Early Life
Sunny Varkey was born on April 9, 1957, in Ranni, Kerala, India. His parents, K.S. Varkey and Mariamma Varkey, were both educators. In 1959, the family moved to Dubai, where the young Sunny attended school. At the age of 11, he was already demonstrating entrepreneurial spirit, selling fruit to earn extra money. He completed his O-Levels at St. Mary's Catholic High School and pursued A-Levels at Bembridge School in the UK, later completing them at the British Council in Dubai.
Rise to Success
Varkey's career took off in the education sector. In 1980, he took over Our Own English High School, which his parents had established. Recognizing the demand for quality education in Dubai's growing expatriate community, he expanded the school. In 2000, he founded Global Education Management Systems (GEMS) to facilitate the expansion of his educational ventures. Under Varkey's leadership, GEMS Education became the world's largest private K-12 school network, operating over 80 schools across more than a dozen countries.
Key Business Strategies
Varkey's business acumen and commitment to quality education fueled GEMS Education's growth. His strategies included providing diverse curricula, catering to various socio-economic backgrounds, and maintaining high educational standards. He focused on scaling operations and innovating while ensuring the quality of education, creating significant revenue.
Philanthropy
Varkey is also a dedicated philanthropist. He established the Varkey Foundation in 2010, to address global education challenges. Through the Varkey Foundation, he has initiated programs to support teachers and provide access to education for underprivileged children worldwide. His commitment to philanthropy is further demonstrated by his commitment to The Giving Pledge, where he vowed to donate at least half of his wealth to charitable causes.
