"Loving ourselves allows us to show up in the world so we can love others, uplift others, and make the world a more loving place."
Dedication
This biography is, first and foremost, lovingly and respectfully dedicated to my parents, Mrs. Daneswari Soorjonowa and Mr. Lillcant Soorjonowa, whose sacrifices, values, and unwavering love shaped the very core of who I am.
To my father: though life did not always deal you fairness, you faced every obstacle with quiet strength and dignity. Your courage in the face of hardship and your devotion to our family taught me that true greatness lies not in recognition, but in perseverance. You worked not for applause, but for purpose, and that legacy now lives through me.
To my mother: you were the heartbeat of our home, the soul of our survival. Your sleepless nights, your silent strength, your hands that worked tirelessly to fill our empty plates and pay for our dreams — those moments are etched in every achievement of mine. You are my godmother, my guardian angel, and the guiding light that still leads me forward.
To my brother, Dr. Ajeetsingh Soorjonowa: your journey to India, your wisdom, and your constant support changed the fate of our family. You carried the weight of many, and your guidance has been my moral and intellectual compass. You have not only been a brother but a pillar who held all of us up with quiet generosity.
To Meera Devi Soorjonowa: your presence has always been a source of calm strength. In every chapter of our family’s struggle, you brought grace and resilience.
To my beloved wife, Pooja Boodevi Soorjonowa: your love, patience, and loyalty are the silent forces behind my every step forward. In a life of endless demands, your belief in me has been my place of peace. Our journey together has taught me that true partnership means standing strong in both calm and storm.
To my daughter, Leysha Navelly Loukya Soorjonowa: you are the future I once dreamed of while selling fruits and cutting wood in the forest. You are the hope I carried through every challenge. May this story remind you that even the most difficult paths can lead to beautiful destinations. You are my greatest inspiration to keep striving, keep building, and keep believing.
Phase 1 : The Shining Amidst Hardship
"f you want something out of life you have to go out there and get it, because it is not just going to be given to you"
Born on September 19, 1970, in a small village in Mauritius, Dr. Satyajeet Soorjonowa came into the world amidst hardship and humility. They were five children in their family. Dr. Satyajeet Soorjonowa grew up with his one brother and three sisters in a home where poverty was not just a condition, but a way of life. His father was a bus driver, a man of dignity and perseverance, though often denied employment due to societal prejudice. His mother was a housewife, but in truth, she was much more than that. She was the foundation of the family, a pillar of sacrifice, resilience, and unconditional love. For Dr. Satyajeet Soorjonowa, she was nothing short of a godmother, whose daily struggles became the light that guided him through the darkest of times.
Life was a constant battle. Discrimination and marginalization were deeply rooted in the society they lived in. As children from a poor background, they were often looked down upon, excluded from opportunities, and forced to navigate a world that offered them little support. But Dr. Satyajeet Soorjonowa’s mother never gave up. In fact, she gave everything, her time, her strength, her youth. Many times, the family had to sell their few possessions just to buy food or pay school fees. Their lives were lived one day at a time, and survival was a daily challenge.
Dr. Satyajeet Soorjonowa recalls the early mornings when he would wake up at 5 a.m. to gather fruits from the trees in their yard and head to the market to sell them. The earnings were just enough to cover his bus fare to attend school. The family cooked with firewood, often gathered from the forest, and did their laundry in the river. The routines were harsh and labor-intensive, but the family persevered, sustained by the unwavering strength of their mother and the mutual support among siblings.
From a young age, Dr. Satyajeet Soorjonowa was thrust into the working world. He toiled in sugarcane fields under the sun, sold fruits and vegetables, crafted brooms to sell door to door, and even helped his mother sell the handmade baskets she would weave throughout the night. He understood the value of every rupee, every moment of rest, and every opportunity to learn. It wasn’t just about earning money; it was about survival and dignity.
His elder brother, who earned a scholarship to study in India, would later become a pivotal figure in the family. Upon his return, he took on a fatherly role, guiding, supporting, and advising his siblings. His presence gave renewed hope and direction to the household. He ensured that the family remained united and that each member, especially the younger ones, remained focused on education and hard work.
Phase 2 : The path of Knowledge
"Many of life’s failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."
