Manu Shah’s American dream first took shape in India in 1957, standing in food subsidy lines as a 12-year-old boy, the ninth of nine children, marveling at U.S.-imported goods and the generosity they represented. After earning an engineering degree from the University of Bombay, he pursued graduate studies at Purdue University, where he and Rika worked hard to adapt to their new country. In 1975, Manu and Rika migrated to the United States from India with a dream to establish a company that would generate employment, forge alliances, and treat people as family. They founded MS International (MSI) in the basement of their home in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with Rika managing the company’s early operations while raising their two young sons. 

The Shahs built MSI into a successful organization with $2.8 billion in revenue, supporting the livelihoods of over 3,000 employees worldwide. The company’s growth was driven by a willingness to reinvent itself, pivoting from granite monuments to premium countertops, quartz surfaces, porcelain tiles, and luxury vinyl, sourcing materials from dozens of countries. MSI now employs thousands, and its biggest customer is Home Depot. Manu has since retired from day-to-day leadership, handing the CEO reins to his sons Raj and Rup, though he remains deeply engaged as a mentor, coach, and what he good-naturedly calls his company’s “Chief Giving Officer.”

Manu and Rika established the Sarva Mangal Family Trust, “let all be happy” in Sanskrit, over 20 years ago, with compassion as their driving force. Their philanthropy spans healthcare, education, and community empowerment across the United States, India, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Most recently in August 2025, the couple made the largest outright cash gift to Providence St. Jude Medical Center to establish the Shah Happiness Center for Cardiovascular Health, expanding advanced cardiac services for Orange County communities.