A Glass, A Chair, and A Question That Changed Everything
“How can we make learning as easy as picking up a glass of water?”
This is the kind of question that Suraj Khatri asks and answers for many. For the majority of us, it is educational systems. For him, it is a purposefully designed, bounded, evolving ecosystem created and powered by human empathy, vision, and technology. Today, he is not just an educational strategist or EdTech innovator. He’s also a force behind many of the most impactful educational reforms across the UAE and beyond.
At Mindbase Education, Suraj is currently leading innovation and shaping the academic programming for Tutor Doctor UAE and is also the Advisory Board Chair for Express English. Suraj has influence on over 5 continents and a track record that combines strategic insight with authentic leadership to change how the world learns.
Background and Formative Years: Wings in Purpose, Roots in Accuracy
Suraj, who was born and reared in India, started his career in audit rooms rather than classrooms. He was an early academic and extracurricular standout who debated, led, and challenged the status quo. He graduated with a degree in commerce from H.R. College of Commerce & Economics (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India)
As a Senior Consultant at Mahajan & Aibara, he honed his financial savvy. Later, he expanded his expertise internationally with PKF International in the United Arab Emirates. The clarity of operational frameworks, the discipline of governance, and the accuracy of accounting all served as stepping stones. However, something was lacking.
Purpose was that “something.”
The Entrepreneurial Path: From Data to Developing Minds
As the CEO of Water and Shark Middle East in 2019, Suraj led business consulting services in the United Arab Emirates with ferocity and transparency, as the name of the company implies. W&S Middle East expanded quickly under his direction and won awards from the industry, such as “CEO of the Year” and “Excellence in Finance.”
However, his shift toward education marked a turning point in his life. He established tailored student support programs, reinforced tutoring frameworks that were in line with policies, and forged significant partnerships with government organizations after taking over as Head of Operations for Tutor Doctor UAE in 2021.
Mindbase Education followed.
Mindbase had only five students when Suraj joined in 2022. More than 13,000 students are currently enrolled in classes in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. With more than 250 professionals working for him, Suraj has not only expanded the company but also transformed it by implementing AI-based mentoring and VR-based public speaking courses.
Today’s Business: Mindbase and Beyond
Mindbase Education is now acknowledged as a platform that prioritizes students and is focused on the future. Its capacity to change is more important to its success than enrollmentfigures alone. Through industry-integrated education, mobility programs, and scholarship facilitation, Mindbase is preparing students for life, not just exams.
Suraj creates frameworks at Mindbase’s Senior Management Office that complement the country’s workforce objectives and the UAE’s larger knowledge economy vision. In order to rethink inclusive, scalable, and technologically integrated educational models, he collaborates with ministries, leaders in higher education, and legislators.
In the meantime, he supports the development of English proficiency at Express English by providing real-world, contextual communication frameworks designed for today’s global learners.
The Future: Creating for the Upcoming Generation
Suraj has a clear vision: to build education ecosystems that are sustainable and extend beyond the institutions. He is constructing the necessary infrastructure because he thinks that education needs to change from being transactional to being transformative.
What comes next? deeper incorporation of global mentoring, gamification, AI analytics, and emotional intelligence into regular education. In addition, Suraj is mentoring up-and-coming leaders and participating in international discussions on youth development, economic inclusion, and educational reform.
He frequently asks:
How do we equip students for jobs that do not even exist yet?
What is lifelong learning in the post-digital world?
Can learning systems become as intuitive as the tools we use every day?
Certifications and Continuous Learning
Suraj is a lifelong student who has earned a variety of certifications that have allowed him to expand his knowledge base. These consist of:
• Developing Emotional Intelligence (LinkedIn, Jan 2024)
• Leadership Skills for The Future (Project Management Institute, May 2023)
• Organizational Thought Leadership (LinkedIn, May 2023)
• Ultralearning: Accelerate Your Career (LinkedIn/BlinkistSummary, May 2023)
• Mergers & Acquisitions (LinkedIn, Nov 2020)
• Six Sigma Foundations (PMI, Sep 2020)
• Business Management & Organization (NASBE, Aug 2020)
• Solving Business Problems (LinkedIn, Aug 2020)
He is also an Associate Member of The Institute of Financial Accountants and IAB, and was formerly Xero Advisor Certified (2020–2021).
Volunteering and Mentorship
As a Corporate Mentor with the Institute of Risk Management, Suraj contributes outside of the workplace. His dedication to social responsibility continued at Expo 2020 Dubai, where he worked as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Arts and Culture section, assisting in the creation of one of the most diverse cultural events on the planet.
Industry Recognition and Awards
His creative leadership has been acknowledged. Among his most esteemed honors are:
• The Revolutionary Companies to Watch 2021 (Insights Success)
• CEO of the Year 2020 (CEO Review Magazine, UK)
• Excellence in Finance – Water and Shark (FiNextConference & Expo, 2020)
• India’s 40 Under 40 Dynamic Business Leaders (Business Success Magazine)
In conclusion, a legacy is being created.
Suraj Khatri’s transition from finance to education represents a paradigm shift rather than just a professional path. He applied the audit floor’s structured thinking to the innovative chaos of education reform. In addition to empowering students today, he is establishing a standard for leaders, innovators, and educators worldwide.
Suraj states, “We don’t build for today—we build for those who come after us.”
And his real legacy is found in that belief.
To explore more about his transformative work, visit the full profile on CEO Times Magazine.