Education was never just a path to success for Dr. Satyajeet Soorjonowa, it was his lifeline. In a world that gave him every reason to surrender, learning became his quiet rebellion, his tool of transformation. From the small village school where he endured poverty and discrimination to international lecture halls, Dr. Satyajeet Soorjonowa’s journey through education was marked by grit, sacrifice, and unwavering ambition.
He began his academic journey in a public primary school where even the classroom was a reminder of inequality. Children from poor families were often treated differently, with subtle, and sometimes blatant, reminders that they were not expected to amount to much. Yet, instead of letting this wound his spirit, Dr. Satyajeet Soorjonowa used it as motivation. Every slight, every doubt cast upon him became fuel for his dream of rising above his circumstances.
Despite the early mornings spent selling fruits in the market and the long walks to fetch water or firewood, Dr. Satyajeet Soorjonowa remained committed to his studies. He attended St. Andrews School, where he began to stand out, not for privilege, but for perseverance. At a time when most children would give in to fatigue, he showed remarkable discipline. Often, he would study by candlelight late into the night after a full day of labor. Even with the noise of hardship around him, he listened to the quiet call of education, convinced that it would one day change his life.
As he progressed through secondary school, he passed his Higher School Certificate (HSC) under the University of Cambridge, a major milestone that few from his background could dream of achieving. It was a victory not just for him, but for his entire family, especially his mother, whose sacrifices had brought him this far. That success gave him the confidence to dream bigger, and he set his eyes on the hospitality industry, an area where he believed he could make a meaningful contribution.
His first significant step into higher education came when he earned a Diploma in Hotel Management from the University of Mauritius (1991–1994). The program was demanding, but Dr. Satyajeet Soorjonowa embraced it with the same determination that had defined his life thus far. With no luxury to fall back on, he approached every lesson, every training session, with total seriousness. He was not just acquiring knowledge, he was building a future.
Years later, driven by a desire to deepen his managerial knowledge and expand his international exposure, he made a bold decision that would change the course of his life forever. Dr. Satyajeet Soorjonowa is among the first Mauritians to have an MBA in Hospitality & Tourism Management since 2000 full-time at the University of North London (North London Metropolitan University). He was one of the first Mauritians to study full-time in London for this degree. For a boy who once sold brooms and worked in sugarcane fields, studying in one of the world’s leading cities was both a personal triumph and a historic moment for his family.
Phase 3 : From Trainee to Trailblazer
"Believe you can and you’re halfway there."
When Dr. Satyajeet Soorjonowa entered the professional world, he brought with him more than just academic qualifications, he carried an indomitable spirit forged in hardship, sharpened by education, and fueled by purpose. His career journey, spanning over three decades, is a living testimony to the power of perseverance. From humble beginnings as a trainee to the heights of CEO and Managing Director, Dr. Satyajeet Soorjonowa has not only shaped his own destiny but has left a meaningful mark on the hospitality industry across Africa.
His first professional role came in 1991 to 1994 when he joined Le Maritim Hotel as a Management Trainee. For many, this would have been a starting point. For Dr. Satyajeet Soorjonowa, it was a battlefield. With high expectations and little room for error, he dove into the operations, learning every aspect of hotel management, from front office services to housekeeping. He was not satisfied with just performing well; he was driven to understand the soul of the industry. He also worked as a part-time taxi driver from 1999 to 2001. Not only this, he also joined Le Victoria Hotel from 1994 to 1999 and from 2001 to 2002 he worked at The Oberoi Hotel.
By 2002, he had earned a promotion to Front Office Manager and Executive Housekeeper at Le Mauricia Hotel, where he remained until 2004. This role solidified his reputation as a competent leader with a hands-on approach and a deep commitment to service excellence.
His career took a further leap when he became Executive Assistant Manager at La Plantation Resort & Spa from June 2007 to December 2008. Here, he managed complex hotel operations, oversaw guest experiences, and implemented systems that improved service standards.
However, even as he climbed the ladder, he remained deeply connected to his humble origins. Every decision he made was grounded in empathy, for staff, for clients, and for communities.
In 2009, as the global recession hit, many in the hospitality sector faced uncertainty. Rather than fear change, Dr. Satyajeet Soorjonowa embraced it. He accepted a new challenge as Training Manager at BAI – Apollo Bramwell Hospital and Ireko Facilities Ltd. (2009–2011), where he helped reengineer service delivery models within a healthcare setting. This role broadened his understanding of service industries beyond hotels and honed his strategic thinking.