Blessan Kurien ThomasGeneral Manager · Santa Monica Study Abroad & Tours · Bobsco Holding, Bahrain
I turn ideas into businesses, products and results.
Strategy. Business Development. Marketing. Digital Transformation.12+ years across education, technology, travel, government projects and emerging ventures.
01 · Profile
I understand people. I understand business. I find the problem, build the strategy and make things happen.
Business leader and operator. I lead businesses, products and projects — from strategy and partnerships to teams, technology and day-to-day execution. My strength is moving between the big picture and the details needed to make an idea work.
I love solving problems. I love making things happen.
Give me a business, a product or a difficult problem, and my first instinct is to understand what is holding it back, where the opportunity is and what needs to happen next.
At the heart of my work is understanding people, what they need, what influences their decisions and what makes them take action.
I use technology and AI to think faster, test ideas, understand problems and build better solutions.
My experience spans education, travel, technology, startups and public-sector projects, with a consistent focus on solving problems and turning ideas into execution.
My journey started in Computer Science & Engineering at Musaliar College of Engineering, Pathanamthitta. I left the course to found Root 5 Solutions, and I have been building ever since.
In government projects, strategy has to work beyond presentations and deliver in the real world.
I enjoy finding a way forward when the answer isn’t obvious.
How I Think
- 01
Find the Problem
Understand what is stopping growth.
- 02
Find the Opportunity
Identify where the business can move next.
- 03
Make It Happen
Turn the strategy into execution.
- 12+Years building and leading businesses, products and projects
- ₹1 Cr+Sponsorship mobilised
- 1 lakh+SWAMI chatbot users within three weeks of launch
- 800 → 25,100+Social media community growth at the Sanju Samson Foundation
02 · Expertise
From strategy to execution.
01Business & Strategy
Finding the problem, the opportunity and the direction.
- Business Strategy
- Project Proposals
- Stakeholder Management
- Campaign Strategy
02Business Development
Building partnerships, sponsorships and new opportunities.
- Business Development
- Partnerships
- Sponsorship Mobilisation
- Lead Generation
- Customer Acquisition
03Operations & Execution
Turning strategy into real-world execution.
- Business Operations
- Project Planning & Execution
- Team Leadership
- Government Project Coordination
- G2C & B2C Service Delivery
- Election Operations
04Digital Transformation & AI
Turning ideas into digital services and smarter workflows.
- Digital Transformation
- AI-Powered Product Initiatives
- CRM Implementation
- Digital Governance Initiatives
05Product Development
Taking digital products from concept to launch.
- Digital Product Strategy
- Mobile Application Projects
- Product Requirements
- Technology Partner Coordination
06Marketing & Growth
Building brands, reaching audiences and generating demand.
- Digital Marketing
- Brand Strategy
- Content Strategy
- Social Media Management
- PR & Communication
- Performance Tracking
03 · Experience
Building, leading and delivering.
Apr 2026 — Present
Bahrain
General ManagerCurrent
Santa Monica Study Abroad & Santa Monica Tours & Travels — Bobsco Holding / Bobsco IT Solutions
- Run day-to-day operations across the study-abroad and travel businesses — sales, admissions, marketing and customer experience.
- Lead the team and drive business development, CRM, lead management and the sales process.
- Lead new ventures and digital product initiatives, including Husniq.
May 2025 — Nov 2025
Manager
Sanju Samson Foundation
- Ran sponsorships, athlete support, events, education drives and infrastructure projects for the foundation.
- Managed its social media, website and statutory compliance in-house.
2011 — Apr 2025
Manager
Akshaya Centre Vennikulam
- Managed e-governance services for citizens and businesses — Aadhaar, certificates, licences and digital payments.
- Ran centre administration and finances, and coordinated with government departments.
Selected Marketing Campaigns
Kottakkal Arya Vaidyasala
- Directed and produced an advertisement featuring a professional actor, contributing to a reported 30% increase in business.
- Created a reel that crossed 8 lakh+ organic views within 2–3 days.
Apr 2020 — Present
Managing Committee MemberCurrent
Indian Red Cross Society
- Coordinate medical camps, awareness drives and community programmes in underserved and tribal regions.
