Vijay is a highly successful technology leader at Fidelity Investments India. In this interview, he tells us about his rich career journey and experiences, why he returned to this firm after undertaking a stint in another firm, and what he simply loves about working here.

As person who has returned to Fidelity, tell us more about your decision to leave and return.

After leaving my former role at Fidelity to work closer to my hometown, I made the decision to join a tier-2 software services organization. However, during my time there, I became aware of the significant cultural differences and limited growth opportunities for me as compared to the global capability center environment I had experienced at Fidelity. The high sense of accountability and belonging that one experiences at Fidelity had initially attracted me here, and I began to realize that these were lacking in other places. Hence, when an opportunity arose, I made the decision to return to Fidelity, which in itself is evidence of the high value this firm places on its employees. Remarkably, my previous managers had reached out to me directly, recognizing the alignment between my profile and the opening, even without me having to apply.

How has your experience been so far since your return? What are some of the differences between your current and previous stints with Fidelity?

Upon my return to Fidelity, I found that my second tenure surpassed my initial experience. The trust bestowed upon me by my managers served as a catalyst for my motivation to excel even further. Additionally, the brief period I had spent outside of Fidelity had allowed me to acquire valuable leadership skills, which I was able to benefit from on rejoining the company. Additionally, I was fortunate to receive numerous opportunities to collaborate with senior leaders and was entrusted with the rare opportunity to rewrite a core, critical application. Throughout this journey, my managers closely mentored me, providing me invaluable feedback on a regular basis to enhance my performance.

Describe your career journey so far. What have been some of the key highlights?

I had begun my professional journey in 2005 as a newcomer in a tier-2 software services organization. After completing one year of service, I seized an opportunity to join Fidelity Investments India as an associate software engineer. I had joined the brokerage technology group and was able to contribute towards building a vital application on the brokerage platform. This experience allowed me to develop several crucial features for the platform, gain deep insights on the domain, dive deep into the business, and explore various technologies. This was in stark contrast to the beginning of my career.

In 2011, I chose to take a break and relocate to my hometown, accepting a position at another software services company. After a tenure of one-and-a-half years, my previous managers from Fidelity offered me an opportunity to join the organization once again, specifically to work on the same application I had been a part of building, which was now undergoing a system rewrite. Recognizing the unique opportunity to contribute to the rewriting of a critical system, I readily accepted the offer and have since cherished every moment at Fidelity.

I have had the privilege of working closely with esteemed senior leaders within the organization and even once had the opportunity to present before our chairman and CEO, Abby Johnson.

During my time in the brokerage field, I transitioned to a research and development team, where I delved into working on cutting-edge technologies such as blockchain. As I aspired to explore a career in technology leadership, I took advantage of Fidelity Investments India’s internal mobility program and assumed the role of a chapter leader in the fund operations technology team after spending 13 years in the brokerage space both in India and the United States.

Following a two-year tenure, I made the transition to the healthcare technology space, seeking to expand my expertise beyond my comfort zone. I am currently a member of the Fidelity Health group, leading a team of engineers in the development of their next-generation platform for benefits administration.

Reflecting on my 17-year tenure at Fidelity, I can confidently say that every day of my professional life here has been as exhilarating as my first day at the company. I have spearheaded numerous critical initiatives for Fidelity on a global scale, transforming my career from being a junior developer to becoming a technology director. Moreover, I have had the privilege of being a part of applications for two US patents during my journey, one of which has been granted.

What is distinctive about your current role at Fidelity, and what do you especially like about it?

In my current role, my primary responsibilities entail contributing to work on Fidelity Health’s benefits administration platform. Specifically, I oversee the India development team responsible for supporting a vital application in this space. This role provides me the opportunity to think strategically and assume a leadership role in executing plans. What I find most appealing is the heightened level of accountability and the global scope of my contributions within the group.

What does it take for a person to be successful at Fidelity?

At Fidelity, achieving success involves developing a comprehensive knowledge of the domain one is in, embracing a high sense of accountability, and adopting an end-to-end mindset when it comes to any work, rather than focusing solely on individual tasks. Embracing change is another highly important factor. In moments of uncertainty, I consistently turn to Fidelity’s leadership principles, which provide me invaluable guidance and insight.

What would you advise a person seeking to begin a career at Fidelity?

Always be ready to unlearn and learn. Develop a high sense of accountability and ownership. When you are working on a product, think end-to-end and develop a product mindset.

And what would be your advice for an individual looking to rejoin the Firm?

My advice is to not to think twice given an opportunity. This is a company where people are valued and one’s commitment will never go unnoticed. We have a system that rewards and recognizes talent.

Views expressed are as of the date indicated and may change. Unless otherwise noted, the opinions provided are those of the author, and not necessarily those of Fidelity Investments.

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