I’ve always thought helping people isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about showing up. Just being there. Listening. Trying to do what you can. That’s it.I wanted to be a doctor when I was young and do surgeries. Funny thing – life didn’t let me. I ended up in business instead. And, it worked out, I guess. I’ve done all sorts of things – agriculture, real estate, pharmaceuticals, hospitality. But through it all, I always tried to remember why I do this. It’s never just about work. It’s about people.

In 2002, I started the Saba Family Foundation in my father’s memory. At first, it was small and quiet. But soon, I realised crises don’t wait. They just happen. Like the tsunami in India and Sri Lanka. I remember thinking, “Money isn’t enough.” Families needed food, kids needed school, and people needed to feel they could start again. I went there, met them, and listened. Sometimes just sitting with someone and hearing their story is already helping.

I focus a lot on women and children. Women, especially. I’ve met so many who wanted to do something but didn’t know how. Mentoring them, connecting them to opportunities – that’s
meaningful to me. It doesn’t feel like work. It feels… human. When women succeed, communities do too. I’ve seen it happen, slowly, quietly, and it’s powerful. Awards? I’ve received some. The Kalpana Chawla Award, the Mother Teresa Award. But honestly, those aren’t why I do this. They’re just… recognition. What really matters is seeing a child back in school, or a woman figuring out her business, or a family finding a way forward. That’s what stays with me.

Outside of all this, I have my life. I am a mom and a cook, and I love travelling. I have pets – dogs and cats, too many maybe, but I love them. Life is messy, busy, and full, and I try to keep it balanced. I think leadership isn’t about titles or money. It’s about showing up. Paying attention. Acting with care. Crises don’t need grand speeches – they need presence, empathy, and small actions that really matter.

I don’t have all the answers. I don’t fix everything. But I try. Every day. And sometimes, that small effort – just showing up – makes a world of difference.