Jan 2019 — 2021
Core Team — Flagship Initiatives
District Collectorate, Pathanamthitta
- Supported District Collector P. B. Nooh IAS on flagship initiatives, including Vote Smart and Project Happiness.
- Supported COVID-19 early-response planning and flood-relief coordination across the district.
Oct 2013 — Jan 2019
Founder
Root 5 Solutions
- Founded and led the app studio behind the GKSF, KTDC, Kerala Lottery and Vote Smart apps.
- Selected for the Facebook Start Program; built a team of digital marketing specialists.
Sep 2015 — Dec 2016
Associate Programme Facilitator
UNCTAD — United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
- Selected among 60 students in Kerala for the UNCTAD–Empretec India Programme, and one of two from Kerala chosen for the advanced workshop in Kolkata.
- Supported training delivery under UNCTAD’s Empretec entrepreneurship framework.
04 · Campaign Strategy
Strategy, voter insights and data-driven campaign planning.
Some of my most challenging strategy work has happened in election campaigns.
I have been part of core strategy discussions where we studied voter segments, identified priority areas, developed campaign ideas, evaluated communication approaches and used AI-assisted analysis to support decision-making.
Case study 01 · 2024 · Lok Sabha
Anto Antony MP, Pathanamthitta
Campaign Strategy & Digital Marketing
Worked as part of the campaign strategy team, contributing ideas around voter targeting, campaign communication, digital strategy and constituency-level planning.
I was involved in discussions around where to focus campaign efforts, how to reach different voter segments and how technology and AI-assisted analysis could support campaign decision-making.
Outcome
2024 Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha Election
Won by a margin of 66,119 votes.
Case study 02 · 2026 · Kerala Assembly
Adv. Varghese Mammen MLA, Thiruvalla
Campaign Strategy & Voter Targeting
Worked as part of the core campaign strategy team for Adv. Varghese Mammen during the Thiruvalla Assembly election campaign.
The campaign involved a highly competitive contest against Mathew T. Thomas, an established MLA and experienced political leader.
My involvement included strategic discussions around voter segmentation, constituency-level targeting, identifying priority areas, campaign positioning, communication strategy and the use of AI-assisted analysis to support campaign planning and decision-making.
Outcome
Adv. Varghese Mammen emerged victorious in Thiruvalla, defeating sitting MLA Mathew T. Thomas, who finished third.
Won by a margin of 10,146 votes.
Election campaigns reinforced one of marketing’s most important principles: understand the audience before deciding what to say, where to say it and how to reach them.
Campaign Skills
- Voter Segmentation
- Targeting
- Campaign Strategy
- AI-Assisted Analysis
- Digital Communication
05 · Selected Projects
Products and programmes that shipped.
Husniq
Beauty-Tech Platform · Product Strategy & Development · Bahrain
Beauty, booked beautifully — two connected apps for beauty customers and the salons that serve them.
Highlights
- Leading product strategy, business model and development of Husniq — two connected apps, Husniq – Salon Booking and Husniq Salon – Business, both now live on Google Play.
- Customer App: nearby salons with transparent pricing, salon or at-home booking, AI face and skin analysis, memberships and reward points.
- Salon Partner App: bookings, revenue, staff, scheduling and reviews in one dashboard, with every booking flowing between the two apps in real time.
More detailsFewer details
- Launched in Bahrain, with a GCC expansion roadmap.
SWAMI AI Chatbot
AI Multilingual Assistant · District Administration, Pathanamthitta · with Muthoot Finance
A WhatsApp-based AI assistant and 24/7 emergency line for Sabarimala pilgrims, in six languages.
Highlights
- Led end-to-end development of SWAMI, a WhatsApp-based AI assistant for the 80 lakh+ pilgrims who visit Sabarimala each season, built for the Pathanamthitta District Administration.
- Answers in six languages on timings, accommodation, temples and travel — no app needed, just a message to 6238 00 8000.
- Doubles as a 24/7 emergency line to Emergency Operation Centres, which typically respond within five minutes.
More detailsFewer details
- Secured ₹1 crore in sponsorship from the Muthoot Group across two seasons (₹50 lakh in 2024 and ₹50 lakh in 2025), funding a statewide awareness drive that included 15 lakh+ pocket cards.
