How Piya Saliba Turned Creativity Into Purpose

Big ideas often start with small moments. For Piya Saliba, many of those moments began in childhood. Raised between Indonesia and Singapore, Saliba grew up surrounded by creativity, culture, and entrepreneurship. Music, performance, and storytelling were a regular part of her life. At the same time, she watched business operate up close through her family’s Bali-rooted furniture importing company.

Those early experiences helped shape the way she approaches leadership today.

“Creativity taught me how to connect with people,” Saliba says. “Business taught me how to stay focused and build something that lasts.”

Now based in Beverly Hills, Saliba serves as CEO of Fountain Capital. Alongside her professional work, she has also become known for her involvement in philanthropy and nonprofit causes, especially through the Nalin and Naseeb Foundation and her support of the Cedars-Sinai NICU Family Council.

Her career has never followed just one lane. Instead, it has been built around bringing different ideas together.

Piya Saliba’s early life and creative influences

Saliba’s early years gave her exposure to different cultures and perspectives. Growing up between Indonesia and Singapore taught her how to adapt quickly and connect with many kinds of people.

She also developed a strong love for the arts.

As a child, she spent time singing, acting, and performing. Those interests stayed with her as she got older.

“I always loved creative expression,” she says. “It helped me understand emotion, communication, and confidence.”

At the same time, she saw how entrepreneurship worked inside her family environment. The family’s furniture importing business connected craftsmanship, design, logistics, and customer relationships.

That combination of creativity and structure left a lasting impact.

]

“It showed me that ideas only matter if you can bring them to life,” Saliba says.

Her education later brought her to the University of Southern California. There, she expanded her perspective and learned how leadership, communication, and long-term thinking all work together.

Building a career around leadership and vision

Over time, Saliba built a career centered on leadership, organization, and people.

Today, she leads Fountain Capital as CEO. Her approach focuses less on attention and more on creating meaningful impact.

People who work closely with her often describe her as calm, thoughtful, and collaborative.

“I don’t believe leadership is about being the loudest person in the room,” Saliba says. “It’s about listening, understanding people, and helping ideas move forward.”

That mindset helped shape the way she approaches business decisions.

Rather than chasing trends, Saliba has focused on consistency and relationships. She believes long-term success comes from trust and communication.

She also understands the importance of balancing logic with creativity.

“A lot of people think creativity and business are separate,” she says. “I think the best leaders use both.”

Her career path has also included involvement with organizations such as NMS Capital and the Nalin and Naseeb Foundation. Across different roles, one theme has stayed consistent: building ideas with purpose behind them.

Why philanthropy matters to Piya Saliba

While Saliba’s professional work continues to grow, philanthropy remains one of the biggest parts of her life.

She is deeply involved with the Nalin and Naseeb Foundation, which focuses on helping communities and supporting people in need.

For Saliba, giving back is not separate from leadership. She sees them as connected.

“Success means very little if you’re not helping other people along the way,” she says.

Her volunteer work also includes involvement with the Cedars-Sinai NICU Family Council and Parent Council. Supporting families during emotionally difficult moments has become especially meaningful to her.

“When families are going through vulnerable experiences, even small acts of support can matter,” Saliba says. “Sometimes people just need to feel seen and understood.”

She also stays active in school PTA involvement and nonprofit initiatives tied to children and families.

Friends and colleagues say Saliba brings the same energy to philanthropy that she brings to business. She values organization, follow-through, and human connection.

How creativity still shapes Piya Saliba today

Even with a busy schedule, Saliba still makes time for creative interests.

Singing, acting, and dance continue to be important parts of her life. She believes creativity plays a major role in personal growth and emotional connection.

“Creative outlets help people stay grounded,” she says. “They remind you to stay human.”

That belief also shapes the way she communicates professionally.

Saliba often focuses on empathy, listening, and authenticity in both business and nonprofit settings. She believes people respond best to honesty and consistency.

Her background in performance also helped her become more confident in leadership settings.

“Being creative taught me how to handle pressure and uncertainty,” she says. “You learn how to adjust in real time.”

That flexibility has helped her navigate different industries and responsibilities throughout her career.

Lessons from Piya Saliba’s career journey

Looking back, Saliba believes some of the most important lessons in her life came from staying open to growth.

She does not describe success as a straight line.

Instead, she sees it as a process built through experience, relationships, and persistence.

“You don’t have to have every answer right away,” she says. “You just have to keep learning and stay committed to your values.”

Today, Saliba continues to balance leadership, philanthropy, creativity, and community involvement. Her story reflects someone who has consistently worked to turn ideas into action while staying connected to people along the way.

Whether through business leadership, nonprofit work, or creative expression, she remains focused on creating positive impact that lasts.

“At the end of the day, I want my work to help people feel supported, inspired, and connected,” Saliba says. “That’s what matters most to me.”