By Davinder Bhatti
Aly Karmali just stepped out of a meeting with a group of young lawyers. No agenda. No fee. No transactions. Only stories, advice, and encouragement. For him, this isn’t extra work. It is the work.
“What drives me isn’t strictly business or billable hours,” he says. “It’s paying it forward.”
Downtown Vancouver is now his base. Here, he serves as Director of Partnerships & Business Development at Clark Wilson LLP. Aly has nearly four decades of leadership in banking, finance, and advisory. He knows titles are fleeting. What matters most is continuity and how knowledge, trust, and opportunity move between generations.
From East Africa to Canada
Born in Kenya, Aly grew up in the Ismaili community of East Africa. He was surrounded by entrepreneurs, bankers, and engineers. At 13, his family immigrated to Canada to leave behind political instability. He spent most of his life and schooling in Canada.
Yet the values that shaped him were formed long before he arrived. He grew up in a community known for entrepreneurship, discipline, and service. “It was a business community within a business community,” he says.
Rooted in the Aga Khan Ismaili tradition, his upbringing emphasized more than professional success. It also stressed responsibility. “This is how we’re trained,” Aly explains. “Whether in Africa, India, Pakistan, Canada, or the U.S., giving back is part of who we are. We are what we do.”
The Mentor Who Still Guides Him
Central to Aly’s philosophy is his elder sister, Laily.
Laily has been Aly’s closest mentor, both then and now. Though she is two years older, Aly still seeks her guidance whenever he needs it.
Laily, who was a corporate banker at RBC, inspired Aly to pursue a career in banking. She taught him a lesson that shaped every role he’s held: “No one remembers how much money you made or what you owned. They remember how you made them feel and what you did for them.” That belief became his compass.
A Career Built on Connection
Aly’s career began in Retail / Commercial Banking in Vancouver in the mid-1980s. He spent over two decades at Toronto-Dominion Bank in leadership roles, then held senior positions at the Royal Bank of Canada, where he directed the International Private Bank where he and his team advised global high net worth entrepreneurs.
After retiring early from RBC, Aly transitioned into advisory roles at BDO and Ernst & Young. He later led business development in alternative finance for fast-growing companies in both domestic and international markets.
Today at Clark Wilson LLP, he plays a key strategic role, working closely with clients to understand their business realities and long-term goals. His strength lies in listening deeply, exercising sound judgment, and connecting clients with the right legal expertise—responsibilities grounded in trust and decades of experience.
Business, With Perspective
Aly has worked with large organizations and small businesses and is clear-eyed about today’s economy. Inflation, tariffs, and geopolitical uncertainty shape decisions, yet fundamentals remain.
“Businesses succeed when they differentiate themselves,” he says. “They stay focused on value, manage costs carefully, and remain relevant.”
He is pragmatic about technology. “AI is here to stay. It’s still early, but companies that learn to leverage it will be ahead.” Still, Aly emphasizes that success is incomplete without community and mentorship. “There has to be a component of giving back. I wouldn’t have been successful without mentors. Having a mentor and / or sponsors is critical.”
Community and Continuity
Aly’s involvement with the Aga Khan Ismaili community has been lifelong. Known globally for volunteerism and service, the community shaped his view of leadership as collective rather than individual. He has also contributed to the North Shore Community Foundation and continues to mentor emerging professionals, including young Punjabi lawyers beginning their careers today.
Aly’s daughter, now a Commercial Banker at RBC, embodies that same ethic. He emphasizes that it is not about himself, but about helping others use what they have learned to go further.
Beyond the Boardroom
Outside of work, Aly is an avid golfer and a passionate traveler, inspired by Anthony Bourdain’s love of the path less traveled.
“I like the parts unknown,” he says. “I just returned from Turkey—not Istanbul, but places most people don’t see.” These journeys fuel his curiosity and perspective, which he brings into his professional life.
His favorite travels often lead him back to his roots. He cherishes the sweeping landscapes of African safaris, a testament to his lifelong connection to the continent of his birth.
What Endures
For Aly Karmali, legacy isn’t something deferred. It is practiced every day through conversations, guidance, and generosity.
“What drives me,” he repeats, “is paying it forward.”
