Know Her Stories

Sweet Pea & Noelle Founder, Morgan Mayer, gives us tips on how to kick-start your own business Starting Sweet Pea & Noelle took a village, a dose of insanity and a heck of a lot of courage. Building your own business is not always pretty. In fact, it's downright dirty at times — but it's worth every second. 1.PLAN When I decided to start this venture, I was excited, nervous and overwhelmed with the thought of the work to be done. The first order of business was to make a plan. I outlined the steps that needed to be taken and the time that needed to be invested (not to mention the dollar dollar bills, y'all). Although daunting, my business plan was and still is, an essential part of planning. With everything circling around in my head all at once, it was better to take it one step at a time. Prioritize. Start small. Lists were my greatest tool and my biggest enemy. 2. PEOPLE I found my village. Seek out those who you will learn from and those that you need most. I cannot express how important this step was for me. You will find special people that share a passion, a drive, and in my case, sometimes even your bloodline. I found myself at a crossroads many, many times. These people were there to motivate me and bring me out of the mud. Even when every cell in my body wanted to save my sanity and give up, I listened to these people, learned from them and will never forget them. 3. PUSH I had a plan and a team — now came the time to utilize everything and put it all to work. When something didn’t go as planned, I was forced to adapt. I pushed through. The urge to give up and the anxiety that comes along with starting a business often overtook my very being. However, I had a plan and a goal. I asked those people to help push me through — even if it meant paying them with the international friendship currency of pizza and wine. Because no great story started with salad.

Becky De Oliveira is the owner of Blush and Bloom—a thriving flower and wedding studio in Toronto. We spoke to her about mom guilt, striking a balance between a busy work and home life, and the importance of taking time to nurture kindness and curiosity in her daughter Florence.    Can you tell us about your postpartum journey? I didn’t realize the level of postpartum care that I would need, so going back to work early hit me like a ton of bricks. As a business owner, I knew there would be a dramatic change, but I didn’t know exactly what that would be. I wasn’t equipped community-wise and support-wise to handle everything. That made things a little bit more challenging for someone who was used to coming and going as they pleased and working as much as needed.  Have you surprised yourself with how you’ve managed to continue to successfully run your business and raise your daughter? I think I surprised myself with my ability to realize that I needed to lean on the people I do have. They are willing and capable to help with a lot of the business side of things. Realizing that I have a team who are invested in my brand and invested in my success in business as well as being a mom was very important.  It's really hard and a lot of work, but I'm very proud. We were thrilled when we found out we were becoming parents. But I never fully understood how motherhood affects the trajectory of things with business and life in general. I think we just didn't know what it all looked like for us. It's a wild thing in a demanding world. You’re used to giving a thousand percent of everything to your work. And now it's kind of like, okay, well, there are more important things. I really don't think I would have come to that realization if I didn’t have a baby.  You’re used to giving a thousand percent of everything to your work. And now it's kind of like, okay, well, there are more important things. What do you love most about Florence? She knows what she wants. She knows what she likes and doesn't like, and she’s very kind. That’s something that we talk about a lot in our home, kindness. She really loves nature. She's just a very kind, helpful little girl.  What advice would you give to future mothers who are entrepreneurs?  To make sure they build their community and to not be afraid to accept help from their family or friends—even before the baby comes. Normalize the idea of asking for help, even if it's something small like: “Can you come over and talk to me during nap time so that I can have an adult conversation and make my life feel somewhat normal for a second?”  Normalize the idea of asking for help, even if it's something small like: ‘Can you come over and talk to me during nap time so that I can have an adult conversation and make my life feel somewhat normal for a second? If you're an employer, you want to keep making sure your team is doing a great job and feeling good because they’re such a valuable support system. You’re going to need to be able to relinquish some control in your life whether that’s with your business or with mom stuff.  Do you ever tire of questions about what it’s like to balance being an entrepreneur and raising a child? It seems like moms would get asked that way more than dads.   