BY J.M. LEE
Sarb is a small-town girl born in 100 Mile House and raised in Vancouver. Her parents came to Canada in the early 1970s, bringing their traditions and values with them to their new country and shaping their family upbringing. While times may have changed, those values and traditions continue to guide her.
“My parents owned a fabric store in the Punjabi Market on Main Street in Vancouver from 1984 to 2017. I grew up on Main Street and assisted in the family business, instilling a spirit of entrepreneurship from a young age. I was raised in a very sheltered environment and did not experience popular Canadian culture until my late teens. As a young Indo-Canadian woman who was always very ambitious and driven, I broke cultural barriers and created my own identity, with my dad as my biggest supporter.”
She lost one of the most important people in her life when her brother suddenly passed away. Barely into her adult years, her father fell ill. She was a full-time student at the time and had to take over the family business, temporarily putting her educational dream on hold.
Sarb went back to school and completed her education while working full-time. She majored in Accounting, Finance, and Human Resources. Her dad recently passed away, and for the second time in her life, she experienced a loss that changed her world. Today, everything she does honour her dad, and she lives by his teachings—education, working hard, and giving back are what he stood for. Whether it is volunteering, helping a stranger, donating, or an act of kindness, it is all done selflessly and with humility. She hopes to continue making him proud. The journey from the bottom to the top is the most powerful one.
“There is no secret—keep going, don’t give up. You will hit rock bottom; you feel things can’t get worse, and they do, but don’t stay down for long. Do what you need to, and get up. I continue to climb the ladder of success, but I don’t forget those who helped me. As Marcel Proust once said: ‘Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.’ Gratitude is precious. Ask a mentor to know what you need to know. A mentor told me that you don’t get it if you don’t ask. The worst thing is you will get a no, which is entirely okay, because now they know.”
Sarb is a Regional Manager for Lending Referral Partnerships in BC and Yukon at BMO. As a woman leader and entrepreneur, she is proud to work for an organization where women are supported in an inclusive and diverse environment, not only by women but also by the men they work with.
“I have a voice here, and my hard work is recognized. BMO has helped me achieve my career and community outreach goals. This organization is community- oriented and has encouraged me to give back. I love my job and am grateful for the opportunities to grow and elevate my performance potential. Women have evolved in raising families, running households, and working full-time. Finding the right balance between managing these responsibilities and taking time out for myself is important. As women, we all have a story—courage, risk-taking, resilience, and managing ambiguity.”
Society has made considerable strides in inclusion, as Sarb’s journey progresses. She continually seeks ways to inspire and motivate tomorrow’s leaders.
“For several years now, I have found time in my schedule to mentor women, providing them with a safe environment where they can fully express themselves and their life experiences and assist as needed.”
Her advice for the next generation of women is: “Be comfortable in your own skin and become a better version of yourself daily. The only person you should compete with is yourself. There is lots going on social media and around you—don’t be deterred by that—be you, take risks, don’t follow the crowd. Create your path. Your happiness lies within you; once you find that, you will fly.”
As a single mother of two daughters, Sarb has not found the journey easy. However, her mandate is to be the best role model for them, teach them to be independent, and find their identities as women. “If they believe in themselves, everything will fall into place. I am so proud of the women they are becoming. They are my success story as a mother.”
