CEO’s Profile

Sandi Saksena (CEO)

‘Each of us has experienced a sense of possibility - moments where we imagine things as they could be, and yet we hold back. Concerned with circumstance, what others might think, or lack of interest; we don't act on our vision.  Express yourself fully, make a difference, be a leader.’

A long time resident of the Gulf, Sandi and her family have lived in Kuwait, Bahrain and now in Dubai for the last 38 years. A late entrant into the work force Sandi started at age 44. With no previous work experience she could not prepare a CV!  However circumstances pushed her to go looking for a job. A small advertisement in the paper caught her attention and she attended a seminar organised by her present company. More important she caught the attention of bosses at Zurich International Life and the rest is history!

Sandi devotes her time and energies to her job in personal financial planning.  She is a Consultant with Nexus Insurance brokers (previously Zurich International Life ME in the UAE). Sandi is a Court of the Table member and has served (2005-2006) on the International, (2007-2008) the Content Development committee and is presently serving on the Program Development Committee for the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Million Dollar Round Table USA (MDRT www.mdrt.org the premier international recognition for the Life Insurance and Financial Planning industry worldwide) She is also past chairperson for Dubai of MDRT 2002 –2004. She has completed a training video for the MDRT which is now on sale.

As Sandi observes, “Personal experiences are your best teacher” and what she has experienced over the last 38 years gives her the confidence to speak on various issues. “The essence of sound financial planning is understanding what your clients want, recognizing their needs, and providing the right solution to meet those needs.  Above all it is the human element the human touch that matters most.”

Sandi believes that building trust, and loyalty, sharing and giving, dealing with integrity and honesty are essential ingredients to success in both the personal and professional arena.  Openness to new ideas is the key to growing your life.

On a personal note:

Sandi devotes time to children with special needs and is a Permanent Trustee, and the Head of Fund Raising for a center for individuals with special needs called Manzil (www.helpmanzil.com). As part of community service she does presentations on financial planning at schools universities and women’s groups. She has assisted in completing a comprehensive document based on the UAE labour law on the Rights of Women in the work place. She is in the final stages of completing a comprehensive guide that will focus on legal and financial matters that effect NRIs living in Dubai. She participates in at least 1 major community service project in India a year and has worked closely with FOGSI on the Su Parbga Ganga Yatra (2006) and the FOGISI Astsra Bharat Jagruti  Yatra (2008).

She has had a column in the Khaleej Times Weekend magazine called Money Wise, for over 3 years and is a contributing author in the magazines Challenge, Global Indian, Telelife, as well as insurance industry related magazines Policy, Insure Media, and Money Works, and a property related magazine Al Majlis. She has hosted a TV show called Ladies First, which covered issues on women’s financial independence. She is a frequent guest speaker on City 7 TV and ARY and speaks every Sunday on the radio FM 95.3 Pulse where she talks about financial planning. She wrote a weekly column ‘Money Talk’ for the business pages of the newspaper Emirates Today and is now a contributor interviewing CEOs and leaders in the Financial world for the business pages of Emirates 24/7.  She also has two blogs on the MDRT website.

She has achieved her life long ambition by opening BIB Incorporated, a company that produces content for broadcast. Together with her daughter who is her business partner they will accomplish the mission they have set for themselves!

Sandi is a graduate from Lady Shri Ram the top Women’s College in India.  She has two children.

She enjoys physical and mental challenges and participates in various physical fitness challenges. Her latest accomplishments include sky diving, rappelling, boat racing and trekking in the Himalayas. Last but not least she was part of the team that won the Nehru Cup trophy at the famed Kerela boat races.  She is into regular weight training and follows a rigorous cardio vascular regime for strength and endurance.