Parvati, Vice President – Fidelity Wealth, Fidelity Investments India, shares inspiring nuggets on how she has evolved as a technologist and leader through her remarkable career journey with Fidelity.

Describe your journey so far.

As a youngster, I had the privilege of studying in five different schools and two colleges across various parts of South India. This enabled me to learn from diverse experiences, taught me to be adaptable early in life, and embrace change.

During my career journey, I have had a plethora of exciting opportunities ranging from working in a small startup to working at a large multinational services company and later joining Fidelity Investments India, which is a global capability center for the parent firm. All these experiences and the exposure I have gained working in multiple roles have helped shape my perspectives as an individual.

My journey with Fidelity has been extremely gratifying, and I am proud to say that I completed my 17^th year at Fidelity in 2024.

What made you choose Fidelity as a preferred employer?

I joined Fidelity in 2007, after being referred for an open role by a friend who was working with the firm at the time. I was keen to join Fidelity because I wanted to continue working in the financial services domain and I had heard inspiring testimonials about Fidelity’s culture and people, which I wanted to experience for myself.

How would you describe your journey with Fidelity so far?

Over the years, I have worked across different business units at Fidelity Investments India such as Asset Management Technology, Fidelity Institutional Technology, and my current role in Fidelity Retail Analytics across Fidelity Wealth and Brokerage and played a variety of roles within each business unit. This exposure has enriched my understanding of Fidelity’s customers, businesses, and employees in an organic manner.​

Currently, I lead a team that is responsible for driving customer insights, new product launch analytics, executive reporting, and experimentation within Fidelity’s Retail space. I am excited to work with extremely talented employees, and my role gives me the opportunity to work across different domains and product areas. Given that I am new in my current role, I have been focused on accelerating my learning and building new connections within Fidelity.

Additionally, until recently, I was the India co-chair for the Women in Technology Special Interest Group (WITSIG) at Fidelity Investments India. My engagement with WITSIG over the years has been extremely gratifying in terms of the connections made and the opportunity to provide a platform for women technologists across the firm to connect, collaborate, and thrive as a community.

In your view, what are the attributes that are required to be a successful leader at Fidelity?

At Fidelity, we believe in ‘competence’ and ‘care’, which enable us to deliver superior outcomes for the firm. Everything we do is focused on the customer, with a strong focus on inclusion and nurturing strong relationships.

The firm encourages employees to stay curious, demonstrate thought leadership, and celebrate their growth and success. I’ve been a beneficiary of the culture of career vitality and support that the firm extends to employees and will always be grateful for that.

Can you share your most cherished moment at Fidelity so far?

My tenth-year service anniversary celebration, where I got to click a photo with Abby Johnson, Chairman and CEO of Fidelity Investments, will always remain a cherished moment. I often look at that photo and fondly reminisce about the occasion.

Over the years here at Fidelity, I have been able to build a trusted network of colleagues who have become close friends as well, and every time we meet, we have a memorable time together.

What is the best advice you have received as a professional?

One of my mentors once told me this, and it rings true to this day: “Things are always going to be dynamic. Remember to focus and spend energy on the things that you CAN control – attitude, effort, and a commitment to what matters the most.”

What are some of the attributes you look for in a person you would want to hire for your team?

Technical skill areas are always evolving and can be learnt. However, when I look to hire for my team, I always consider some of the softer qualities: a growth mindset, curiosity, the ability to connect the dots, and the right attitude that would add to the energy of the team. It is these qualities, in addition to the willingness and aptitude to constant upskill and reskill, that set people apart in my eyes.

Describe a hurdle that you were proud of crossing.

At Fidelity, I have had many opportunities to work on challenging projects, and these experiences have helped hone my skills, build character, and shape my personality. I especially remember various points in my journey when my team and I had to work on challenging projects and deliver high-quality software within tight timelines and changing circumstances, while ensuring the team remained motivated throughout, driven by a spirit of customer obsession.

I am a strong advocate of the need to constantly inspire one’s team while staying realistically optimistic and ensuring sharp focus on execution and service excellence, to navigate challenging times. That is why I’m a firm believer in the saying, “Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.”

What is your favorite quote/saying?

There are a few quotes that truly resonate with me. Of late, I have begun writing down the quotes that inspire me, and this enables me to revisit them from time to time and motivate myself.

I particularly love these two quotes:

“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.” – Eleanor Roosevelt, American political figure, diplomat, and activist

“Growth and comfort don’t coexist. That’s true for people, for companies, for nations.” – Ginni Rometty, CEO, IBM

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.