Neena S. Mehta was born in Mumbai, India, where she learned to love the fast-paced, high-energy life on which she thrives. She attended the University of Bombay, earning her BS in chemistry and envisioning a medical career. Marriage, a move to the United States, and other life events intervened, yet her spirit to succeed survived and led her to study gemology at the Gemological Institute of America while her husband explored the import business. Soon, they began to sell products from India and eventually found a niche in the jewelry and gems market. They built Combine International from a basement operation to a leading jewelry manufacturing company with over 6,000 employees worldwide supplying fine jewelry to major retailers in the U.S.A determined entrepreneurial instinct sparked Mehta and her husband to found a number of other businesses varying in focus from technology to retail where she remains an active board member. Taking great interest in her community, Mehta has been president of the India League of America, is an active member of the Jain Society of Detroit, is a major financial supporter of educational and religious organizations in the U.S. and in India, and currently serves on the board of Oakland Family Services (Pontiac, Michigan). The Star Group named Mehta one of the Leading Women Entrepreneurs for 2002. However, Mehta believes her greatest accomplishment has been managing a successful career and marriage and still being able to raise her two children, Bela and Shan, both pursuing careers in the business world.