Meet Habi Gerba: trailblazing entrepreneur who wants to inspire women everywhere

She’s a fashion designer, the host of an inspirational podcast and the new president of Montreal’s Junior Chamber of Commerce. So how does Habi Gerba do it all?

The trailblazing entrepreneur with immigrant parents from Cameroon is dedicated to inspiring women and helping them pursue their dreams.

Her family motto is “why not?” – and that’s something that challenges and motivates Gerba.

“My father once said that if there’s only one person, one artist, that can make a living of it, why not your child? So they really always push us to just go follow your dream and just try it – why not?” said Gerba.

“My family really believes in dreams and work, and why not? Why not be you? Maybe it’s going to be you?”

The 30-year-old Gerba was named president of the JCCM last month.

“Honestly, it feels amazing,” she said. “For me, the Youth Chamber of Commerce is a network of allies… it’s a place of creativity, a discussion, reflection.”

The JCCM’s mission is to develop, represent and promote the next generation of business professionals.

The exterior of clothing retailer Gazelles, founded by Habi Gerba. (Credit: CityNews/Pamela Pagano)

The group represents entrepreneurs like Gerba, who created her own clothing line “Gazelles” – making business clothes for women – a few years ago.

“For some of my clients, their bodies are changing, and you cannot just go to a store, take a dress and it’s gonna fit perfectly,” Gerba said. “So here what you do, we are making the dress. We have the atelier. So we do custom, but we also have a ready-to-wear and we offer our services of alteration.

“Because to me, your clothes should fit you and not the other way around.”

The JCCM presidency is just another in a long list of titles and accolades for Gerba. In 2016, she received the Lieutenant Governor’s Youth Medal. And last year, she earned the Black Designer of Canada Award of Excellence.

Fashion designer Habi Gerba. (Credit: CityNews/Pamela Pagano)

Gerba says she owes a lot of her success to her family – and their “why not?” mentality.

Her parents immigrated to Canada in the 1980s. Her mother Amina Gerba founded several successful companies and is currently a Canadian senator. Her father Malam Gerba earned an international scholarship to study in Canada and became a communications expert who has travelled the world.

Her brother Ali Gerba was a soccer player with the Montreal Impact and Canadian men’s national team.

When Habi Gerba is not designing clothes, she finds time to record the “Osez” podcast. It’s a space for women from all walks of life to share their stories. Gerba hopes her listeners can be inspired to become their best selves.

“All I want to do is inspire other women to give them access to other women who have different visions, different dreams and different types of success and show to them everything is possible,” she said.