Karimah Es Sabar

Karimah es Sabar, President, LifeSciences British Columbia

Is this your regular look?This is how I dress for work.

So you keep it looking professional.I’m very formal; I’m classic conservative. It’s what I’m most comfortable in. I like straight classical clothes, and I like a lot of accessories. I love jewellery and nice foulards, scarves, bags and shoes and things like that.

Where did you get the necklace?I’ve had it for three or four years, and it’s custom-made.

I like to be involved in designing my own jewellery. I have a great personal jeweller who’s a very good friend of mine. She’s a gemologist – her name is Nazeem Verjee – and we’ve been friends for over 30 years. She used to live in Kenya, like me. I don’t do as much jewellery design anymore. When I was single with no kids, I had a bit of time. But with a career, a 10-year-old and a five-year-old, I do a lot less of that.

And the suit?It’s Jones New York. I don’t remember where I picked it up. I’ve probably had it a couple of years. I buy to keep; I’m not somebody who disposes of things. I’m not a trendy person in the sense that I would just change wardrobes every year.

I really build on my favourite things. I invest in my wardrobe. I’ve had this scarf for 16 years.

Where is it from?It’s from a small town in Provence called Uzès, where they specialize in making incredible scarves, like this one made of silk and cashmere. They’ve done it for generations. I was there on an executive French-immersion program many years ago when I worked with one of the big multina­tional pharmaceutical ­companies.

Not into heels?Little heels. I like to be able to get to where I need to be quickly. I like to be able to march. My shoes always have to be extremely comfortable so they don’t slow me down.