Dr. Malini Saba | Official BIO
Dr. Malini Saba is a self-made businesswoman, philanthropist, psychologist, author, environmentalist, human and social rights activist, and a global advocate for women and girls. But her work goes far beyond titles. For over 32 years, she’s built a career driven by purpose, not just profit, working across countries and industries.
What sets Dr Saba apart is her unwavering passion and commitment to making the world a better place, deeply embedded in both her career and personal life. She is a fierce human and social rights activist, philanthropist, and a global advocate for the physical, social, and economic advancement of women and girls across the world. Every initiative she has built serves as a catalyst for uplifting humanity.
Dr Saba has an extensive background in international, multicultural environments and highly engineered systems. Over the years, she has worked across multiple industries, including agriculture and trade, pharmaceuticals, fintech, real estate, hospitality, entertainment, and gold mining. She is the founder and former chairman of Saba Group, a privately held company focused on investing in emerging opportunities and sustainable industries.
She is widely recognised for her pioneering work in industrial commodities, particularly in rice, oil, and gas. Her business acumen has allowed her to channel significant resources into social impact initiatives, reinforcing her commitment to philanthropy.
Dr. Malini Saba | AWARDS + ACCOLADES
(Dr.) Malini Saba is a staunch believer that leadership is not defined by titles, photos, or selfies, but rather by being authentic and sticking up for one's convictions, especially in the face of hardship. People who know her well agree that she is methodical and is committed to serving others.
Over the past three decades, Dr. Saba has received the honour of:
- Being the recipient of the "Kalpana Chawla Award" for "Outstanding Woman of the Year."
- Being featured on the cover of "India Today's" magazine's yearly issue highlighting the "high and mighty."
- Receiving "The Ambassador of Peace" award from the "Federation of Peace", London.
- Being rated #1 of 10 candidates likely to succeed in "San Francisco" Magazine, chosen as one of ten women who will undoubtedly succeed and are worth watching over the next decade.
- Receiving the "Mother Teresa Award."
- Being honoured as the "Philanthropist of the Year award" by "Pratham."
- Gracing the cover of the ‘45th Anniversary issue’ of ‘India Today Hindi' Magazine.
- Being an influential keynote speaker at the "London Speaker Bureau."
- Being recognised by "YourStory" as "one of five Indian women who made a difference during the pandemic."
- Being featured on the cover of "Forbes 400," where she discussed what it means to be a self-made businesswoman in industries dominated by men.
- Receiving the "Entrepreneur of the Year" award by "Business Women's Network Washington, D.C."
- Serving as the Spokesperson and Panellist for the "Business World" – (WESA) Change-preneurs Track, honouring extraordinary women entrepreneurs whose ideas have changed India's corporate and social landscape.
- Being recognised by Femina magazine as one of the "Fabulous 50" women who have excelled in their field through sheer grit and determination.
- Being named by"CSR Journal" Magazine as one of "25 Indian leaders" to watch in the philanthropic and social impact arena.
- Being featured on the cover of the magazine "Glittering India."
- Gracing the cover of "Business Today's" "The BT 500 List" which ranks India's most valuable enterprises.
- Being recognized by "YourStory" as the founder of "one of the five NGOs" striving to improve the lives of rural women throughout India.
- Receiving the "Genty Hall of Fame-Philanthropist Of The Year award."
- Being chosen by the "Femina" magazine for a cover.
- Recognised by the publication 'CSR Journal' as one of the top 5 women philanthropists driving social change in India.
Dr. Malini Saba | Her Story
Business Leadership & Global Impact
Dr. Saba has a business background in international, multicultural environments and experience with highly engineered systems, requiring a deep understanding of critical business drivers in multiple markets. She has worked across agriculture and trade, pharmaceuticals, fintech, real estate, hospitality, entertainment, and gold mining. As the founder of Saba Group, a privately held investment company, she focuses on emerging opportunities and sustainable industries. She is particularly known for her pioneering work in industrial commodities like rice, oil, and gas.
A lifelong researcher, Dr. Saba continues to explore areas where leadership-led intervention can drive meaningful change. She’s not afraid to take risks but does so with empathy and insight — qualities not often seen together in high-stakes business.
Philanthropy & Social Commitment
Dr. Saba founded the Saba Family Foundation to help one billion people live healthier, more empowered lives — a mission she’s been quietly working toward for years. Through the foundation, she has supported millions across South and Southeast Asia, Africa, South America, and the U.S., helping people access healthcare, education, nutrition, and financial stability.
Her work has led to collaborations with institutions like the Bill Clinton Foundation, Stanford Medical Centre, CRY, Concern Worldwide, the Women Refugee Commission, and the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, to name a few.
Advisory Roles & Recognition
She also serves on the advisory boards of the Mother Teresa Foundation, Comfycare12, and Women’s Company.
Recognition has followed; she’s received the Ambassador of Peace title, the Kalpana Chawla Award, the Mother Teresa Award, and the Entrepreneur of the Year. Her ideas and work have been featured in outlets like Forbes, Femina, India Today, HuffPost, Times of India, and Entrepreneur India, to name a few. But what drives her isn’t the press; it’s the real change.
Champion for Women & Business
Dr Saba is deeply committed, focused and driven, empowering and motivating women to think independently. She supports their businesses, helps them develop sustainable revenue models, helps them expand their networks, mentors them, and gets their voice international visibility.
She continuously speaks at global conferences and works tirelessly to reshape government policies and empower business leaders.
Beyond Business: A Life of Passion
In her downtime (when she finds it), Malini loves to cook — something she’s turned into a creative outlet through her cookbook The Abbreviated Cook, which reflects years of travel and a belief that good food should be simple, nourishing, and shared. She’s also a devoted pet parent to five dogs and four cats – a house full of heartbeats, as she likes to say.
Malini doesn’t just talk about purpose — she lives it every day in the way she works, gives, leads, and shows up for others.