Service & Growth: Poongothai on Skills-Based Volunteering with Fidelity Investments and Common Impact 

Some values are taught. Others are lived. For Poongothai Balasanjeevi, service is both. Long before she was a vice president of product delivery at Fidelity guiding product delivery teams, she was teaching her children about service Through soup kitchens, school service projects, and late-night crafting for community events. 

That same commitment to community shines through in Poongothai’s professional journey. Over her 19 years at Fidelity, she’s embraced every opportunity to give back, especially through Fidelity Investments’ partnership with Common Impact, where she’s now a five-time seasoned contributor to skills-based volunteering. Most recently, she joined a flash consulting project with St. Vincent de Paul of Northern Kentucky, helping improve how the organization tracks and manages thrift store vouchers so families in need can access essentials like clothing and furniture. 

In this conversation, Poongothai reflects on what drew her to the project, the impact it had on the nonprofit and her volunteer team, and how volunteering continues to fuel her personal and professional growth. 

Every time I’ve volunteered my skills, I’ve brought something different to the table. I contribute what I know, and I also learn from others.

Why is giving back so important to you? 

Having kids really deepened my passion for service. I wanted them to grow up knowing the value of giving back, so I was always finding ways to get them involved in the community with me. I started with small volunteering efforts in our community and had my kids join me doing things like stage decorations for community events. Then we moved on to community projects like playing music for Alzheimer patients, volunteering in soup kitchens through local organizations, and I coached at Destination Imagination for our school district for many years. Both my kids did service projects for Destination Imagination, like Lyme disease awareness. It felt great to give back while also teaching my children the value of caring for their community. At Fidelity, I’ve had many opportunities to volunteer in everything from financial literacy workshops for girls and women to making no-sew blankets for nonprofits to mock interviews for youth. I tell them about these opportunities to inspire them.  

I instilled the importance of community support in my kids early on, and now that they’re adults, service is central to how they live and lead. My daughter chose to go into medicine with the goal of serving rural Maine, while my son volunteered at vaccination clinics during COVID. I feel proud knowing I’ve made that kind of impact. I’m also grateful for Fidelity and our Asian inclusivity and multiculturalism Associate Business Resource Group (ABRG), which provide meaningful opportunities to get involved in the community.  

What inspired you to take part in Fidelity’s flash consulting day of service? 

I’ve participated in five flash consulting events with Common Impact and Fidelity. Each time, it’s such a rewarding experience. Skills-based volunteering is very different from other forms of volunteering and I enjoy the growth and professional development aspect of it. I’ve worked with a different nonprofit every time and have offered them my skills while learning new ones, and networking with colleagues. There’s also a deep sense of gratification. It feels good to use my skills to help solve a real challenge for a nonprofit. And as a bonus, it builds my resume too! 

Every time I’ve volunteered my skills, I’ve brought something different to the table. I contribute what I know, and I also learn from others. That mix is what makes it such a unique opportunity. By the end of the day, you feel happy because you know you’ve helped a nonprofit that really needed it. It’s just such a fulfilling experience. 

Tell us about the project with St. Vincent de Paul of Northern Kentucky. What challenge were you helping them with? 

The nonprofit team initially asked for guidance on uploading data from their new sales system into their existing database tool. On the surface, it seemed like a simple file-transfer challenge, but as we dug in, we discovered a bigger issue. Their process for tracking thrift store vouchers was entirely manual and time-consuming, requiring staff to input data one line at a time. Because the team was juggling many responsibilities and working with limited resources, the system had grown time-consuming and tough to manage effectively. 

We realized we could offer more than a quick fix. Our team evaluated several options for streamlining and automating the process, focusing on what would be easy to use, cost-effective, and sustainable for a small team. We created a solution matrix that compared tools based on user-friendliness, cost, training needs, and long-term support. 

In the end, we recommended they continue using their existing database tool for managing client and voucher information. It was already integrated into their workflow, and while they weren’t fully confident in it at first, we helped them see how it could meet their needs with a few simple adjustments and a clearer roadmap. One staff member told us they finally felt confident in their setup after our support. The whole experience reminded us all how empowering the right solution can be. 

Did you walk away with any new skills or tools? 

Definitely! Every skills-based volunteering project with Common Impact and Fidelity teaches me something new. On this one, one of our teammates was incredible at creating visuals. She used icons to map out user flows that showed both the current and future processes. That was a lightbulb moment for me. I saw how visuals could make our solutions much clearer and easier for the nonprofit to understand and act on. It inspired me to start using more visuals in my own work, especially when I am communicating with different departments or stakeholders. It is such an effective way to help everyone get on the same page. 

Did the project help you connect with colleagues you might not normally work with? 

Absolutely. Some teammates I hadn’t met before, and with others, I had no idea which part of the business they worked in. The project gave us a chance to talk and collaborate. Now I know who has which skills, and I feel comfortable reaching out if I ever need support. It built a real connection, and we’re still chatting in our group chat. 

What would you say to someone who’s hesitant to participate in skills-based volunteering? 

I’d say don’t miss this wonderful opportunity. The sense of purpose and satisfaction is unmatched. You’re making a meaningful impact using the skills you already have, while learning new ones and expanding your network. It’s a win-win. Even if you’re unsure, just try it once. 

We had some technical folks on our team who don’t usually get to present. During this project, we encouraged them to lead the presentation. It gave them an opportunity they typically don’t get in their day job. Skills-based volunteering lets you stretch and grow, and Fidelity and Common Impact do a great job creating those opportunities for us. 

Anything else you’d like to share? 

Just a big thank you to Fidelity’s community relations team and Common Impact staff for making this possible. One of my teammates already asked if their entire team could participate next time. That’s the kind of impact this has. Once people experience it, they want to keep coming back and talking about it. I’ve made it a personal goal to participate in at least one Common Impact skills-based volunteering project and two Fidelity Cares events every year. We all have busy jobs, but committing to one event a year is doable, and it makes a real difference. I’m thankful to my managers who support and encourage giving back in this way.