I do feel like it's harder in every way for female entrepreneurs as parents. Moms are often the primary caregivers, so adding the mental load of motherhood to entrepreneurship, it’s a lot. It's tough to feel like you’re thriving in all of those areas and to be constantly asked “How do you do it?” When you know that dads are probably not being asked the same questions.  I do feel like it's harder in every way for female entrepreneurs as parents. Moms are often the primary caregivers, so adding the mental load of motherhood to entrepreneurship, it’s a lot. Can you tell us a bit about your business?  It’s called Blush and Bloom. We are a flower and wedding studio here in Toronto. I’ve been an owner of the business for 12 years now. And we've expanded to include a sister brand in floral education called Blue School. Flowers are all I know. So it just feels natural that this is what I'm doing and what I've always been doing.  We do anywhere from 30 to 60 corporate events and weddings per year. On top of that we have the education and workshop aspects of the business, which are fully separate. So yeah, we're hopping most of the time. Do you ever feel mom guilt?  Yeah. 100%. My gosh. I work on weekends so I feel all-consuming mom guilt sometimes. Work definitely takes away from a lot of typical family time like summers at the park, or traveling. I'm learning to prioritize, take a step back from the business, and take a month off with my family to make sure we have time to make memories. It took me five years to be able to do that though. But yeah, the guilt is still there. It’s almost like FOMO. But even if we can just go to the park or something, I love that. Florence gets to do all these really fun things with her dad during their time. So that's also really special. But it’s very hard because her dad gets evenings and weekends off and I’m working during that time, and I’m the owner. I make all the decisions so sometimes I need to answer my phone or be there for my team. But, yeah, mom guilt is real.   I work on weekends so I feel all-consuming mom guilt sometimes. What do you tell yourself in moments when you’re feeling guilty?  I don't know if there's anything I tell myself, but it has gotten easier to deal with now that I’ve made sure I'm compensating in other ways. I've set a lot of boundaries to prioritize family. So now I'll tell myself, “You're leaving at five in the morning and missing out on taking Florence to her friend’s birthday party, but you’re going to be home to have dinner.” I also actively try to remind myself that this business might be around long enough that one day I can say to Florence: “Well, do you want this? If this is what you want to do, here you go.”  What are some of the positive, joyful things that have come out of motherhood?  I think I listen more and take more time to focus on slowing down. I try to see things through my child's eyes like flowers, nature, or cities. That’s really interesting. You have blinders on sometimes because you don't have time to focus on random stuff when you're busy. Kids can help you pay attention to the things that are new and important to them that maybe you haven’t thought about in a while.  It's endearing to hear some of the questions they ask and how pure things can be at this age. That’s why it’s nice to take the time to give their questions a really good answer. That curiosity is so fun to watch. It’s really exciting. Yeah, I just love her.  Kids can help you pay attention to the things that are new and important to them that maybe you haven’t thought about in a while. By: Carter Selinger

For Skylar Park, family is a big part of success. Her father is her coach, her brothers are competing to get into the Olympics, and in total 16 members of her family have black belts in taekwondo. Her family’s generational commitments to the sport are part of what has made Skylar’s achievements in taekwondo so special. We chatted with the 2023 Pan American Games champion about the upcoming Paris Olympics, mentoring young athletes, gender equality in taekwondo, and what it’s like to get your period right before a gold medal match. Let’s get to know her.    Are there any moments you've experienced while competing that have felt especially significant to you? Things that you look back on as either lessons or turning points? There have been so many. There have been times when I've won that boosted my confidence. I've also had some really big losses that have taught me so much and allowed me to come back even stronger. In 2016 I won the Junior World Championships on home soil. My whole family was in the crowd. It was super special. It was the first time that I competed on the world stage and I was just so excited to show the world what I could do. I'd been doing taekwondo since I could walk, mainly with my family. My dad's my coach, and I train with my brothers and cousins. So I felt like I was just coming out of nowhere and trying to shock everyone and see what I could do. That was a very special feeling.  