Raul Rai, co-founder of Nicobar was raised in India but spent half his life away, studying and working in New York, London, and Boston. This exposure and appreciation for different ways of working and being in the East and West led him to create Nicobar with his wife, Simran Lal (also a SIYLI teacher). Nicobar is a mindful lifestyle brand driven by a desire "to shape culture through inspiring India to modernize without necessarily westernizing." Raul is a deep believer in culture and history and embraced Search Inside Yourself to share and embed mindful leadership in the culture at Nicobar. Prior to founding Nicobar, Raul spent about 20 years in Investment Banking and Private Equity based in NY, London and Mumbai with organisations like Goldman Sachs, UBS, Fidelity and General Atlantic. He obtained a BA in Computer Science and Economics from Boston University, followed by an MBA at Harvard Business School, where he graduated as a Baker Scholar. Raul is a dedicated sports fan, and regularly practices golf, squash, skiing, and marathon running. A former member of the Young Presidents Organization, Raul currently serves on the board of VECV (Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles) as well as Nicobar Design Ltd. He has immersed himself in the study of Vedanta and Buddhist philosophy. Nicobar is a shared dream for both Raul and his wife Simran, who heads Goodearth and the recently-launched Paro.