The Mahlab Group also ran Debden Diaries Australia direct marketing division selling thousands of generic diaries annually to professionals across Australia. 

Originally started by Karen's entrepreneurial and generally highly successful mother, Eve Mahlab AO, Karen bought the then struggling business from Eve in 1989 believing that she could change its fortunes using marketing skills developed in her prior Advertising and Marketing career at Ogilvy and Mather and Unilever. 

Due to its results, in 1997 Karen Mahlab was selected as a finalist in the Telstra Businesswomen Awards,

As the internet came fully online and tools such as Google calendar became widely available, the writing was on the wall for the demise of paper based diaries and the decision was made to close down the diary component of the business even though the company was still breaking even. 

The effort in keeping it running was a distraction from the focus needed to grow Pro Bono Australia. 

Profit from the Mahlab Group was used to fund the growth of Pro Bono Australia acting as an incubator by sharing staff and resources across the two businesses.

In 2012 the Mahlab Groups operations ceased however the Guide to Giving publication continued to contribute financially under the auspices of Pro Bono Australia for many years into the future. 

The Mahlab Group effectively acted as a "hybrid" company sharing premises and staff with Pro Bono Australia as it was getting on its feet as a social enterprise. It was a model that was very original at the time and would become popular with many other “For Purpose “ startups in the decades to come.