Another big turning point in my career was the Tokyo Olympics. For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of going to the Olympics and winning a gold medal for Canada. I was so excited for my first Olympic Games, but I didn't end up performing as well as I wanted to. There was a lot of heartbreak that went along with that. But the lessons I learned through that experience have allowed me to become very successful leading up to the Paris Olympics. So it's been really exciting. Can you tell us a little bit about what you're most excited about for the upcoming Olympics? Yeah, I have now officially qualified for the Paris Olympics. I think I'm just excited to be back in the Olympics in such a special place. It’s something that I've dreamed of for so long. I did it in Tokyo, but it wasn't quite a normal Olympics per se. There were no fans and my family couldn't be there. I know I've worked hard since Tokyo, and so to be in Paris as a stronger athlete, a more confident athlete, and to have my whole family there will be really exciting. Has sport helped you affirm or realize any aspects of your personality or identity? Taekwondo is a sport but also a martial art, and I think there are so many aspects of confidence, discipline, and respect grounded in its principles. As a woman, I’ve been able to gain so much confidence through a combat sport. You learn how to defend yourself.   Sport is such a powerful tool, especially for young people. There’s the determination you get, the ability to work hard, to work with others. There are so many things that sport brings to us as athletes and as people, and I think that's why I love taekwondo so much. When I was young I was very shy. At taekwondo schools there would always be an awards banquet and a dance afterwards. Everyone would always be dancing and trying to get me to dance but I was too shy. But then, when I was seven years old, the night that I achieved my black belt at this awards banquet, I was on the dance floor all night and they basically haven't been able to get me off the dance floor since then.   As a woman, I’ve been able to gain so much confidence through a combat sport. You learn how to defend yourself. Why do you think it's important for women and girls to stay in sports? I'm very passionate about young girls staying in sports. Sport has given me so much in my life.  I now have the ability and the honour to coach young girls in taekwondo. On a daily basis, I see what sport brings them—how much confidence it gives them, and how many tools they learn from it and bring into their everyday lives. Seeing that transformation in them, the same transformation that I went through as a young girl, is really special.   I'm very passionate about young girls staying in sports. On a daily basis, I see what sport brings them—how much confidence it gives them, and how many tools they learn from it and bring into their everyday lives. Can you share a bit more about your experience mentoring young women in taekwondo?  Yeah, I think it's been an honour for me to have the opportunity to coach so many young girls and young women, in the sport that I love. I'm 24, and so having that experience of having gone to an Olympic Games and competed internationally for a long time, there are so many lessons that I can teach them. One of the biggest things is just showing them the confidence they have within and teaching them how to bring it out and carry it into everything they do in their lives.  It’s also important to remind them that not everything is as perfect as it seems and things don't go smoothly all the time. I think as young athletes or as young people, we think that the road to success is always a straight line and everything's going to go according to plan perfectly. But they need to understand that things don't always go your way. Sharing some of the setbacks that I’ve had with these young women, how I've overcome them, and how they've made me stronger in the end is very beneficial. And hopefully, I'm helping them get through their hard times and come out stronger. What's it like competing at a high level when you're dealing with everyday things like getting your period? Getting your period while competing is something that isn't talked about enough at all. I competed at the Grand Prix in Taiwan in September of last year and it was my first time winning a Grand Prix, so it was super exciting. But in between the semifinal and final match, I got my period. My stomach was cramping so bad. And I think on the broadcast, even here, when I go back in between the rounds to talk to my dad, I'm like, “My stomach hurts so bad.” I'm trying to tell him and he's like, “You’re fine, you’re fine. Like, you can do it.” I ended up finishing the match and winning the semifinal. And so I had to go up right away again to compete in the final. So they wanted to keep me in the holding area downstairs. But I was like, no, like I have to go upstairs to see my doctor. And so they finally let me through and I went with my doctor. And so she had me lying on the ground. I think I had like 5 minutes. And so I was lying on the ground while she had my feet up in the air and was putting ice straight on my stomach. So I was freezing. Then she gave me Tylenol or something to help with the pain. And then she was like massaging, pushing on my stomach. I don't know what she was doing, but it was chaotic and she kept telling me to eat crackers. So, we had 5 minutes to figure it out. And then they called me up, and I had to be ready to fight. I was in so much pain, which, to be honest, might have helped a little bit because I wasn't even thinking about being in the final of the Grand Prix. But as soon as I stepped on the mat, I was able to kind of fight through the pain of my cramps. I think that’s something a lot of female athletes go through, and it isn’t talked about a lot.    