talented technologists in that role. It was such an incredible space to learn from each other and build some remarkable tools and solutions at the same time.”
This was a steppingstone for her as her leader encouraged her to expand the role beyond analytics to also include the new start-up space of process automation. The chance to stand up a new shared service in a conglomerated company such as GE was a unique opportunity and one she is immensely proud of. She believes “that team was truly special in how we ramped up that first year learning by doing, continuously improving ourselves, and creatively finding ways to push the limits of what was thought to be possible. We drove significant results fast and had multi-fold return by our first full year.” Mariesa feels fortunate to have led and scaled the program at GE, even presenting their work to the board of directors.
For the past six years, Mariesa has been at Cognizant, where she first built the advisory team and later added on the role of leading North America delivery for clients. She credits her success to her mentors, her flexibility, and her eagerness to learn. Reflecting on her journey, she says, “If I had tried to predict my career path, I wouldn’t have imagined the paths I’ve taken or that I would be helping clients adopt digital productivity tools like automation. I think we have to be open to change also in our own career paths and know it is okay if our goals change – as long as you stay on a path that inspires you and leads you to your definition of success.”
Stepping Into the Advisory Role
While considering her next career move after GE, Mariesa met a leader from Cognizant at an event. Their discussions about the industry’s potential quickly evolved from ‘back of napkin’ ideas to exploring real opportunities for collaboration.
Mariesa was particularly attracted to Cognizant’s entrepreneurial spirit. She appreciated the company’s strong focus on executing and delivering impactful results for clients. Additionally, she valued Cognizant’s forward-thinking approach, which involves helping clients envision their future and adapt their strategies accordingly. Mariesa found the prospect of contributing to this strategic vision very appealing.
Discussions about making these visions a reality for clients fueled her excitement about joining Cognizant. “My motivation for shifting into the world of consulting was two-fold; one was the opportunity to work with leaders across industries, and two was the opportunity to be the partner I had always wanted to have on the other side of the table – when I was a client,” Mariesa shares.
She clarifies that it was those partners that worked shoulder to shoulder with her as their client that inspired her. It was an aspiration to be in the class of partners who have the approach of, “Let me meet you where you are today, help you envision where you could be tomorrow, and work alongside you to achieve that.”
Mariesa believes that Cognizant has provided her with the perfect platform to fulfill this aspiration and create new offerings along the way to address the needs of clients and a fast-paced, evolving industry.
Growth as a Leader at Cognizant
At Cognizant, Mariesa’s path has evolved every year. She joined with the opportunity to create an expanded offering for the automation practice that focused on strategic partnership and enabling scale. This advisory team would be complementary to the strong offerings the tech giant already had and would help advance their mission to create a convergence between technology and business. Her past success in scaling large programs made her the ideal leader for this initiative. “It started with showcasing that I could shift into the consultant role by working with a single client, to can you expand this to a new offering.” She says, “It was a thrilling opportunity to build something that I knew the industry was looking for and have the autonomy to craft new solutions to help clients scale and drive adoption, which is one of the most challenging tasks in creating a mature automation and digital productivity program.”
Mariesa also has responsibility for partnering with marketing, analyst relations and industry influencers to collaborate on positioning, messaging, and content creation for the intelligent automation practice. This, for her, has been a fabulous learning experience and she is proud of the bold positioning and strong leadership position that has been created.
Her role expanded further as she initially took on leading a team focused on strategic engagements for the practice with her role evolving further to encompass the North America delivery team for her practice. “It has been a tremendous opportunity to work with each of these delivery teams on the ground with our clients. This team is extremely talented and have such a keen lens on absolute operational excellence,” she says. “The teams bring such a passion for their client’s success. We continue to work on bringing our strength in creating results today while having a eye on what is next for each client and helping them to get their faster.”
Mariesa also says that as the automation industry is rapidly evolving, they are constantly upskilling. “We’re looking at how to couple automation with things like analytics and generative AI,” she says. “In our space we have to stay on the cutting edge of technology while creating approaches to seamlessly integrate across a client’s technology landscape. To be able to do that we have varying training opportunities to help certify, get hands-on experience, and then apply it to solution development.”
Mariesa has witnessed a real cultural shift among clients, with senior leaders across all lines of business being involved in leveraging technology to achieve their targets and realize their strategy. “It’s exciting to see true democratization of technology at companies where hundreds, if not thousands, of employees are being empowered to use these tools to drive value,” Mariesa says. “I truly believe the future of work is where these tools are leveraged as just part of how the job gets done, and as a result we will see people feeling more satisfied in what they do, more value felt across all levels, and new degrees of innovation being unleashed.” She finds it exciting to see the democratization of technology, empowering employees to drive value.
Every year, Mariesa has taken up something new and expanded her purview and scope. According to her, that has been a great opportunity for her success and development.
This has provided her with exposure to new domains and allowed her to grow continuously. She values the exposure and the opportunity to influence both internally and externally, considering it a great opportunity provided by Cognizant.
Great Achievements in a Remarkable Career
Mariesa considers graduating from two leadership programs among her greatest achievements, as they provided valuable accelerated learning and established a strong foundation for her career. She is particularly proud of being accepted into these highly competitive, limited capacity programs.
