Influential Woman · Wellness Retreats and Corporate Wellness
Kellie Sabas
Founder & Chief Happiness Officer, Happy M.E. LLC
San Diego, CA 92131
Daily practice built my confidence from yoga to speaking on stage. I don't have to be perfect, just trust myself. I have everything I need. I am enough.
Kellie Sabas · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Kellie
Kellie Sabas is the Founder and Chief Happiness Officer of Happy M.E. LLC and Chief Curator of HappyME.yoga, a dual venture she built at the intersection of strategic marketing and transformational wellness. With nearly two decades of experience in global brand marketing across luxury skincare, designer fragrances, and hospitality, and over a decade as a professional meeting planner through HelmsBriscoe, Kellie brings a rare and powerful combination of corporate expertise and heart-centered purpose to everything she creates. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Tourism from the University of the Philippines Asian Institute of Tourism, and has continued to deepen her knowledge through a Yale certificate in The Science of Well-Being, a Positive Psychology Coach certification, and 500-hour certifications in both yoga and meditation.
Founded in 2022, Happy M.E. LLC serves as a full-service marketing and events company specializing in curating wellness and corporate retreat experiences, while HappyME.yoga operates as a global wellness platform connecting women to coaches, events, and transformational retreats around the world. Since hosting her first in-person retreat in 2024, Kellie has expanded her offerings to include destination retreats in places like Bali and Greece, urban self-care pop-ups, and corporate wellness activations — all designed to make wellness not just an event, but a way of life. Her unique ability to marry meticulous event strategy with genuine soul-driven intention has positioned her as a trusted voice in the wellness and retreat planning space.
Beyond her business endeavors, Kellie is a dedicated community builder and philanthropist who leads with generosity and purpose. She serves as Director of Community and Philanthropy for the International Association of Women San Diego Chapter, and has held leadership roles as Past President of the UP Alumni Association of San Diego and Past Executive Vice President of the UP Alumni Association in America. She actively supports organizations including Blue Star Families, Foundation of Women Warriors, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Pink Strength, and the American Heart Association, among others. Named one of San Diego's Influential Women for 2026, Kellie continues to inspire through her unwavering belief that discipline, commitment, and the power of intentional community are the true cornerstones of a life and business well lived.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kellie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the community I intentionally surround myself with. I am very deliberate about who I connect and partner with — in both business and friendship — prioritizing people who share my values and mission. Community is the foundation of everything I do, especially as a solopreneur. Having the right people around you who genuinely support your vision makes all the difference.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is when I was a student at UP. Our hotel management professor told us to be always ready because we don't know when we'll be visiting hotels. I took that advice to heart, and it has become a part of how I show up on my work and commitments. Well, except during mommy duties. I still have my casual days most days.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Follow your passion and anchor yourself in your purpose. Knowing your "why" gives you a north star to guide every decision and keeps you grounded when challenges arise. When you are clear on what you are doing and who you are doing it for, setbacks become easier to navigate and your passion becomes your greatest fuel. Stay true to that, and everything else will follow.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I face is finding the right people — organizations, companies, and women leaders — who are aligned with the same mission and are the right decision-makers to engage with. Access is everything, and that is precisely why community is so central to what I do; the right connections open the right doors. On the opportunity side, once you break through that barrier and align with the right partners, organizations, and leaders, the possibilities are tremendous. The right partnerships create momentum, amplify your reach, and unlock doors you could not have opened on your own.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Discipline and commitment are the values I hold closest — in both my personal and professional life. In many ways, they are one and the same. Discipline is what keeps me consistent, and commitment is what ensures I follow through, even when things are difficult. Together, they form the backbone of how I show up every day for my business, my clients, and my community.
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