I read an article in the Globe and Mail last December on Sabi Marwah. Sabi is the 55 year old CFO of the Bank of Nova Scotia. More to the point, he is one of a select few high profile visible minorities (along with TD's Bharat Masrani, RY's Janice Fukakusa, AIC's Michael Lee-Chin and some others who don't get much face time) in Canadian financial services. He's also a great immigrant success story.
His success should prove inspirational to other vm's looking to get ahead at one of Canada's large FI's. Especially to East Indians, whom Marwah goes out of his way to mentor. I wonder if Michael Lee-Chin (he's the only high profile FI black leader I can think of) goes out of his way to do this. Goes to show you the importance of supporting your own as you move up through the rank and file.
Organizations like Junior Achievement are a great way of supporting your community by going out to schools as a positive role model for kids who may lack direction and feel disenchanted about opportunities once they graduate. Making yourself available as a mentor to those moving up through the rank and file is also important. Like Wesley Snipes said in White Men Can't Jump - "If I don't support my brothers (and sisters) who will?".