Early in her career, Mariesa discovered her passion for driving change through exposure to lean practices, earning the ‘change agent’ recognition from her managers in more than one appraisal. She vividly recalls the first time she guided a team to adopt lean thinking and improve productivity. After working with them for a period, there was a moment where they stood up and presented their findings and solutions independently and drove the discussion with their leaders. It was a pivotal moment for her, teaching her that true accomplishment and change adoption is when it just becomes how people work and they no longer needed guidance. “For me it was a moment of accomplishment seeing those individuals not only do something they didn’t think they could, but also lead the charge on a positive improvement for their business. I still can’t help but smile thinking of how energized they were and how immensely proud of them I was, and still am,” she says. Mariesa believes that a leader’s greatest purpose is to inspire change, and when that change empowers people to act on their own, it signifies that the transformation has truly taken root
Other accomplishments of Mariesa include getting the chance to present to the board at GE. It was special because her manager and business head recommended that she do that. “It taught me how to walk into a room of people who could be a little intimidating and present confidently, and understand that doing good work was the most important part of my role there,” she says. After joining Cognizant, she won the Innovator of the Year at the Women in IT Awards in 2020, was a MAKERS honoree in 2024 for Cognizant, and was a finalist for two other Women in IT Awards in 2023, IT Team of the Year and Woman of the Year. “More than winning the award, what meant the most was the recognition of the work I was able to do with my teams to push boundaries and create significant impact,” Mariesa says. “It felt extremely rewarding to see others recognize that effort.”
She believes we are all meant to help others along the way and pave a path for future generations to achieve their goals more easily. She finds great inspiration in seeing those she mentors achieve their goals, advance to bigger roles, and even surpass her in their careers, viewing their successes as a testament to effective mentorship.
A Leader’s Responsibilities and Approaches
As Head of Advisory and overseer of North America Delivery at Cognizant, Mariesa thrives in a dynamic environment where no two days are the same. She leads her team in working with clients across various industries, focusing on operational excellence, meeting commitments, and preparing for future challenges.
Mariesa is dedicated to bridging the gap between business and technology, leveraging AI and automation to drive value and efficiency. She is passionate about creating new opportunities for clients and ensuring her team is equipped with the necessary skills and tools.
Adopting a servant leadership approach, Mariesa prioritizes her team’s needs, fostering their growth through training and leadership opportunities. She believes in empowering her team, trusting them to rise to the occasion, and celebrating their achievements.
Despite a demanding schedule, Mariesa maintains a healthy work-life balance and encourages her team to do the same. “It’s very easy to get caught up into thinking that you need to commit every hour of the day to work – that’s not true,” she adds. “It really is about balance. We do work to live, not live to work.” She emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and ensuring that work does not overshadow personal life and you take the time to not miss out on important life events.
Mariesa’s greatest motivation is the success of her clients and her team. She believes it is a leader’s responsibility to drive impactful change and foster an environment where both clients and team members can thrive.
Plans for the Future
Mariesa and her team will continue to focus on bridging the gap between business and technology. This will include creating more integrated solutions to accelerate outcomes, developing innovate ways to democratize technology to drive digital productivity, and evolving frameworks with a focus on enablement. Cognizant’s clients utilize a diverse array of technology and tools. Mariesa aims to simplify, streamline, and enhance their impact. “It helps to have a mindset of end-to-end thinking and solutioning, combined with continuous improvement and a healthy appetite for asking ‘why not’,” she adds.
To bridge this gap, Mariesa plans to leverage the power of AI and automation. She believes that democratizing this technology is truly the future, driving greater value, efficiency, and joy at work. Additionally, she and her team intend to create new opportunities and solutions for their clients to accelerate their journeys. Mariesa highlights their innovative approach to solutioning, emphasizing that their work with clients goes beyond mere consulting or advisory services, but being a catalyst for enablement and the scaling of technology across an enterprise.
On a personal note, Mariesa looks forward to continuing her growth and making a significant impact in her current role. “We’re only at the beginning of what is possible,” she says. “I truly believe in bridging the gaps between the business and technology side. I’ve seen what is possible when we bring that knowledge together and the potential that can be unlocked.” She is passionate about this work and excited for what lies ahead.
Mariesa is committed to remaining at the intersection of business and technology, continually seeking opportunities for learning and growth. She aims to drive significant impact within the industry through her ongoing efforts. Additionally, Mariesa is passionate about inspiring others, especially those from diverse or non-traditional backgrounds, to enter the tech industry, hoping to ignite their curiosity and drive for innovation.
Message to Aspiring Leaders
“Don’t be afraid to be the change you want to see in the workplace,” Mariesa tells aspiring leaders. “Change has to have a starting point. Be bold. Be the change agents.”
She also advises never to forget that you can learn something from everyone that you cross paths with.
“It doesn’t matter the role, the level, or if they are in a different space,” she points out. “You can learn something from everybody that you’re going to meet along your journey. Pause, listen, and reflect on these learnings – it may help you see from a totally different perspective.”
And, finally, Mariesa advises aspiring leaders to be human and always put your people first. “When you invest in people and get to know them, your job will be much more enjoyable and your people will feel more comfortable to bring their whole, best self to work,” she says. “When this happens and people come together, what they can accomplish, more often than not, will exceed what anyone would have thought possible.”
