Anju Majeed, PhD, executive chairperson of the Sami-Sabinsa Group, has been appointed co-chair of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) Karnataka State Development Council for the 2024-2025 year. ASSOCHAM plays a role in shaping trade, commerce, and the industrial environment in India, including the herb industry.  

“It is a privilege to serve as the co-chair of this esteemed industry body,” said Majeed. “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, Majeed shared her vision for increasing women’s involvement in the corporate sphere. “At Sami-Sabinsa Group, women have taken on leadership responsibilities and are at the helm of our business on a global scale,” she said. “They make up the majority of our research workforce, a domain that forms the centerpiece of our business.”

Women represent over 60% of the workforce in Sabinsa’s corporate research and development and contribute globally to the launch of its breakthrough products. Additionally, women are in leadership roles in key markets in the U.S., Brazil, China, and Canada, and oversee all facets of operation.

For the past two decades, Sami-Sabinsa Group has supported imporverished girls by providing academic support through scholarships, enhancing their skills, and building homes for orphaned girls, the company reported. Recently, the company’s nonprofit foundation donated $54,000 to the SPARSHA Trust in Bengaluru, India, which was used to build homes and provide education for girl children in the region.

Sabinsa also relies on women in rural communities who play a substantial role in the company’s commercial cultivation program, and the company has instituted fair trade policies for their farmers. Women entrepreneurs in farming are able to diversify their farming operations by partnering with Sabinsa.

Sabinsa is also a founding partner of Women in Nutraceuticals (WIN), a nonprofit organization formed to support women in the nutraceuticals industry, with a focus on leadership roles, female-led businesses, and women’s participation in scientific research.