Dubai - Not every hero wears a cape. Some wear uniforms. Some carry debt. And some — like Dr. Sijo Mathews — carry both, with a smile.
Today, Dr. Sijo Mathews is celebrated as one of the most trusted financial advisors in the region — a Life Member of the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), a global speaker, mentor, and proud pet dad. But the road to here wasn’t smooth. In fact, it began aboard a warship.
Sailing into Service
Straight out of college, Sijo joined the Indian Navy in 1989. Like many young men with wide-eyed dreams, he imagined a “Top Gun” kind of life — marching around in sparkling dress whites and shiny Ray-Bans, spending evenings sipping cocktails Bond-style on exotic foreign shores.
“Reality?” he laughs. “At sea, it was gritty cotton blues and coveralls — not tuxedos. The whites were only for harbour days — and even then, good luck keeping them white after a full day in the heat, walking around an ex-Russian warship crammed with equipment in every inch of space.” But even so, it was a life he cherishes deeply. “Everything I am today — the discipline, the resilience, the ability to thrive under pressure — it all began there.”
Back to Civvy Street
In 2003, after 15 years of serving the nation, Sijo retired from the Navy. But he quickly realized that being an ex-serviceman with experience alone wouldn’t be enough in a world full of MBAs and corporate buzzwords. To compete, he knew he needed credentials. So, he enrolled in a dual Master’s in Business program in Pune and completed it by 2006.
“The world outside was moving fast,” he says. “And I needed to catch up — degrees, not just discipline.”
Entrepreneurial Adventures and Painful Lessons
Armed with both discipline and education, Sijo ventured into entrepreneurship. His first move was a bold one — opening a non-vegetarian restaurant in an area populated mostly by vegetarian Brahmins. “Like the story of the shoe salesman in a land where no one wears footwear — it worked,” he says. Next came a bakery business that grew into 10 outlets. Things were sweet — literally — until one undocumented deal brought everything crashing down. “I placed more faith in handshakes than contracts,” he reflects. It was a painful lesson.
Telling Untold Stories — At Great Cost
Never one to give up, Sijo teamed up with British producer David Browne of Parachute Pictures. His title was production manager, but in reality, he was carrying heavy film gear and diving deep into India’s dark underbelly. Together, they worked on fearless documentaries about female infanticide, child prostitution, honour killings, and more. “These were stories people didn’t want to hear,” he says. “But they had to be told.”
The work was dangerous, emotionally draining, and mentally scarring. Eventually, the assignments got too risky. “When the danger started rising, Vineetha didn’t want me to continue,” he shares. “It wasn’t fear — it was love. She knew I had already paid a price and didn’t want it to become permanent.”
A Stop-Gap That Became a Calling
In 2009, Sijo came across an opening at an insurance company in India. It was meant to be temporary — a stepping stone to what his mother-in-law described as a “decent job.” The NRI business was booming then. Advisors waited eagerly for holiday seasons, when NRIs would return to visit their families — that’s when the prospecting would begin. It wasn’t easy, but it was a start.
Dubai: Hope, Hardship, and Hustle
By 2010, though he was making an impact, there wasn’t much financial progress. Burnt out and broke, Sijo’s brother in Fujairah arranged a visit visa, and Sijo landed in Dubai. While on that visit, he was introduced to his brother’s circle and managed to do some business. He was soon recruited by a UAE-based insurance broker — even before his visit visa expired. Sijo and Vineetha moved to Dubai in 2010 — not chasing dreams, but fleeing desperation. Vineetha managed to get a short-term contract job in her Bangalore-based company’s Dubai office, which was a blessing while Sijo walked the streets of Gold Souq.
But the UAE insurance market was nothing like what he was told. There were no income tax benefits like in India, and the market was already saturated with agents. The early months were brutal. He walked the streets of Deira’s Gold Souq and Bur Dubai’s textile markets, drenched in sweat. The kindness of strangers — those who offered water, a place to rest, or a simple meal — became unforgettable memories.
Still, kindness alone doesn’t close sales. “You can’t do business when you’re tired and sweaty,” he says. So he started carrying an extra pair of clothes, freshening up at the Gold Souq mosque during lunch, and heading back out to prospect, again and again.
