Sarbani Biswas brings over a decade of experience in data analytics and insights across various industries. Since joining RBC in 2015, she has held several roles within Personal and Commercial Banking, Group Risk Management and Wealth Management. In her current role as Senior Director of Data & Analytics COE Operations Transformation. , Sarbani leads a team of data professionals enabling transformation using data and advanced analytics like AI across Canadian Banking Operations.
In this blog, Sarbani shares her experience as a mentor in the TRIEC Mentoring Partnership (TMP) program.
What inspired you to become a mentor with TRIEC?
I came to Canada from India 15 years ago on what was originally a three-week work secondment, and I ended up building my life here! When I first immigrated to Canada, I was fortunate to have received support from others including fellow immigrants. This guidance was invaluable to me, and I wanted to give back. Mentoring with TRIEC and other groups has been deeply fulfilling and a way for me to pay it forward.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of mentoring newcomers through TRIEC?
Most of my mentees are highly skilled and knowledgeable in their respective fields. However, immigrating to a new country to pursue a new career can not only be intimidating but also stressful. Being a sounding board for the mentees to discuss their challenges and helping them find a path forward and connecting them to help build their professional network for a long and successful career in Canada are some of the most rewarding aspects of mentorship for me.
Can you share a success story of a mentee you worked with who has made significant progress or achieved their goals?
When talking about a success story, Karishma D Almeida comes to mind. Her persistence, tenacity, positive attitude, professionalism, and growth mindset along with her extensive prior experience were the reasons she was successfully able to find a role and thriving within RBC.
How has mentoring impacted your personal or professional life? Have you learned something new about yourself?
On a personal level, I think helping the mentees get integrated into the Canadian workforce and be able to grow and be successful gives me a level of personal satisfaction and fulfillment. In addition, while problem solving their unique challenges has often prompted me to self-reflect and be more self-aware in my own hiring practices and refine my brand and leadership skills.
What qualities do you think are essential for a successful mentoring relationship?
I believe a mentorship relationship can only be successful if both the mentor and mentee and committed to the mentorship program. In addition, the mentor needs to lead with empathy, patience, and respect while the mentee needs to take initiative, be clear on what they want to achieve through the relationship and be open to feedback.
What do you think newcomers can do to make the most out of their mentoring experience?
Being clear about their goals and effectively communicating these to their mentor is crucial for making the most out of the mentoring experience.
How do you see the role of mentoring evolving in the future, especially in the context of integrating newcomers into the workforce?
I believe mentoring already plays a crucial role in helping newcomers from diverse backgrounds acclimate to a new environment. I think future mentoring programs will need to place a stronger emphasis on fostering inclusion and celebrating the diversity in backgrounds and experiences. Additionally, in the Gen AI phase, I see a greater use of technology integration in the mentoring programs for onboarding. Last but not the least, I would love to see mentoring take on a broader scope to also include aspects such as mental health, work-life balance, personal growth, etc., i.e., addressing holistic needs of a newcomer.
Inspired by Sarbani’s story and interested in mentoring newcomers to Canada. Find out more about becoming a mentor here.