Getting your period while competing is something that isn't talked about enough at all. Can you talk about the history that this sport has in your family? My parents run a taekwondo school in Winnipeg, which is where my whole family lives. My dad started taekwondo in Korea, which is where he was born. His family immigrated to Canada when he was eight years old and so they lived there and still live there today. In 1993, my dad, alongside my grandpa, opened up the doors to the Town Park Academy, which is our taekwondo school. And so my whole family grew up there. My mom started training there, and that's where she met my dad. They got married and started running the school together. So, yeah, there are 16 black belts in my family, and nine of us are women. It's super cool and very empowering to have strong female role models in my life who are black belts too. We all get to share this sport we love so much together.   It's super cool and very empowering to have strong female role models in my life who are black belts too. We all get to share this sport we love so much together. Your father is your coach and your brothers are also competing in taekwondo. Does having so many family members competing in the same sport complicate things? Or is it a source of comfort to have them there with you? It truly is incredible to be on this journey alongside my dad as our coach and my two younger brothers. But there are challenges as well. On the days when training is not going so well, or you have a bad competition, driving back home with your dad and your brothers, the car ride is not the best. And then when you get home, and you're still sitting across the table from each other, it's not the most fun. Aspects like that make it hard sometimes. And being a 24-year-old girl and spending this much time with your dad isn’t typical. But I'm so grateful for the time we spend together, what we've been able to achieve together, and what we're still striving to achieve. How does gender equality show up in taekwondo?  I think we're very fortunate in the sport of taekwondo because it is very equal, whether you're male or female. The prize money is the same. The opportunities are the same. The competitions are the same. A lot of times if you ask people, they’ll say the women are more exciting to watch than the men. I hope to be one of those women who are exciting to watch. How does it feel to be the first person in your family to go to the Olympics?  It's an honour. It's been a dream in my family for a really long time. My grandpa had a dream to go to the Olympics in cycling. Although nobody knows where that comes from because he didn't even cycle. My dad was a speedskater, but taekwondo has been in my family for at least four generations. I'm the first to go to the Olympics, but hopefully not the last. My brothers are coming up as well, and the goal is for all three of us to be there one day. To become an Olympic athlete requires a ton of work and dedication. Is there anything you’ve had to let go of in exchange for your pursuit of this dream? You know, I think as athletes, we all sacrificed so much to be able to compete at the top of our sport and hopefully step on top of the podium. There are times when you miss events or things with your family or friends. There are things you miss out on daily. But if you have a goal and a dream to achieve something great, there have to be sacrifices that come along with it. And if your dreams are that strong, then I think it'll be worth it in the end.  If you have a goal and a dream to achieve something great, there have to be sacrifices that come along with it. And if your dreams are that strong, then I think it'll be worth it in the end.  By: Carter Selinger

Shannon Christensen is the founder of Mamas for Mamas—a non-profit based out of Kelowna, BC that has grown across Canada. We spoke with Shannon about how she started this organization, the vital work Mamas for Mamas does, and how her experiences as a young mother inspired her to alter the course of her life to help mothers facing poverty. You’re going to want to get to know her. What services do you provide at Mamas for Mamas? Mamas for Mamas is an online community and a sharing economy. When moms can't meet each other’s needs peer to peer, we provide internal poverty relief resources through our social work team. We help moms with whatever they need: rent, groceries, dental care, mental health care, clothes, even gym memberships. There are a lot of people who fall outside of the poverty relief cutoff. So our programs are specifically designed to identify families who would fall through the cracks. We’re creating this real sharing economy among mothers and caregivers, which is what it used to be like hundreds of years ago. “Mama” can mean mom, dad, caregiver, uncle, and foster parent. Basically, if you're raising a child and you don't have what you need, come to Mamas. It’s just called Mamas for