Industry: Financial Planning, Coaching & Empowerment
Designation: Founder & CEO, Sandi Rich Management Consultancies
Country: UAE
Company: Sandi Rich Management Consultancies
Impact: At 73, she redefined resilience and leadership—transitioning from financial consultant to global speaker, author, and empowerment coach, inspiring women to embrace financial independence and purpose at any age.

Sandi Rich Saksena | A Journey of Empowerment And Unwavering Passion

Sandi Rich Saksena is a beacon of strength and determination. With a zest for life and creativity, Sandi’s life has been filled with challenges and courage, proving how age is merely just a number. For her, life truly began at the age of 44.

Sandi started her married life in Kuwait, being a happy supportive wife and mother, dedicated to her family. As her husband’s career as an international lawyer gained momentum and recognition, income and perks all grew, and soon the family started living a life of luxury. She thought this would never end, and so did not take responsibility to help manage finances. This lifestyle came to a crashing halt when the family moved to Dubai on a contract that was supposed to provide higher income and all the perks. Due to internal disputes among the partners, the project was cancelled, and so was her husband’s contract. Caught without a financial safety net and no income to sustain the expensive lifestyle, life became a living hell.

With no work experience or computer education, getting a job seemed far from reality for her. However, with a strong will and determination to contribute to the family’s financial welfare, Sandi’s job search was relentless. Often dismissed by supercilious HR managers and having exhausted all her friendly connections, Sandi’s belief in herself remained unchanged. She was not going to surrender to circumstances.

Eventually, she secured the role of a financial planning consultant, but it was purely commission-based. Selling life insurance in the UAE back in the 90s was a huge challenge. With countless cold calls, joining networking groups, and facing rejections, the job taught her many lessons for life.

In 2000, Sandi faced a near-death experience, which gave her a new lease on life. “I found myself on the path of self-discovery, a trajectory that continues to this day. I rose from the immersion of self for others to me for me.

I rediscovered my true self. I am in the driver’s seat,” she reflects. “All the answers I seek lie within me.” She embarked on adventures and discovered her hidden talents. From skydiving, zip lining, white water rafting level +5, mushing with the huskies in the Arctic Circle, experiencing Ayahuasca in Peru, to pilgrimages to Mount Kailash (twice), walking at 18,500 feet, Sandi continues to seek out physical and mental challenges.

As her income grew, Sandi’s knowledge of personal and professional development gained momentum. She invested in herself. She studied, got certified, qualified for international conventions, and now, she is invited to speak at conferences in many countries. Sandi believes life experiences are one’s best teacher!

Today, at age 73, Sandi resigned from her job of 28 years and opened her own company, Sandi Rich Management Consultancies. She conducts seminars, offers training courses, is busy with her writings, speaker engagements, podcasts, fitness challenges, and even walks the ramp as a model. She believes in mental and physical well-being and the importance of staying mentally and physically active. Currently, she is the oldest participant of SheRuns to do the 10k run every year.

An emotionally empowered individual, Sandi Rich Saksena continues to be recognized, awarded, invited to serve as a jury member for awards, speak at conferences, and much more.