Vivekanand PGDM Alumni Review: Mr. Akhil Pillai’s Professional Milestones at Cognizant

Mr. Akhil Pillai, a PGDM graduate of Batch 2020-2022, is a Process Specialist at Cognizant, where he assists in pricing strategy and market intelligence of a large service retail company in America. His story shows how focus, determination and the appropriate educational setting can help influence an excellent career path.

Here is the success story of Mr. Akhil, shared in his own words.

Q. What does your role as a Process Specialist at Cognizant involve?

At Cognizant, I serve as a Pricing Subject Matter Expert (SME) for an American service retailer and my main role is to price and report a huge product portfolio of more than 80,000 service products spread across 70 designated market areas across US.

It is a job in which accuracy is a direct impact on business choices hence all the updates, all the prices, all the reports must be supported by logic and real time market relevance.

Other than price management, I also prepare comprehensive market research reports. Through these reports, the current competitor trends, changes in prices by the manufacturer and other market trends are examined. The goal is to convert these insights into powerful pricing strategies to remain competitive.

So overall, the role demands a mix of analysis, strategic thinking, and ability to convert raw data into clear, actionable decision.

Q. Your role demands precision, collaboration, and adaptability. How did you develop these qualities?

Precision, collaboration, and adaptability will not be compromised in my job. Precision is required at all times when it comes to setting new price since it has to be competitive, accurate, and updated without any delays. A slight difference can influence the sales in various markets. Teamwork occurs when I am involved in teams like Category, Supply Chain, and Senior Leadership. The expectations of each team are different, and it takes clarity and collaboration to harmonize all the expectations and implement strategy. The aspect of adaptability is challenged when some sudden or time-related requests are received by the stakeholders, and I need to produce the necessary output in a short time and in a proper manner.

I developed these attributes over time. The initial one was to become thoroughly confident in the project data. Knowing the product, sales information, you will be able to clearly identify the areas of improvement. After having known the reason behind the numbers, it is much easier to make presentations that have more credibility.

I have always been of the opinion that I would speak up and be confident even when my views might be accepted or rejected since that is the way one develops. With time, reading, analysis, and presentation of data assisted me in polishing these attributes. It is a gradual process, but one must remain consistent.

Q. How did Vivekanand help you build a mindset of growth and adaptability that supports your career today?

The Vivekanand coursework is dynamic indeed. It is not merely a classroom learning, there are defined credits of activities that develop your critical thinking, creativity, and entrepreneurial mentalities. The faculty are highly knowledgeable and each a subject matter expert in their domain, constantly encouraged us to participate, collaborate, and learn through real-world applications.

One of the larger aspects of my development was the involvement with peers through the D2C competitions, presentations in classes, and group discussions. These activities made me think differently and collaborate. What stood out the most was how the faculty motivated us to go beyond our comfort zones and encouraged learning. These experiences established the flexibility, self-confidence and team orientation that I actively apply on a daily basis at work.

Q. What are your top 3 reasons to recommend Vivekanand to future management students? 

The top three reasons to recommend Vivekanand to someone looking to get a degree in management, I would say:

Established Institution with Dedicated Faculty – Vivekanand is a renowned institution with  a highly qualified faculty who are personally committed to the learning process of every student.

Industry-Relevant Curriculum – The curriculum is structured meticulously to produce managerial, analytical, and entrepreneurial skills that are perfectly suited to the needs of the corporate world.

Goodwill and large Alumni Network – Vivekanand has a good reputation and an active alumni network that has helped students to access industry professionals and leaders facilitating mentorship and career prospects.

The combination of these factors makes Vivekanand one of the most balanced platforms of emerging management professionals.

Q. What message would you like to share with current Vivekanand students preparing to step into the professional world?

My message to current Vivekanand students would be to pay special attention to reading and analyzing data since data is the force behind most decisions in modern times. Solidify your analytical tools and master software that will assist you to explain insights clearly using numbers and facts Above all, be disciplined. Discipline in learning and consistency in effort will shape your career far more than you imagine.

Vivekanand provides you with right opportunities, make the most of it. Develop relationships, work with colleagues, and remain open to learning at each stage. Such habits will not only help you win in your career life but also make you a considerate and adaptive leader.