At the Best of Best Conference & Awards 2025, Neelam Naiksatam, Director – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Health & Wellness, Human Resources, CGI APAC, shared CGI’s journey as a Learning Partner, focused on strengthening women’s representation in leadership.
For CGI, a global organization with 94,000 employees, their journey towards a gender-balanced leadership began with a realization. Back in 2019, women’s representation in managerial levels was significantly low, which got the leadership to act decisively. CGI, in partnership with Avtar, took inclusion surveys, market trend analysis, and problem-definition exercises to understand the problems and barriers to progression. The outcome of this partnership led to the RISE program (Rise in Strategic Excellence) – a focused leadership program for high-potential women.
Since its launch, 428 women have graduated from RISE; with 25% earning promotions and over 80 stepping into managerial roles. Designed as a living program, RISE evolves every year to stay relevant to business and talent needs. Its impact is deep and measurable, as100% of participants report professional and personal growth, while80–90% confirm a visible shift in behaviour and leadership presence.
A defining element of CGI’s learning philosophy is that learning partners are internal, reinforcing ownership and cultural continuity. Another initiative by the company – Speed Mentoring – a one-hour format in which participants engage with three different mentors across business units on a particular challenge. This breaks silos, surfaces diverse perspectives, and strengthens a culture of allyship where everyone feels they have something to contribute.
Sensitization remains central to CGI’s inclusion journey. Through direct engagement with the trans community – including workplace walk-throughs and skill-building initiatives – employees move beyond awareness to empathy. As Neelam shared, these experiences created trust, connection, and a willingness to act, turning inclusion into lived reality.
