More Than a Businesswoman—A Believer in Kindness, Equity, and Change
Dr. Malini Saba was born into a modest immigrant family and raised by parents who believed in hard work, discipline, and compassion. They didn’t have much, but they gave her values that shaped her life. They taught her resilience in the face of struggle and empathy for those less fortunate.
As a young girl, she was already showing signs of the woman she would become, offering food, clothes, and books to people in need. These early acts of kindness weren’t photo ops or charity, but they were quiet, consistent gestures of care.
It would be this same quiet determination that would carry her through the toughest challenges in life and business.
An accidental entrepreneur who created an opportunity
Dr. Saba’s dream was once to become a doctor. Life, however, had other plans. Her entrepreneurial journey began not with a grand plan but with a willingness to learn, adapt, and persist in unfamiliar, male-dominated industries.
Over time, she built Saba Group, a global business enterprise with ventures across sectors like agriculture, gold mining, real estate, fintech, and entertainment. Her expertise in navigating international, multicultural environments and highly engineered systems made her stand out not just as a woman in business but as a force of her own making.
Despite the successes, she often faced bias, gatekeeping, and exclusion. But instead of backing down, she used those experiences as fuel to succeed—and eventually, to pave the way for others.
Found her purpose: the philanthropic pivot
After years of building a global business, Dr. Saba shifted her focus from profit to purpose. She founded the Anannke Foundation, with the goal to impact one billion lives by improving access to basic healthcare, education, nutrition, and human rights.
From South Asia to South America, millions of underserved women and children have benefited from her work. Whether it’s funding surgeries, building schools, or supporting economic empowerment, Dr. Saba has made sure that every effort is grounded in long-term, meaningful change.
Her work has also led her to partner with renowned global institutions, including Stanford Medical Center, CRY, and the Women Refugee Commission.
Standing with women, standing for change
As a single mother, working professional, and human rights advocate, Dr. Saba understands the complex challenges women face. This is why she created “TheWorkingMothers” community, an online space to support women balancing careers, caregiving, and personal growth.
She also continues to mentor women entrepreneurs globally, helping them scale businesses, gain confidence, and navigate real-world obstacles.
Her belief is simple yet powerful: real change comes when women lead with both head and heart, and when leadership is not about titles, but about service.
A quiet leader with a loud impact
Dr. Saba avoids the spotlight when she can. She prefers solitude, simple joys like cooking (she even wrote a cookbook, The Abbreviated Cook), and sharing quick traditional recipes on Instagram (@serendipspice). But her influence is deeply felt.
She has received numerous accolades, from the Mother Teresa Award to the Kalpana Chawla Outstanding Woman of the Year, and has been featured in Forbes, India Today, and Femina—not for the fame, but for the example she sets.
Wrapping up: a legacy built on determination and giving
Dr. Malini Saba’s life is proof that success isn’t just about climbing to the top—it’s about turning around and lifting others as you rise. Her story is one of strength without noise, power without arrogance, and generosity without condition.
She didn’t just break glass ceilings. She’s helping build stronger foundations so others can stand tall, too.