Successful Career in Business:  Meet Alumnus Jatin Sanghrajka

Jatin Sanghrajka has taken what he learned at Alliant and built a successful business. He's the founder of Furaha Trading Company, which imports premium tea and coffee from Kenya and Malawi.

Jatin Sanghrajka, a quadrilingual ethnic Indian born and raised in Kenya, is the founder and managing partner of Totally Vanilla Inc., an importer of high quality tea, coffee and macadamia nuts from Kenya and Malawi.

“My education at Alliant taught me the fundamentals of thinking international which is the basis of my business," says Sanghrajka.

Sanghrajka graduated from Alliant’s Center for Undergraduate Education (CUE) with a double degree in International Business and International Relations, where he learned not only positive human interaction, but leadership skills and the possibility and importance of innovation.

“Alliant, most importantly, taught me how to be a true entrepreneur. The focus on leadership and management skills coupled with independent, out of the box thinking led me to the path I am on today. If it was not for Alliant, I would be just another individual or statistic. Alliant teaches you how to be the best."

Sanghrajka credits Alliant not only for his business sense, but for his sense of self. The unique personalities of his peers solidified his own individuality, creating a mutual respect for personal differences among students which translated into Sanghrajka’s career. "I continuously draw from my classroom experiences during group presentations at work. Being able to interact with ease and confidence with people from different backgrounds gives me an edge over many of my competitors."

Like the Marshall Goldsmith School of Management and its focus on “the human side of business,” CUE’s international business and international relations programs teach the importance of interpersonal respect and understanding in a company’s success. CUE also honors the University’s commitment to preparing students for professional careers, employing professors who translate their own business successes into class lessons.
“Professors bring to the table real word experiences that cannot be taught by any text book,” says Sangharajka. “Their knowledge of wide ranging topics is truly exhilarating and it’s in every students benefit to learn from the best which they are in their respective fields.”

“Alliant was a truly unique experience. Meeting people from so many different walks of life created a rich tapestry of cultures and customs. Learning from industry leaders, the personal attention and the rich experience of a close knit institution defined my very core personality which I proudly display every day of my life. The memories of belonging, achievement and unity are truly unique and lacking in today’s world, that is why Alliant is so different. My memories during my tenure will stay with me forever no matter where I go or who I become.”