Winner. Business Leader of the Year 2024

Santhosh Vijayabaskar

Position: Director, Intelligent Automation and Business Process Excellence
Company: Fidelity Investments
City: Mason, Ohio
Country: USA
Economic/Business Sector: Financials / Banking & Investment Services

Santhosh Vijayabaskar’s journey in technology and business is built on a robust academic foundation. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science from Anna University, India, a Master of Science in Business Informatics from Northern Kentucky University, USA, and a Certificate of Specialization in Leadership and Management from Harvard Business School Online. These academic credentials have equipped him with a unique blend of technical expertise and strategic leadership, which has been a key driver of his success in process automation, agile methodologies, and business re-engineering.

With over 12 years of experience, Santhosh has excelled in agile project management, lean methodologies, and continuous process improvement, holding certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP®), PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP®), Certified Scrum Master (CSM®), and Certified SAFe® 6 Agilist (SA). His ability to implement Lean Six Sigma principles — backed by Yellow Belt and Green Belt certifications — has enabled him to optimize processes across a variety of sectors.

Santhosh’s technical prowess extends into the realm of intelligent automation and robotic process automation (RPA), where he holds certifications as a Certified Blue Prism Developer and Blue Prism ROM Architect. He is also an expert in low-code automation, earning qualifications in Microsoft Power Platform, and is certified as a PMI Citizen Developer Practitioner and Business Architect. These achievements reflect his commitment to using technology to drive innovation and efficiency.

Santhosh is also an esteemed member of the British Computer Society and IEEE USA, further affirming his professional standing. His exceptional performance has been consistently recognized throughout his career with notable awards, including the Exceptional Performer Awards at Fidelity Investments (2017, 2018, and 2020) and the ACE Award at Hexaware Technologies. Additionally, he has received the Service Commitment Award from Tata Consultancy Services and the IEEE International Award in 2010.

In his career, Santhosh has not only driven technological advancements but has also demonstrated a deep commitment to mentorship and leadership, which continues to inspire and shape the future of automation and business transformation.

As the Director of Automation and Process Re-engineering at Fidelity Investments, Santhosh Vijayabaskar has been instrumental in leading transformative efforts at one of the largest financial services companies in the world, overseeing $4.5 trillion in assets under management and $11.6 trillion in assets under administration. Santhosh spearheaded the automation of over 275 critical business processes, driving a 30% reduction in process times, which led to substantial cost savings and increased scalability, ultimately enhancing the ability to serve 40 million investors and 23,000 associates. His leadership in leveraging cutting-edge technologies like Blue Prism, Microsoft Power Platform, and Alteryx has significantly contributed to Fidelity’s growth, positioning the company as an industry leader in innovation.

Santhosh’s remarkable efforts were recognized with the prestigious Fidelity Presidential Circle of Excellence Award for Innovation, highlighting his substantial impact on operational efficiency. Furthermore, his thought leadership in digital transformation and automation is reflected through his membership in the Forbes Technology Council, where he actively contributes valuable insights on industry trends.

Beyond his achievements within the organization, Santhosh has mentored and trained over 25,000 professionals globally, demonstrating his dedication to empowering the next generation of leaders and fostering innovation across industries.