True leaders serve their families and advocate for their communities, beyond personal gain. Everyone follows their own path, and the key to success lies in serving others.
Meet Etienne Sakr, a phoenix rising from the ashes of the pandemic to chart a new course. Driven by a work ethic and deep filial piety, his ambition for Sakr Consultants knows no bounds, much like the aerospace industry he navigates.
But beneath his resolute exterior lies a quiet dedication, a promise spoken in a forgotten tongue, a commitment to healing the scars of a war-torn homeland, one client and one charitable contribution at a time.
The Enigmatic Engineer
Etienne Georges Sakr’s journey began in 2017 with a mechanical engineering degree from Polytechnique Montreal. He later earned membership in the Professional Engineers Board of Quebec in 2023. Fluent in French and proficient in English, his Canadian-Lebanese heritage subtly influences his demeanor. While he acknowledges the entrepreneurial spirit of his ancestors who rose from nothing, it holds minimal allure for him.
Driven by a desire to establish his own business, he founded a consulting firm. Helping others was his primary motivation. While wealth creation was a goal, it held little personal allure. His philanthropic efforts through the Knights of Columbus, Lions Club, and Zahle Club of Montreal reflect his Lebanese roots and ignite a spark of passion.
A multidisciplinary team player, results-oriented with seven years of experience in quality and methodology, Etienne thrives on new challenges.
From Warehouse Worker to Entrepreneur
Etienne’s career path led him through method engineering at Airbus until the pandemic hit, resulting in his layoff due to his junior status on the team. For nine months thereafter, he worked in a warehouse performing various tasks.
During this time, he founded Sakr Consultants. Despite not yet being a member of Quebec’s engineering board, he foresaw the aerospace industry’s recovery and envisioned involving his health and safety professional sister, Eliana, in his business ventures. Family was a significant motivator for Etienne; he credits them for inspiring his entrepreneurial journey.
Etienne formally established Sakr Consultant Incorporated in November 2020, confident in the aerospace industry’s resurgence. The first year saw slow progress as he focused on marketing and securing contracts. The third year brought approximately $10,000 in revenue, but the business surged in its forth year. Sakr Consultants now serves clients in aerospace and healthcare industries.
The Role of Family and Sacrifice in Success
Etienne believes that success requires a committed and sacrificial partner. According to him, the most crucial quality is a willingness to sacrifice for family and community before personal gain.
Highlighting his family values, Etienne stresses the importance of a strong partnership that provides support in both prosperous and challenging times. He emphasizes the significance of vision and risk management in balancing personal and community needs, advising against risking everything on uncertain ventures. Instead, he advocates for allocating resources prudently to safeguard family interests in times of adversity.
Etienne’s happiness does not hinge on luxury. A good car, good health, and a supportive family suffice.
Family takes precedence for Etienne, shaped by his parents’ immigration from Lebanon during the 1990s civil war. Despite the hardships, they prioritized his education and values, laying the foundation for his success.
Multilingual Consultant with a Passion for Community
Etienne views his multilingualism as advantageous for his consulting business, enabling him to serve a diverse clientele in French, English, and Arabic. He believes proficiency in multiple languages opens doors to broader opportunities.
Sakr Consultants offers diverse services to the aerospace industry, including recruitment for engineers, project managers, and method agents. The company also provides workplace ergonomics consultations, prioritizing health and safety.
Etienne emphasizes workplace safety, highlighting global concerns about accidents in assembly line factories and construction sites due to faulty safety equipment. He insists that workers deserve to return home safely to their families.
In addition to his professional endeavors, Sakr Consultants is committed to community engagement and philanthropy. Etienne seeks to understand how other consulting firms integrate social responsibility into their operations.
During his time at Polytechnique, Etienne actively supported Lebanese students through TOLLAB (Lebanese Student Federation of Montreal), assisting them with navigating life in Canada. He remains available to help even after graduation.
Recently, Etienne donated over $2,000 to Collège André-Grasset during a networking event. The contribution aims to support future students at the college.
He is also involved with the Zahle Club of Montreal, contributing to initiatives that support hospitals, schools, and families. During the pandemic, the club provided medication for approximately 70 families. Etienne continues to support the club to raise funds for his hometown community in Lebanon.
Manager Leveraging Experience for Future Engineering Roles
Currently holding positions as both project manager and project coordinator, Etienne aims to enhance his engineering skills and qualify for future engineering roles by collaborating with experienced engineers on design projects. While he prioritizes his firm’s growth, obtaining an engineering license remains a long-term goal for potential technical pursuits.
Future Plans
Etienne outlined a pragmatic approach for the future, expressing moderate interest in securing additional contracts and expanding his team primarily to support other families rather than solely for business growth.
Looking ahead, he views permanent office space as outdated, advocating for remote work with occasional in-person meetings to foster team cohesion. He emphasizes the importance of providing adequate workspace for collaborative projects.
Etienne remains committed to charitable giving, intending to maintain current support levels for various causes in proportion to his company’s income. His philanthropic efforts are driven by circumstance rather than passion.
Balancing Passion with Community Focus
While acknowledging the importance of pursuing personal passions, Etienne underscores the interconnectedness of individual success with a thriving community. He believes continuous improvement is essential for personal and communal growth.
He also emphasizes the significance of faith, family, and work as foundational pillars of success.
