Meet Rasha Katabi, RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Momentum Finalist

Rasha Katabi, Founder and CEO of Brim Financial, is a 2025 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards finalist and a leader in global financial technology.

With more than 20 years of leadership experience in capital markets, she began her career at TD Bank before joining Merrill Lynch as Managing Director and Group Head, advising some of the world’s largest institutional investors. She has also served as President and Chair of MBSIA, a Board Director at Russell Investments Canada, and a member of the Audit Committee.

Through Brim Financial, Rasha is redefining how banks, credit unions, fintechs, and major brands deliver modern payment experiences. Recognized as one of the fastest-growing fintechs globally, Brim has been celebrated with Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50™ and Fast 500 awards, featured on CB Insights’ list of the 100 most promising fintechs, and selected to Team True North as one of Canada’s billion-dollar revenue companies in the making.

Meet Rasha and discover how she is transforming the future of financial services through innovation and impact.

I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur when…

As a teenager with Girl Scouts Canada, I advocated for equity, reform, and inclusiveness within Scouts Canada, particularly in relation to the Boy Scouts Troop. I’ve always been driven to challenge the status quo. After 20 years on the trading floor and becoming one of the youngest managing partners at Merrill, I can say that trailblazing has been a constant in my journey. That same self-belief, paired with a deep understanding of financial markets, empowered me to own my vision of disrupting the financial services industry.

Entrepreneurship suits me because I thrive on turning complex challenges into strategic opportunities, approaching them in a different way, solving them efficiently, and scaling them to create a lasting impact. Through my work, I hope to strengthen Canada’s financial ecosystem by delivering modern services that support everyday Canadians.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned on my entrepreneurial journey is to persevere no matter what. Entrepreneurship means taking the path less travelled, persevering when it’s hardest, and believing in your ability to shape the future you envision. I remind myself every day to dream big and wake up with the conviction that I can bring that dream to life.

My proudest accomplishment is…
What I’m most proud of is building Brim into more than a financial technology company. We’ve become an engine of growth for everyday Canadians, from newcomers accessing their first credit card to small businesses gaining modern payment tools through the banks and credit unions they already trust. We started by solving a Canadian challenge, and in just a few year,s have grown into a platform serving partners and customers around the world. That balance of global growth and local community impact is my proudest accomplishment.

The biggest risk I took that paid off was…

The biggest risk I took that paid off was leaving a secure, high-trajectory career in global capital markets to bet on myself and on Canada, launching Brim as a homegrown technology company with a global nature. Walking away from the safety net wasn’t easy, but that leap allowed me to build something from the ground up that is now transforming how financial institutions serve their communities.

The best advice I’ve received as an entrepreneur was…

Never take no for an answer. 

The future excites me because…

The future excites me because we’re building Brim into a foundational Canadian technology success story that grows globally while creating opportunity here at home. We envision Brim becoming the Shopify of financial services, with a future IPO that allows Canadians to invest in a platform designed for inclusive economic growth. The future also excites me because Canada has a chance to boost productivity and competitiveness, and Brim is helping make that happen. By leveraging automation, AI, and real-time data, we enable institutions to innovate faster, operate more efficiently, and deliver better service with fewer resources. That is how we build a more future-ready financial ecosystem.

Connect with Rasha Katabi on LinkedIn.