Mamas because it started with me, my garage, my babies, and a bunch of other moms. Can you talk a little bit about your motivation for starting this organization? When I had my first baby, I had just lost my dad. It was a really lonely time. I was 22 and my dad died the day after I got married. I had this epic perspective shift. I realized I wanted children. I was going to wait to have babies until I finished my doctorate—I had all these goals—but I realized nothing mattered without connection. And so my husband and I had a baby who was seven weeks early. That was an incredibly lonely and scary time. I had postpartum depression. I was doing my master's in forensic psychology at the time, and I was feeling really shameful that I was experiencing these depressive moments. I had all the things: I had the house, the safety, the kind, respectful husband, the food on the table, everything. But I didn't have a connection with other mothers, and I was devastated for a long time. I found the community around motherhood to be more cutthroat than trying to get into your master's program. When my second baby was born, I realized this lack of community wasn't going to get any better unless I did something about it myself.I desperately needed a place where people would be kind so I started a Facebook group in 2014, and I decided I was going to give away every single thing I owned that other moms might be able to use. Were there any important moments that made you feel like you were on the right track in those early days? I saw a really horrific post blow up on an online shop and swap page. This young mom, who was like 19, was asking for food and the people on this page absolutely destroyed her. There were like 300 comments, and they were all like “If you can't provide for your children, you shouldn't have them.” So I messaged her and said, “Hey, take that post down. I'll bring you groceries. What do you need?” And she said, “Honestly, I just want spaghetti.” I’ll always remember that because my favorite meal is spaghetti. So I went and bought her a bunch of groceries and brought them to her house and my son was in the wagon, my other son was strapped to my chest, and she opened the door and the look on her face is something I’ll never forget. She truly didn't think I was going to show up. Well, then she started to cry, and then my baby started to cry, and then my toddler started to cry, and then I started to cry. She hugged me while my baby was still in between us. I’ll never forget that. I don't think she realized that I needed that expression of kindness in that moment as much as she did. I thought, “Oh, my God, I think I found it. I think I found a way to unbreak my heart from my dad dying.” I started to feel joy again, and I thought “If this works for me, maybe this will work for other moms.” What do mothers facing poverty need most? Mothers who are experiencing poverty need somebody to listen to them, and to help them navigate the support that’s available out there. They need a caseworker that will help them identify their needs, and the highest need is housing. It’s $2600 a month to rent a 2 bedroom in Kelowna. It's impossible to live here if you aren't wealthy. But at the same time, people live here because their families are here and their connections are here. They can't just leave. Beyond that, I'd say day-to-day material items fill such a massive gap. And food of course. We realized 90% of families are eating out of cans when they're going to government assistance programs. So we decided to build a farm. We got the land donated, we got the irrigation donated, we got the seedlings donated from West Coast Seeds, we pay the lease on our farmland by selling half the eggs our chickens produce, and then we got every single elementary school in town to plant and grow seedlings so they can understand where their food is coming from. We produce 80,000 pounds of fresh organic food every year for families in need. And, because of amazing volunteers like these kids and Penny, who runs the farm, it costs next to nothing. Have your experiences running this nonprofit shifted your outlook on motherhood in any way? Definitely. Through Mamas for Mamas, I think we’ve started to shift mothers away from competition and towards kindness. We like to say, “kindness is our currency.” It's just about working hard and only worrying about who gets the help instead of who gets the credit. I built Mamas for Mamas because I didn't feel like I had a sense of belonging; I figured there might be 10 or 15 other moms out there who felt this way. It turns out, every single mom feels like she doesn’t belong in one way or another. What is something about motherhood that continues to surprise you? The strength of mothers. The strongest people I’ve ever met in life are mothers. You see that strength in the way they show up for each other, and show up for their kids in times of great hardship. There's an iron will inside of each mother. Sometimes you just need to be reminded it’s there. Why do you believe partnerships between nonprofits and brands like H&B are important? The sharing economy we engage in with moms on Facebook groups, or other social media platforms, isn’t that different from the sharing economy we