Sachin Purohit
Executive Director
SS Global Merchants Ltd. | Shiv Mondial Trading House DMCC | Dubai UAE
Janam Bhumi:
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Dharma Bhumi:
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Karma Bhumi:
Ivory Coast (West Africa), Dubai (UAE) and India
Reinventing Success Across Continentsa
The ‘Sachin’ Factor: “Everything happens for the good. Don’t stress if you are losing. It was never meant for you.”
THE MAN
Sachin Purohit does not sugarcoat failures. He admits, “I’ve failed. I’ve lost. I’ve restarted. But I’ve never stood still.” This determination comes from an upbringing that saw a large, traditional joint family living under one roof, existing in a rare cohesion that nurtures an ecosystem of interdependence, affection, and shared sacrifice.
Born in 1981 in Jodhpur, Sachin grew up watching his father, Shiv Prasad, a government employee balance the job and multiple side hustles to provide for the family. He recalls, “There were times they didn’t know where the next meal would come from, but he never let us feel it.” His mother, Saraswati, was the family’s strength, encouraging him.
Sachin’s first reinvention came when he chose science in Grade 12. A poor 54 percent was the reality check that he needed. He immediately shifted to commerce, completed his B.Com and MBA from the Aravali Institute of Management, founded by IIM alumni. There were no campus placement offers. Life had once again thrown a curveball. He faced it with gusto; taking him one step closer to his destiny.
THE JOURNEY
One-way ticket in hand, Sachin headed to Mumbai in 2003. He recalls travelling 2.5 hours each day to work. From selling offset printing machines and distributing phone brands, to working in insurance, loans, and later India Bulls and Fullerton Credit, each a lesson in entrepreneurship.
Sachin’s life was on track. Then came the global economic recession in 2008, which hit India’s already faltering finance sector. While gainfully employed, Sachin had refused offers from Africa. Now, opportunity knocked once again, and he accepted a role in Ethiopia, later moving to the Ivory Coast. “I was the country head, but doing clerk work, sales, and procurement. I almost gave up.”
Frustrated, he reached out to the founder of Naukri.com (a job portal) and his resume landed at Olam International, one of the world’s leading agribusinesses. Sachin was not expecting an offer, but he got one, and he turned it down. Sachin stayed in the Ivory Coast to prove himself. He credits his growth to mentor Deepak Lal Roopchandani, owner of the company, “He reshaped me to fit into the world.”
Living in the bush, sourcing timber where every inch of wood played a decision in the pricing process, Sachin mastered entrepreneurship in Africa. He says, “Africa teaches you to look at every tiny detail. If you work like an employee, you won’t survive. Think like an entrepreneur.”
Sachin even braved Ivory Coast’s Civil War, managing operations while rockets launched near his building. Eventually, he joined Olam International as one of their youngest General Managers, but Sachin was meant for greater things. In 2017, Sachin founded SS Global Merchants Ltd in the UK and later Shiv Mondial Trading House DMCC in Dubai.
THE SPIRIT WITHIN
Sachin has constantly reinvented because his safety net has been the close-knit joint family values. He says, “Joint family life taught me how to share, compromise, and lead without ego –‘Jo jhukta hai, wahi badhta hai’ (He who bows respectfully, rises in life). My cousins and I share an unbreakable bond.”
Even his decision to move to Dubai in 2019 was more than just a strategic one. Sachin’s mother had visited Dubai once, and she always wanted to settle there. But the wish remained unfulfilled, she was diagnosed with cancer and passed away. “Here I was building a business in a foreign land and trying to stay strong for the most important person in my life. Not once did she let me see her pain.” Her strength once again became his anchor. “I didn’t give up then, I never will.”
He continues to honour her memory every day through small acts of kindness such as providing meals to construction workers, even as he envisions a cancer hospital in her name and a senior citizens’ home under the family name, which is already doing its bit in India through a small family fund. “Everyone contributes. We help with school fees, support orphanages, sponsor marriages, and hold camps for pilgrims.”
Sachin is steadily working to achieve his goal with a strong sense of belief that “the money you earn should build a legacy. Not just for yourself.”
THE LEGACY
Sachin’s company is a global trading powerhouse, specialising in African-origin products like raw cashew nuts, natural rubber, soya beans, dry ginger, and hibiscus flower, while also importing food items into the UK market. Sachin’s success has been acknowledged with the India Achievers Award in 2020, and the Asian Best Leadership Excellence Award at the Eurasian Business Summit held at the House of Commons, London, in 2023. AsiaOne Magazine recognised him as the Global Indian of the Year 2023–24.
Throughout Sachin’s journey, his wife, Kirti, has been his bedrock. An arranged marriage with a girl who was his childhood neighbour once, turned out to be one of the best decisions in life. They have two children, Rohit and Tavisha, who have grown up across Africa, India, and now Dubai. While Sachin was busy building the business, Kirti was holding the fort at home. “She didn’t just support me but also stood in for me when I couldn’t be there.”
Sachin’s life is still unfolding. There have been so many plot twists one could easily turn it into a movie script. Every scene has an ‘interesting’ arc and in every act, Sachin is the quintessential Bollywood hero, who rises to triumph. That is a legacy few can lay claim to.
MAPPING THE INDIA WITHIN
Bharat: Then and Now
“I grew up in the narrow lanes of Jodhpur, where neighbours were family and values were non-negotiable. India is a global leader. The pace and the packaging has changed, but the country remains rooted in its values.”
Bharatiya Values that Travelled
“Growing up in a joint family taught me to share and put the collective before the individual. I’ve carried those values across continents, infused that spirit into my business decisions, my family life, and my leadership skills.”
Generations Abroad: A New Bharatiya Identity
“We cousins still have a strong bond. Our children are growing up seeing that. They speak English fluently but also know their mother tongue. They touch feet without being told. Our children are building a new Bharatiya identity which is global in outlook but rooted in values.”
Pride, Progress, and the Spirit Of Bharat
“My pride lies in the Indian value of emotional resilience—the ability to absorb setbacks and still smile, to face loss and still give. My personal success is only useful if I can use it to lift others while I rise. That’s when I know I’m truly serving Bharat.”
Dreams for the Youth and Future of Bharat
“India is already the fourth-largest economy in the world. There’s no stopping it from becoming number one. But to get there, we need more unity, more focus on building—not dividing.”
“My advice to the youth is to learn from your parents. Don’t just see their success, learn from their struggles. Understand the value of time, money, and respect.”
BACK TO THE FUTURE – IN FIVE MOMENTS
Food Cravings
THEN
We used to sit cross-legged on the floor, eating together from one kitchen.
NOW
The modern world has made it easy to disconnect with food and togetherness.
Sport Spirit
THEN
Those were the days of simple games with informal lessons in teamwork.
NOW
Today, I find sports are structured but lacking in the spirit of togetherness.
Music Tastes
THEN
Hindi songs of the 80s and 90s were definitely the vibe.
NOW
Even now, I listen to them in the car. I don’t understand today’s songs.
Holiday Life
THEN
A break meant travelling with family, stopping to eat from packed tiffin boxes.
NOW
It is not the same any more. Every kind of luxury and comfort is available, but that warmth is missing.
Leisure Habits
THEN
Street games, sitting in the ‘mohalla’, sharing stories were the norm.
NOW
It is difficult to move beyond the screen and scrolling in today’s digital age.
AKA
Sachin Purohit Executive Director | Executive Director SS Global Merchants Ltd | Sachin Purohit Shiv Mondial Trading House DMCC | Trading Executive Sachin Purohit