- Users within three weeks of launch
- 1 lakh+Users within three weeks of launch
- Users found it useful
- 9 in 10Users found it useful
- Emergency response time
- < 5 minEmergency response time
- Languages, one WhatsApp number
- 6Languages, one WhatsApp number
Lost children, reunited
When children were separated from their group at the shrine, the adults raised it on SWAMI. The control room traced them with the police and reunited them without delay.
A bus fire, reported first
A KSRTC bus fire on the pilgrim route was first reported through SWAMI, letting Fire & Rescue reach the spot quickly — no casualties.
Trusted from week one
Within days of going live it had already served more than 10,000 users and assisted over 20 emergencies — from medical cases to vehicle breakdowns.
Watch the story
In the headlines
In the press
Select any clipping to read it in full.
Sanju Samson Foundation
Sports, Education & Community Impact · Thiruvananthapuram
Turning a foundation’s goodwill into on-the-ground results for young athletes, students and families.
Highlights
- Energy Zone, Kerala State School Games (23–28 October 2025): served about 2,000 student athletes, secured a ₹50,000 sponsor and negotiated ₹30,000 in waived charges.
- Athlete support: arranged a full ₹1.88 lakh sponsorship for a young footballer, plus shoe sponsorships and Puma kits for adopted athletes.
- Digital growth: grew the following from 800 to 25,100 in-house and launched the foundation website within two days.
More detailsFewer details
- Project Vidyarambham: the foundation’s flagship education drive (see next project).
- Infrastructure and housing: started the renovation of St. Mary’s cricket ground, Vizhinjam, and supported a family home in Kannur to 90% completion.
- Governance: completed FY 2024–25 statutory compliance and TAN and NGO Darpan registration, and prepared CSR proposals.
- Student athletes served at the State School Games
- 2,000Student athletes served at the State School Games
- Sponsorship mobilised for one athlete
- ₹1.88LSponsorship mobilised for one athlete
Project Vidyarambham
Education Drive · Sanju Samson Foundation
The Sanju Samson Foundation’s flagship back-to-school drive for children from coastal and low-income families.
Highlights
- Planned and delivered the drive end to end — from needs assessment and procurement to logistics and the event day.
- St. Mary’s HSS, Vizhinjam (29 May 2025): 100 school bags, 100 pairs of shoes and a full cricket kit.
- Mezhuveli Anganwadi (3 June 2025): 70 bags, at an event attended by Health Minister Veena George and the District Collector.
More detailsFewer details
- Saved about ₹2.57 lakh by sourcing directly from wholesale dealers.
- School bags distributed
- 170School bags distributed
- Pairs of shoes for students
- 100Pairs of shoes for students
- Saved through wholesale sourcing
- ₹2.57LSaved through wholesale sourcing
Sanju Samson FoundationFounded by Indian cricketer Sanju Samson, the foundation nurtures young talent through sport, education and welfare across Kerala — from Project Vidyarambham and athlete sponsorships to its cricket academy in Thiruvananthapuram.
sanjusamsonfoundation.org ↗GKSF Mobile App
Grand Kerala Shopping Festival 2014–15 · Department of Tourism, Kerala
The official companion app for the State Government’s Grand Kerala Shopping Festival 2014–15.
Highlights
- Developed the official app for the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival 2014–15, the State Government’s 45-day shopping carnival, with Idea Cellular as telecom partner.
- Festival details, an in-app quiz with stays at KTDC premier hotels as prizes, and 200 MB of free data for Idea customers.
- Most early downloads came from non-resident Keralites; covered by The New Indian Express, Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhumi.
- Downloads in the first week
- 3,218Downloads in the first week
- Rating on Google Play
- 4.5 / 5Rating on Google Play
- Downloads, Business category
- #2Downloads, Business category
- Downloads from the GCC
- 1,000+Downloads from the GCC
In the press
Select any clipping to read it in full.
Vote Smart Pathanamthitta
Election App · District Election Office, Pathanamthitta · Lok Sabha Elections 2019
A booth-level election information app for Pathanamthitta voters, built for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Highlights
- Created Vote Smart, the first app of its kind in Kerala, to raise voter turnout in Pathanamthitta during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
- Booth-wise voter numbers, Booth Level Officer details, facilities, contacts and GPS locations, plus guidance for assisting voters with disabilities.