engage in with our business partners in the community. We have the ability to improve and increase the quality of life for moms that are struggling financially by working with these organizations and companies that have the financial ability to give back in some way. Their reason for wanting to give back is intricately tied to our reasons for starting Mamas for Mamas. When a company decides to make a tangible difference, we get to be the conduit for their energy, kindness, and compassion. Can you talk about the evolution of your personal style as you became a mom? It's hilarious because there was none. I always joke that my style is whatever's clean. I've got two little boys, 8 and 11. Style has only recently become something I put time and energy into. I wore the same pair of earrings for, like, 15 years. I'm actually wearing them right now because I just took off my Sparkle Balls™ last night. These are my wedding earrings that I got five years ago. I just like to express my personality with my style. I'm a sassy girl, you know, I'm a little bit fiery, and a bit bold, I want my style to represent and reflect that. I just got a beautiful necklace with my name on it from H&B, and I love that because people are always checking it out and reading it. I'm all about customizing. You have to customize every case that comes in for every mama. You need to customize every grant proposal. So customizing my style, my jewelry, and my hair, it just makes sense. Are there any pieces of jewelry that help you feel empowered and ready to tackle everything your busy work and home life might present? Yes. Well, I love bangles. Like I'm a big bangle girl; I do a lot of public speaking and, if I'm nervous, I like that I can jingle them a bit. I also really like a nice long necklace. I've got one that says Mama and I wear that whenever I’m really tapping into my mama vibes. If I'm nervous about something I put on my power stuff like my diamond earrings. They’re a classic. Is there a woman in your life who inspired you to dedicate yourself to this advocacy work?My Nana was the most special person. She passed away in January of 2020, but she's still very present in my life. I had a long struggle with depression as a teenager. She's the reason that I am who I am today. She's the reason that I'm still alive. It’s powerful to know that one person can make that kind of a difference in your life. My Nana was instrumental in building the Motherless Babies Home in Lagos, Nigeria, and I grew up always wanting to be like her. I just kept thinking to myself, if I could be half of Nana, I'll be a full me. And she always told me, “Don't cut yourself down like that. You're everything you need to be.” This woman was incredibly resilient. She grew up in a residential school, and had to run away from it. My goal in the next five years is to launch a second stage homelessness support program, and it's going to be called Nana's House because that's where you go when you can't go home. Jewelry seems like an endless source of fascination for kids. They’re often grabbing at earrings or necklaces. Do you have an early jewelry memory from when you were a kid? My Nana had this cross necklace that she wore every day of her life. I remember playing with the cross at a very early age, almost unconsciously, it was like sucking my thumb, but playing with the cross. One time she lost it and ripped up the entire house looking for it. It ended up being in the lint trap of the dryer. After that, she never took it off again until she gave it to me on my wedding day. Years later, my babies played with it just like I played with it. Writing: Carter Selinger

Megan Nespliak is brimming with positivity and bold, colourful style. Her daily mantras, looks, and outlooks on life make her a constant inspiration to her many followers and fans. We spoke with Megan about style, social causes, and the power of positivity. She also gave some great advice for handling unthinkable adversity. You’re going to want to get to know her.What inspired you to become a content creator?I have always wanted to be famous from a very young age. But I discovered my love of content creation when I started my online clothing business Day In Night Out. Instead of hiring models, I decided it would be easier to just model the clothes myself. So I purchased a tripod, practiced a lot, and started posting as an influencer in February of 2021. Since then, I have had the chance to work with brands I’ve supported my entire life. To say this is my dream job is an understatement. We love that you have a mantra you post on social media everyday, tell us about your mantra and how you created it.My mantra is actually partially someone else’s. Gabi Daiagi, another much more popular influencer, says: “You are beautiful, you are kind, and you are the only one of you on the entire planet and if that’s not the coolest thing you’ve ever heard, I don’t know what is.” I added “I hope you do something today that makes you and someone you love smile” because I think that is just such a great reminder. I often wake up already in a bad mood, or overthinking, so having positive affirmations to start the day has really changed my outlook on life. It’s now routine for me to say the mantra