Personal Tragedy Amid New Beginnings
Just 20 days after arriving in the UAE, another blow struck. His mother, who was living in the U.S. with his sister, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She passed away in September 2010, just months after Sijo and Vineetha had moved. “It drained the whole family,” he shares. “We had to sell and sacrifice more than people will ever know, just to make sure she was cared for till the very end.”
People often say men are strong. But Sijo sees it differently. “After she passed, my father was never the same,” he says. Within five years, his father too passed away. “Women are the strength in every family,” he says with deep conviction.
A Bold Step of Protection
In late 2011, Sijo took a decision that would define his journey. He bought a $750,000 life insurance policy — on himself. “I couldn’t really afford it,” he admits, “but I had to. If something happened to me, Vineetha shouldn’t have to face my creditors.” It wasn’t just a policy. It was a promise.
From Agent to Advocate: Rising in the Ranks
Since then, this profession has given him more than he ever imagined. Sijo became a qualifying member of the MDRT — the global benchmark for excellence in financial services. After over a decade of consistent performance, he became a Lifetime MDRT Member, and achieved the elite Top of the Table (TOT) qualification not once, but three times. In 2016, one of his proudest moments arrived — he was selected to be the UAE flag bearer at the MDRT Global Conference in Vancouver.
he COVID Pivot
When the world paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, many advisors struggled to adapt. Sijo didn’t panic — he pivoted. “Everyone was at home, glued to screens,” he explains. “So I got on Zoom — not to sell, but to create awareness, start conversations, and help people think long-term.”
That shift changed everything.
A Voice on Social Media
Since 2023, Sijo’s content — honest, humorous, and relatable — has gained traction on social media. “People take insurance seriously — and yes, it is serious — but there’s also so much funny stuff people do with money,” he laughs. “Sharing those stories helps people laugh, relate, and think.”
In 2024, he was honoured as Insurance Educator of the Year by Zurich International Life.
Life Beyond Business
Today, Sijo conducts awareness talks in corporates, schools, and even living rooms — using storytelling and simple language to help people plan their futures. At home, he and Vineetha live joyfully with their two dogs and four rescued cats — and they care for many more within their compound. Their shared love for animals is a pillar of their life.
Their love for travel, sparked during Navy port calls, has taken them to over 70 countries. From skydiving in the Midwest, bungee jumping in Macau, snorkeling in Thailand, to scuba diving in the Caribbean — they’ve experienced it all, together. At home, Sijo is a closet DJ, spinning tracks for his furry audience of six. He enjoys war movies, spy thrillers, quirky comedies, and an endless stream of self-help books — “to stay sharp and understand Gen Z… or whatever we’re calling them these days,” he jokes.
Giving Back, Staying Grounded
When he’s not working or traveling, you’ll find him involved in Rotary projects, BNI meetings, MDRT gatherings, helping animals, or catching up with his close circle of friends. He recently co-authored a book with leading professionals in the insurance world — something he says wouldn’t have happened without the support of mentors and generous seniors.
“Gratitude isn’t about grand gestures,” he says. “It’s about remembering where you came from and never forgetting the hands that pulled you up.”
Rooted in Relationships
Today, Sijo serves over 400 families — many of whom started as clients and are now more like extended family. “Most of my business comes from referrals,” he shares. “Clients trust me enough to introduce me to their friends and families — and there’s nothing more powerful than that.”
He believes: “It’s easier for a client to become a friend than the other way around.” This belief shines through in the annual appreciation events he hosts — joyful celebrations built on gratitude and connection. “No client is big or small,” he says. “They can buy the same product from anyone. What matters is how you make them feel.”
The Uniform May Have Changed, But the Mission Hasn’t
A devoted follower of Zig Ziglar, one of Sijo’s favourite quotes is: “You can have everything in life that you want, if you just help other people get what they want.” Today, insurance isn’t just a job for Sijo. “It’s a profession, and it’s my lifestyle,” he says. Even though he’s received several lucrative offers over the years, he’s chosen to stay rooted in the journey that gave him everything.
From the warship to the boardroom, from documentary fields to Zoom calls, from borrowed shirts to board seats — Sijo’s life is a story stitched together with grit, gratitude, and grace.
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