Part 1: The Journey Inward
A Quiet Beginning in Kanpur
Born and raised in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Shobhit Singh was surrounded by the expected trappings of Indian urban life-academic rigor, business-minded family expectations, and a culture that prizes corporate success.
After completing his formal education and gaining some early professional experience, Singh followed a path familiar to many Indian professionals. But beneath the surface, he was wrestling with deeper questions-ones that couldn’t be answered by promotions or paychecks.
“Even while working in the corporate world, I sensed a void. The external success didn’t match the internal silence I was craving,”
Singh recalled in an interview with The Economic Times.
A Turn Toward the Spiritual
At age 26, Singh made a decision that shocked many around him: he stepped away from his budding career to live in an ashram in Rishikesh, a city known globally for yoga, spiritual seekers, and Vedic scholarship.
He joined the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram, once visited by The Beatles and now a place where serious students of Eastern philosophy go to immerse themselves in Vedic teachings.
There, Singh studied Vedic management-an approach rooted in ancient Indian texts like the Bhagavad Gita, which teaches leadership through responsibility (dharma), action (karma), and service (seva).
Singh spent his days in meditation, scripture study, and self-reflection. His intention wasn’t to escape the world but to better understand it-and himself.
“Spirituality is not merely rituals or seclusion… it is a way of life that can and should be integrated into our everyday life,”
Singh said in an Economic Times feature in 2021.
The Return: Bridging Two Worlds
Eventually, due to family responsibilities, Singh returned home.
But this wasn’t a return to the same old grind. He brought back with him a transformed mindset, shaped by stillness, self-awareness, and ancient teachings.
He realized something profound: that the principles he had learned in the ashram weren’t just for monks-they were deeply relevant to business.
- Leadership, he saw, could be rooted in humility, not hierarchy.
- Decision-making could come from clarity, not urgency.
- Profit could coexist with purpose.
Launching Stone Sapphire India Pvt Ltd
In 2016, Singh partnered with business associates to launch Stone Sapphire India Pvt Ltd, a company focused on eco-conscious, child-safe toys and stationery. Their flagship brand, Skoodle, would soon grow into a household name among Indian parents seeking safe, innovative, and ethically made children’s products.
Singh brought his Vedic values to the business table-emphasizing long-term trust over short-term gains, mindful hiring over flashy résumés, and customer experience over cost-cutting.
While not overtly spiritual in branding, Singh’s leadership style was unmistakably shaped by his time in Rishikesh. Colleagues have described him as calm under pressure, deeply empathetic, and unusually focused on building a values-driven culture.
“I try to implement the learnings from my spiritual journey in corporate life-empathy, humility, and staying calm under pressure,”
Singh told The Weekend Leader in a profile interview.
Part 2: Leading With Values in a Competitive Market
Building a Company on Principles
When Shobhit Singh co-founded Stone Sapphire India Pvt. Ltd. in 2016, he wasn’t aiming to disrupt the toy industry with flashy technology or viral campaigns. His approach was quieter-but no less ambitious.
He wanted to build a company where values mattered as much as valuation.
From day one, Singh emphasized that ethics, trust, and long-term impact would be non-negotiable foundations for the business. These weren’t just idealistic principles from his monastic background-they were guiding pillars for real-world decisions.
“We ensure that every product we design or market is built around child safety and eco-consciousness,”
Singh said in an interview with The Weekend Leader.
His team launched Skoodle, a brand dedicated to non-toxic, sustainable toys and art supplies. In an industry often dominated by plastic imports and price wars, Skoodle positioned itself differently-with a focus on quality, safety, and Indian manufacturing.
Bringing Vedic Thinking Into Business Operations
While Singh never branded his company as a “spiritual business,” his leadership style reflects the Vedic principles he absorbed during his years at the Rishikesh ashram.
Here’s how those principles have translated into tangible business practices:
1. Seva (Service) as Business Ethic
In interviews, Singh has emphasized that a business should exist to serve society, not just maximize profits. That service mindset is evident in:
- Eco-friendly materialsin Skoodle’s products
- Transparent communication with parents and retailers
- A commitment to manufacturing locally to support Indian labor
“The idea is not just to build a brand, but to build trust,”
Singh said in a YourStory profile.
2. Calm Decision-Making Over Crisis Mode
While many entrepreneurs pride themselves on rapid response and high-pressure tactics, Singh leads with deliberation and emotional stability.
His team has noted in multiple interviews that he’s known for staying calm under pressure, encouraging employees to think long-term instead of reacting to temporary market shifts.
This mindset likely stems from his years of meditation and Vedic study, where detachment and clarity are seen as prerequisites for wise action.
3. Ethics in Growth
Stone Sapphire India has scaled rapidly, but not at the cost of its values.
According to reports in DNA India and BusinessWorld, Skoodle has grown into a ₹120 crore (~USD $15 million) company-without compromising on product quality or employee wellbeing.
