Diversity Management at Kaiser Permanente: This Female Muslim Entrepreneur Brings Sensitivity to Suppliers

Diversity managementin supplier diversity at Kaiser Permanente (No. 3 in the 2012 Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Top 50)benefits from Dr. Sally Saba‘s unique perspective of the worldshe grew up in Egypt and successfully ran a small business in the United States.

Dr. Saba, executive director of national supplier diversity for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, knows what she’s talking about firsthand when it comes to supplier diversity. As a woman who has owned a small business, she’s familiar with the hardships that minority- and women-owned businesses face on a daily basis, such as problems with cash flow.

“I can recall many months when I couldn’t make payroll, even though I had lots of money in receivables,” she says. “When I speak about doing our part in supporting them, I speak from the heart with a passion.”