Habib Esmail, founder of Habib Group, started his career in Bombay in 1891 at the age of 13 on a salary of Rs. 5 per month in a firm that dealt in copper and brass utensils. He worked day and night, arriving before the shop opened, staying till late in the night, and then walking home to save money on conveyance.

No wonder that in the short span of five years, at the age of 18, he was made a partner in the firm. Even at that young age, he had established an excellent reputation for honesty, hard work, fair play, trustworthiness, humility. These values continue to guide the activities of Habib Group to this day.