Bharathi comes from a background of strong female leaders. Her mother was a trailblazer in her industry. She was the first female South Asian family physician in Abbotsford who taught her the value of working hard to serve and build her community, and she has left a legacy and impact.
Bharathi is a Senior Business Development Specialist at Raymond James Ltd. She jokes that the title "Senior" reflects tenure, not age, as 18 years in her industry would qualify as "senior." She has successfully built a practice that focuses on long-term, holistic financial management. She is passionate about development and education for the up-and-coming generations and helping people break real and perceived barriers.
Non-profit work is very close to Bharathi's heart as she was raised in a family that first believed in seva or service. Bharathi thinks women can make strides and be in more prominent leadership roles because of their problem-solving capabilities and ability to bring diverse skill sets. Bharathi herself demonstrates this in every step of her journey.
Bharathi highlights her leadership positions in three organizations in Abbotsford that are typically male-led. The Fraser Valley Indo-Canadian Business Association, Dasmesh Punjabi School, and the Fraser River Community Crematorium Society have or have had Bharathi on the board. Her day job is also in a typically male-dominated industry, the experience of which has strongly prepared her for other roles. She often was recruited in positions of leadership based on past performance. She has quantifiable deliverables directly reflective of her time on those boards and believes it's essential to show some growth for the time spent on a project.
Bharathi currently is the chair of the Fraser River Community Crematorium Society as the first female chair and, by far, the board's youngest member. In addition, she sits on the Abbotsford Hospice Society board and the King Haven Peardonville House Society board. She believes in helping people at critical turning points, such as losing a loved one or in the depths of health issues. This is a significant shift from her previously business-related community endeavours.