Lauren

Tell me about your career journey and how you ended up at Capgemini.

My journey has been anything but conventional. I pursued a degree in acting at the University of Michigan, dreaming of becoming an award-winning actor by 30. However, when I graduated in 2020, I entered a bleak creative landscape, with minimal opportunities for new grads.

Realizing it was time to pivot and gain independence, I took a job as a Sales Agent. But after countless hours of cold calling about life, I knew this wasn’t my path—I wanted to do something bigger. I was drawn to sales but had no clear roadmap for how to get there.

That’s when I connected with a Capgemini recruiter who gave me a shot—an opportunity I’ll never forget. I started as a campus recruiter for the West Coast and Atlanta, completely unaware of the incredible journey that lay ahead.

As I settled into Capgemini, I knew I wanted to do more and return to sales, but I wasn’t sure where to start. I turned to my network, and for the first time, I saw the power of “your network is your net worth” in action. Through persistence, I connected with a Business Development Executive who was being promoted to Client Partner. He was searching for his replacement among several qualified candidates.

According to my now-boss, I stood out because I was bold, persistent, and proactive— qualities I didn’t even realize I was demonstrating. I kept following up, putting myself out there, and unknowingly doing the job before I even had it. They gave me a three-month trial run, and now, over a year and a half later, I’m still here, thriving in the role.

What is your current role and what does a day in your life look like?

As a Business Development Executive, my day-to-day is dynamic, but one constant is building and strengthening client relationships—often through hosting clients at events outside of work. The client I support thrives on trust and personal connections, making it essential to cultivate genuine relationships.

My role involves pipeline management, strategic outreach, and maintaining engagement with existing customers. I collaborate with our GBUs and Service Lines to generate new ideas for the client while also handling incoming requests—what we often refer to as “blocking and tackling.”

In an ever-evolving landscape, I prioritize continuous upskilling, staying ahead of emerging tools and technologies to better support our clients’ needs. And one of the best perks? Attending incredible events and experiences that I’d never have access to otherwise!

What’s the most exciting initiative you’ve worked on, and why?

One of the most exciting initiatives I’ve had the opportunity to support is the Contact Center modernization for one of our clients. While we have been a trusted partner over a decade, this initiative marks a turning point—we are now leading one of their largest transformations in the last five years.

Through this experience, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing a masterclass in sales and relationship management, learning firsthand how trust, strategy, and execution come together to drive major business impact.

What’s been your biggest achievement at Capgemini so far?

Being promoted to Business Development Executive has been one of my biggest accomplishments. I’m one of the youngest in this role, and when you look at me among my peers, one thing is definitely not like the others!

Coming from a performance background, I never imagined I’d land in the tech industry— let alone thrive in it. But my greatest achievement has been transforming my people skills into powerful networking and business development skills, learning how to read people, build relationships, and drive meaningful conversations.