- Ran a daily live quiz (6–9 pm until polling day) and a ₹25,000 turnout-prediction prize, with sponsorship secured for the prizes.
More detailsFewer details
- Led the Root5 Solutions team, with co-founders Abhishek Raj and S. Shyamon, that built the app; launched by District Collector Shri P. B. Nooh IAS.
- Election information app of its kind in Kerala
- 1stElection information app of its kind in Kerala
- Quiz, 6 – 9 pm until polling day
- DailyQuiz, 6 – 9 pm until polling day
- Prize for predicting the turnout
- ₹25,000Prize for predicting the turnout
In the press
Select any clipping to read it in full.
Project Happiness
Social Welfare · District Collector’s Initiative, Pathanamthitta · with Kudumbashree
Bringing safety, company and a roof overhead to the most vulnerable people of my home district.
Highlights
- A District Collector’s initiative to protect people living alone or in isolated places, starting with senior citizens.
- Worked with Kudumbashree on house visits to identify those most at risk, and paired each person with a college volunteer who visits or calls every week.
- Built 10 safe homes for families living in unsafe conditions — all now complete and handed over.
More detailsFewer details
- Led digital fundraising and volunteer mobilisation for the programme.
- Homes built and handed over
- 10Homes built and handed over
- Volunteer visit or call for every person
- WeeklyVolunteer visit or call for every person
- College volunteer for every person
- 1 : 1College volunteer for every person
Watch the story
From the field
01 / 07
In the press
Select any clipping to read it in full.
Election Webcasting
Election Commission of India · District Administration, Pathanamthitta
Real-time monitoring of every polling booth in Pathanamthitta district on election day.
Highlights
- Managed district-wide election webcasting — live-streaming and real-time polling-booth monitoring for district and state officials.
- Coordinated technical and field teams to keep every booth live through polling day.
KTDC Mobile App
Mobile App · Kerala Tourism Development Corporation
A pocket guide to Kerala Tourism Development Corporation properties for travellers across Kerala.
Highlights
- Built the official KTDC app, listing every KTDC hotel, resort and motel with photo galleries, property details and Google Maps locations.
- Made it easy for travellers to discover and plan stays at KTDC properties across Kerala.
Kerala Tourism Development CorporationKTDC is the Government of Kerala’s hospitality arm under the Department of Tourism. Since 1966 it has run many of the state’s best-loved heritage hotels, resorts and motels — more than 40 properties — as the official host to God’s Own Country.
ktdc.com ↗Kerala State Lottery Results App
Android App · Root5 Solutions · Kerala State Lotteries
An Android app for official Kerala State Lottery results, inaugurated by the Chief Minister in January 2016.
Highlights
- Co-developed the “Kerala State Lottery Results” Android app at Root5 Solutions, a start-up incubated at Musaliar College of Engineering, Pathanamthitta.
- Published official results the moment each draw was announced, with instant ticket-number search and details of the Karunya Benevolent Fund and bumper lotteries.
06 · Recognition
Awards & honours.
- 2025
Appreciation Certificate — District Collector & District Magistrate, Pathanamthitta
Recognised for contributions to public administration, digital innovation, community initiatives and coordination of the SWAMI Chatbot and related public outreach programmes.
- 2023 & 2024
Kerala State e-Governance Award — Third Place, Best Akshaya Centre
Excellence in citizen-service delivery and digital governance impact, two years running.
- 2022
Certified Specialist in Digital Marketing — 2nd Rank
Ranked second in the 260-hour programme by ICT Academy of Kerala with NORKA ROOTS (October 2021 – March 2022).
- 2014
Young Innovation Award
Presented by Hon’ble Tourism Minister A. P. Anilkumar for contributions to technology-driven public initiatives.
- 2014
GKSF App Recognition
Acknowledged by Hon’ble Chief Minister Oommen Chandy for excellence in mobile app development and digital innovation.
07 · Community
Orthodox Christian Youth Movement (OCYM)
2010 — PresentLong-standing member involved in youth-led community-development and social-service programmes.
Entrepreneurship Development Club
2012 — 2014CEO of the college club — led student entrepreneurship initiatives, innovation events and skill-development activities across campus.