Empowered to reconnect and thrive – Sonali’s journey through the Cummins RePower program

Returning to the workforce after a long break can be a daunting challenge. For Sonali G., a former aerospace engineer who stepped away from her career for several years, the Cummins Inc. RePower Program offered more than just a way back in — it was a turning point.

Sonali, now a Program Leader for Power Generation Americas at Cummins, leads VPI (Value Package Introduction Programs) and LPR (Lean Product Realization Programs) programs for the Power Generation business. Her role involves coordinating across cross-functional teams to ensure successful program launches — work that requires a sharp technical mind and strong leadership skills. But just a few years ago, Sonali wasn’t sure if she’d ever return to an engineering career.

“I moved to the U.S. in 2015 after getting married and took a break from my professional life,” she explains. Sonali’s early career was built at Godrej Aerospace in Mumbai, India, where she worked from 2007 to 2015. “Stepping away was the right choice for my family, but restarting after such a long gap was intimidating.”

That changed in 2022 when a friend told her about the Cummins’ RePower Program — a six-month paid returnship designed specifically for professionals who have taken a career break of at least two years. The program offers development opportunities in areas like IT, Engineering and Supply Chain Planning and provides coaching, training and networking to support participants in reintegrating into the workforce.

Though she applied to several RePower roles without success at first, Sonali was eventually recommended for a CPS-Service Engineering position by a Cummins recruiter who saw her potential. “I’m extremely grateful for this Repower opportunity,” she says. “It was a fabulous ‘rebirth’ of my career.”

During her returnship, Sonali worked with a supportive and collaborative team. She credits her managers and hiring manager for mentoring her and trusting her capabilities. “They helped me learn and contribute at the same time,” she recalls.

In her own words, Sonali describes the RePower experience as:

Coming together is a beginning,
Keeping together with perseverance is progress,
Working together is success.

Beyond the technical training, Sonali says she developed crucial skills such as leadership, networking and cross-functional collaboration. She also learned to navigate Cummins systems and build strong professional relationships — skills that helped her transition into a full-time role in April 2023 after the completion of her six-month returnship.

Her success didn’t end there. After working on the PSBU Industrial side during her returnship, Sonali stepped into a new position in the Power Generation business.

Sonali’s journey has come full circle — she’s not only thriving at Cummins but also paying it forward. In 2024, she contributed as a core team member supporting the new RePower Cohort and served as a panelist for the Upwardly Global International Women’s Day Career Panel.

Her message to others considering a return to work through RePower?

“This is the best platform for people who want to return back to work. It gave me the confidence, skills and support to rebuild my career.”

Sonali’s story is a powerful reminder that with the right support and opportunity, a break in a career doesn’t have to be the end — it can be the beginning of something even greater.