For many, success is defined by financial achievements and corporate accolades. But for Eklavya Chandra, true success lay in making a meaningful impact. After decades of thriving in the corporate world, he walked away from a lucrative career in Dubai to tackle one of India’s most overlooked challenges—the upliftment of its blue-collar workforce.
A global trade veteran with nearly 25 years of experience, Eklavya played a pivotal role in leading businesses across Asia and Africa. As a senior executive at the Phoenix Group, he helped scale the company’s revenues from $50 million to over $3 billion, transforming it into the second-largest rice business in the world. His expertise in digital innovation, sustainability, and risk management made him a key player in global markets.
By all conventional standards, Eklavya had it all—a high-paying job that had an annual package of INR 60 crore, professional recognition, and financial security. Yet, something was missing. The corporate world’s relentless chase for profit and growth left him questioning the deeper impact of his work. He realized that his true calling lay beyond boardrooms and balance sheets.
Determined to create real social change, Eklavya took a leap of faith. He left his corporate career in Dubai and returned to India to launch Saathi, a ‘Profit with Purpose’ technology startup under Greyblue Ventures. Unlike most entrepreneurs chasing high-growth industries, he chose to focus on the blue-collar sector—an area largely ignored by technology and innovation.
Saathi is designed to empower over 1 billion blue-collar workers across India and South Asia by providing digital identity, foundational skilling, job opportunities, financial inclusion, and skill-based social communities. By leveraging AI and cutting-edge technology, Saathi is bridging critical gaps in workforce development, ensuring that blue-collar workers have access to resources and opportunities that were previously out of reach.
Saathi is more than just a workforce platform—it’s a movement. The Saathi Channel serves as a daily source of motivation and education, encouraging individuals to develop skills, overcome challenges, and aspire to a better future. Eklavya believes that businesses can be both profitable and socially transformative, and Saathi is a testament to that vision.
“In the end, success is not about what you accumulate; it’s about what you create for others. That’s what gives life true meaning,” says Eklavya Chandra.
By stepping away from the security of a high-profile corporate job and venturing into an uncharted sector, Eklavya is proving that real impact comes from taking bold risks. His journey is a reminder that change happens when individuals challenge the status quo—and that sometimes, the most meaningful work lies where no one else is looking.
