Early Influences and Entrepreneurial Spark
Growing up in India, I was surrounded by an environment that valued hard work and business acumen. My father and mother both were running small businesses, and from an early age, I had a firsthand view of what it took to build and run a business. No matter their businesses were small still during my higher studies, I developed a keen interest in entrepreneurship, and this curiosity only grew as I pursued my Bachelor of Commerce degree.
While completing my undergraduate studies, I assisted my family as a part-time worker during my free time or on holidays, learning crucial aspects of sourcing, selling, and team management. These experiences planted the seeds of business thinking in my mind and equipped me with practical skills that would later prove invaluable in my career.
The Gateway to Shipping: My Entry into Shipbroking
After completing my undergraduate degree, I sought a career that combined my interests in business, commerce, and global trade. My motive at that time was to get into an MBA which is specialized in some unique segment and not usual Finance or HR or marketing and that is how I ended up choosing to pursue MBA in Energy Trading while I learned about trading energy commodities and supply chain cycle. My breakthrough came in 2011 when I secured a campus placement as a trainee shipbroker at a reputed Indian shipbroking company. This was my first exposure to the maritime industry, and I quickly realized that shipping was an exciting, dynamic sector with immense opportunities for growth.
In my early days as a trainee, I was thrown into the deep end—negotiating deals, interacting with global clients, and understanding the intricate mechanics of dry bulk shipping. The industry’s fast-paced nature and the ability to facilitate global trade fascinated me.
Taking the Leap: Moving to Dubai
By 2013, I had gained significant experience in shipbroking in India. That’s when my then boss called me and asked if I wanted to shift to Dubai, initially I was hesitant because I had never been outside India before but after thinking a lot I took a leap of faith and moved to Dubai. Dubai, with its strategic location and growing maritime ecosystem, turned out to be an incredible choice.
Working in Dubai allowed me to establish a global network, connect with top-tier clients, and refine my skills as a broker. Over the years, I learnt building strong relationships with clients. These interactions strengthened my confidence and deepened my understanding of the maritime industry from a global perspective.
The Entrepreneurial Dream: Founding LEEWAY Brokers
By 2018 I got married and also got too busy with work, I completely forgot about my dream of starting something of my own. Then one day I thought that I shall leave shipbroking and take a franchise of some fast food restaurant or hair salon, so I decided to leave the job and discussed it with my family while I was also researching about restaurants business, hair salon etc. But one day my wife said that if you really want to take the risk then it’s better to start the business in the domain you know instead of investing and exploring a completely new segment on which you do not have any experience. And with that vision, I founded LEEWAY Brokers DMCC in Dubai.
Starting as a solo entrepreneur, the initial phase was challenging. Establishing credibility, building a client base, and competing with established firms in the market required perseverance. I focused on providing high-quality service, ethical business practices—values that would differentiate LEEWAY from the competition.
Scaling the Business: Growth and Expansion
Through persistence, strategic networking, and delivering consistent results, LEEWAY Brokers began gaining traction. We started working with major clients such as Trafigura, VALE International, ArcelorMittal, Aditya Birla, Agarwal Coal etc. Our ability to efficiently match cargoes with vessels while maintaining transparency and trust helped us establish a strong foothold in the market.
Honestly I was lucky to find good professionals to work with me who shared my vision for growth. By 2025, LEEWAY had grown into a company of 10-12 employees, with an office in India supporting our Dubai operations. I sincerely thank our team members because without their trust and support nothing could be possible.
Key Milestones and Strategic Initiatives
- Industry Recognition & Sponsorships: Our company recently became a gold sponsor for a significant shipping conference going to happen at Geneva, reinforcing our commitment to the industry and solidifying our brand’s credibility among global players.
- LEEWAY Brokers was awarded with ‘Best Freight & Ship Broking Start-Up’ consecutively for two years by MEA Markets, England and also honored with the ‘Best Drybulk Shipbrokers 2024’ award at the prestigious Logistics, Warehouse, and Supply Chain Awards by The Business Concept, UK.
- In the last couple of years I was fortunate to have garnered attention from prominent media outlets within the shipping industry, such as Tradewinds, The Japan Maritime Daily, and The Maritime Vision Podcast. I was invited as a guest to share my entrepreneurial journey on a podcast known as “Success in Dubai” by Acha Nike. I was also a runner-up and received a recognition certificate for the ‘Champion of Diversity’ award category at the Maritime SheEO Awards 2024.
The Road Ahead: Vision for the Future
While LEEWAY has achieved substantial growth, I firmly believe this is just the beginning. My vision is to learn more from the biggest shipbroking companies in the world and one day make LEEWAY as big as they are or maybe bigger than them who knows ha-ha,
We are keen to explore strategic partnerships, and leverage technology to enhance efficiency in shipbroking.
Looking back, the journey from a trainee shipbroker to the Founder & Director of LEEWAY Brokers has been one of resilience, learning, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Every challenge, setback, and success has contributed to shaping the entrepreneur I am today. As I continue navigating the vast oceans of the shipping industry, my commitment to innovation, integrity, and growth remains unwavering.
The journey is far from over, and I am excited about what lies ahead!
