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She fled the Gulf War—
A young student from the Middle East,
Landing in Canada in 1992
With degrees in hand—and resolve as her compass.
She could have coasted.
But she leaned in.
Took a part-time teller job at Scotiabank in Halifax—
Unseen. Undervalued. Unstoppable.
✨ Rising Through the Ranks
From teller—
To vice-president.
To global leader in business payments.
26 years of grinding, growing, proving—
Until she became the first woman to lead a major Canadian bank.
❤️ Leadership with Purpose
She brought more than authority.
She brought empathy.
Launched programs to hire immigrants.
Challenged norms.
Made “Canadian experience” optional
Because potential shouldn’t depend on papers.
New Canadian Media
She led inclusion—
Embedding diversity targets into leadership evaluations and compensation.
CityNews Ottawa
🌍 Vision Amid Crisis
She took the helm of Laurentian Bank during the pandemic—
When the unexpected hit.
When digital transformation wasn’t a choice—it was survival.
And she leaned into the change.
🎯 Why Her Story Matters
Rania’s is a journey from displacement to boardroom,
From invisible immigrant to industry trailblazer.
She reminds us that leadership isn’t just about titles—
It’s about redefining possibility in a new home.
