Sami-Sabinsa Group's Executive Chairperson seeks to drive strategic initiatives and champion women empowerment in the industry.

Dr. Anju Majeed, the Sami-Sabinsa Group Executive Chairperson, has been appointed Co-Chair of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) Karnataka State Development Council for the year 2024-25. ASSOCHAM plays a significant role in shaping the trade, commerce, and industrial environment of India, including in the development of the herb industry.

“It is a privilege to serve as the Co-Chair of this esteemed industry body,” Dr. Anju Majeed said. “Karnataka remains a bright spot in the Indian economy. I look forward to collaborating with council members and industry peers to devise and drive strategic initiatives that will further the industry’s sustainability goals.”

In an address to the council, Dr. Anju Majeed shared her vision for harnessing the incredible potential of women in building a progressive society and increasing their involvement in the corporate sphere: “Focus on Women Empowerment Initiatives in the State of Karnataka.” “At the Sami-Sabinsa Group, women have taken on leadership responsibilities and are at the helm of our business on a global scale,” said Dr Anju Majeed. “They make up the majority of our research workforce, a domain that forms the centerpiece of our business.”

Dr. Anju used Sami-Sabinsa as an example, describing how women are supported at work, through the company’s cultivation programs, and the Dr. Majeed Foundation’s programs supporting female children.

Supporting Women at Work:

• Women are on staff in multiple areas at Sami-Sabinsa and have taken on leadership roles, demonstrating commitment to promoting gender equality in the workplace. Research forms the core of the company’s business, with women representing over 60% of the workforce in Corporate R&D and contributing to the launch of breakthrough products globally.
• As an illustration of fostering a more inclusive landscape at Sami-Sabinsa, women head and lead key markets, including the U.S., China, Brazil, and Canada. They oversee all facets of operation and have emerged as role models for the organization and the industry.

Supporting Academics / Building Homes for the Orphaned:

• For the past two decades, Sami-Sabinsa Group, through its CSR arm, the Dr. Majeed Foundation, has been supporting impoverished girl children by providing academic support through scholarships, enhancing their skills, and building homes for orphaned girls. Recently, the Foundation has donated over USD 54,000 (INR 45 Lakhs) to the SPARSHA Trust in Bengaluru (India), which was utilized to build homes for destitute girl children (near Bengaluru), providing them with quality education.

Women play a significant role in cultivation program:

• Women in rural communities play a significant role in Sami-Sabinsa’s commercial cultivation program, performing various tasks including field preparation, cultivation, harvesting, primary processing, and post-harvest handling of medicinal plant raw materials. These women farmers possess knowledge about preserving planting materials, adapting to changes in soil and weather conditions, thereby playing an important role in producing high-quality raw materials.
• Women in rural communities play a significant role in Sami-Sabinsa’s commercial cultivation program, performing various tasks including field preparation, cultivation, harvesting, primary processing, and post-harvest handling of medicinal plant raw materials. These women farmers possess knowledge about preserving planting materials, adapting to changes in soil and weather conditions, thereby playing an important role in producing high-quality raw materials.
• Women entrepreneurs in farming are motivated by the Sami-Sabinsa contract farming coordinators to diversify their cultivation beyond traditional farming, leading to increased profits and cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit within them.

In additional efforts to support women, Sabinsa is also a founding sponsor of Women In Nutraceuticals (WIN) the 501c3 non-profit spearheaded by a cohort of global nutraceutical leaders. The organization is focused on building support for women across the nutraceutical supply chain to help increase the percentage of women holding leadership roles, funding for female-led businesses, and women’s participation in scientific research.