Singh’s leadership has been praised for combining modern strategy with traditional Indian wisdom, making him a respected figure in both startup and spiritual circles.
Industry Recognition and Real Results
Singh’s leadership has helped Skoodle gain recognition across India’s competitive toy industry. Notable milestones include:
- Distribution in major Indian retail chains
- Partnerships with eco-conscious institutions and educational platforms
- Growing consumer trust through IS 9873 safety certificationsand sustainability claims
In an interview with The Economic Times, Singh explained the mission behind the growth:
“The purpose of business, to me, is not just wealth creation but also value creation-personal, societal, and ecological.”
A Workplace Built on Respect and Alignment
While much of the media coverage focuses on the business side of Skoodle, Singh has also emphasized building a values-aligned team.
Though he doesn’t publicly share hiring practices, he’s been clear in interviews that character, trust, and alignment with purpose are more important than just technical skills.
Team members have described him as:
- A patient listener
- Someone who values collective successover individual spotlight
- A leader who fosters low-stress, high-focus work environments
The Bigger Picture: Redefining Leadership
Shobhit Singh isn’t evangelizing a new business religion-but his story represents a growing shift in what founders aspire to be.
He’s among a new wave of entrepreneurs who believe that:
- Inner developmentis not a distraction from business-it’s an advantage
- Leaders don’t have to yell or pressure to be effective
- Scaling with integrity is possible, even in competitive sectors
Part 3: Redefining Success-A Legacy Rooted in Values
Redefining What Success Means
For most business leaders, success is measured in revenue, market share, or investor returns. For Shobhit Singh, success carries a broader definition.
As CEO of Stone Sapphire India Pvt. Ltd., he has led his company to impressive financial heights-reports suggest a turnover of ₹120 crore (~US$15 million) for their flagship brand, Skoodle. But Singh views these numbers as a byproduct of something deeper: alignment with values.
In interviews with The Economic Times and YourStory, he consistently frames business as a platform for value creation, not just wealth extraction.
“The purpose of business, to me, is not just wealth creation but also value creation-personal, societal, and ecological,”
Singh said in The Economic Times.
Leaving a Legacy Beyond Products
Singh isn’t aiming to be a household name or a startup celebrity. His vision is more timeless-build something that reflects the best of both ancient wisdom and modern opportunity.
That legacy includes:
- Offering safe, sustainable toysthat support children’s development
- Providing dignified workthrough domestic manufacturing and ethical supply chains
- Setting an exampleof what values-based leadership looks like in action
His brand, Skoodle, continues to expand not just by gaining customers, but by earning trust-a rare currency in any industry.
What He Tells Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Singh has become a sought-after voice among young professionals looking to integrate purpose into their business journey. Though he doesn’t conduct official courses or masterminds, his interviews offer consistent, actionable advice.
His key messages include:
- Know why you want to build: Without inner clarity, even external success will feel hollow.
- Lead with humility, not hierarchy: People follow authenticity more than authority.
- Grow at the right pace: “Faster” isn’t always “better”-depth matters too.
- Use business as a vehicle, not a destination: Entrepreneurship can be a powerful way to serve, if driven by the right intent.
A Monk’s Influence in a Modern World
Though Singh no longer lives in an ashram, his time in Rishikesh continues to shape how he moves through the world.
He meditates daily.
He prioritizes self-reflection before strategy.
He leads with calm-even when the market is noisy.
This spiritual discipline is not ornamental-it’s foundational. It’s what allows him to navigate challenges without losing his center, and to scale a business without scaling stress.
“Meditation brings clarity, and that clarity shapes better business decisions,”
Singh noted in The Weekend Leader.
A Model for Conscious Capitalism?
Shobhit Singh’s story arrives at a time when more entrepreneurs are questioning the cost of the hustle. Burnout, disillusionment, and toxic startup culture are prompting many to seek alternatives to hyper-growth and ego-driven leadership.
Singh’s success shows that there is room-and demand-for another model:
- One that blends discipline with compassion
- One where values aren’t sacrificed for scale
- One where business becomes a form of service
While Singh does not explicitly label himself a champion of “conscious capitalism,” his lived example fits the ethos: profitable, responsible, purpose-driven.
Final Thoughts
In a marketplace flooded with noise, Singh offers a rare signal: you don’t have to lose yourself to lead a great company.
His journey from ashram student to CEO proves that stillness and strategy are not opposites-they are powerful allies.
And in a world chasing speed, Singh reminds us that depth still matters.
His is not just a story of transformation.
It’s an invitation.
Verified Sources Referenced:
- The Economic Times(2021): “Former monk leads Skoodle to ₹120 crore turnover”
- YourStory: “How Skoodle became a fast-growing Indian toy brand”
- The Weekend Leader: “Spiritual values shaping startup leadership”
- DNA India: “From spiritual path to stationery empire”