to myself before I get out of bed. "Having positive affirmations to start out your day really has changed my outlook on life.” Why is it so important for you to radiate positivity on your page?Positivity is something I have very recently become acquainted with. When I was diagnosed with cancer in March of this year my whole world was flipped upside down. Instead of taking my terminal diagnosis and feeling bad for myself, I decided I wanted to make the biggest possible impact on the world before I go. I want to make other people smile because it brings me joy, I want to advocate for those who may not have a voice, and I want to enjoy whatever time I have left living my life to the fullest. Positivity is a choice we can make everyday. "Positivity is a choice we can make everyday.” What advice would you give someone who is overcoming adversity?Control what you can control. Stressing about things out of your control will only make the situation seem worse than it is. When I’m faced with any kind of adversity, I like to make lists of things I can do that will make me feel accomplished. Where do you find inspiration for fashion?I look to some of my favourite creators for fashion inspiration but I also feel like I found my own fashion sense quite naturally. I love to experiment, to be colourful, and be comfortable! My favourite creators are @emmaleger @sophiesuchan @mjhedderman and @gabidaiagi Why is colour so important to your aesthetic?Colour just makes me so happy. I think that the way you dress is just another way to express yourself. I am very extroverted, happy, positive, and outgoing so a lot of colour in my wardrobe makes sense. But don’t get me wrong, I love a classic black and white moment but I will always find a way to make it funky fresh. What tips do you have for styling jewelry?I think jewelry is a very overlooked accessory. A pair of earrings, a few bracelets, and a necklace can take an outfit from basic to chic very quickly. I would say that my go-to styling tip is to play around with layering necklaces. Also, you can never go wrong with a statement earring. "I would say that my go-to styling tip is play around with layering necklaces and you can never go wrong with a statement earring." If you were a Sparkle colour, what colour would you be?I mean rainbow would probably be an acceptable answer. But my favourite colours right now are pink, purple and green so probably a Sparkle Ball™ with all of those colours to match my Instagram feed aesthetic! What social causes are you passionate about, and why?Well there is no shortage of social causes to support at the moment with the way the world is. I am obviously a huge advocate for young adults with cancer, but I am also a sexual assault survivor so supporting women in that community is very important to me. What is happening in America right now is a very difficult and touchy subject, but I strongly believe that every person should have the right to choose. Having the platform that I have, I want to use my voice to speak about current events and issues that not only affect me, but my entire gender. Everyone has the power to make a difference so I just want to do my part. "Having the platform that I have, I want to use my voice to speak about current events and issues that not only affect me, but my entire gender. Everyone has the power to make a difference so I just want to do my part." What makes you feel empowered?I feel empowered when I am around my friends, when I am posing for the camera, and when I am wearing a funky fresh outfit. My friends are supportive, kind and caring, and I learn from them everyday. We empower each other to chase our dreams no matter how crazy they may seem. When I am working and taking pictures for brands I feel empowered because this is my dream job and what I hope to be doing for the rest of my life. And of course, a funky fresh outfit is not only going to look great, but it will give you the confidence to feel great too.

Angel and Alex are the co-founders of Indi City. Together they design and create fashion accessories and curate a 100% Indigenous-made brand through visual marketing and storytelling. We spoke with Angel and Alex about how they got started making jewelry together, their inspirations, influences, ambitions, and what they’re most excited about in the future. It’s time you got to know them.Tell me about yourselves and what Indi City is all about?Alex- my name is Alex Manitopyes, I am a two-spirit non binary person that was born and raised in Calgary (Mohkinstsis). My paternal and maternal lineage is from Muskowekwan First Nation and Kawacatoose First Nation in Qu’Appelle Valley, Saskatchewan. I am Cree (Nehiyaw) and Objibway (Anishnawbek).Angel- I’m a Nehiyaw/Metis mother and maker with maternal connection to Waterhen River, and paternal lineage from the Peepeepkisis Cree Nation, both in Saskatchewan. Mohkinstsis is home and has been for my adult life.Indi City is an Indigenous brand dedicated to authentic representation. We work to inspire and uplift future generations by channelling the wisdom and artistry of the ancestors. Right now we make earrings, but that’s just the start.Why did you want to start a jewelry brand?Angel- Adornment is sacred. Beadwork has connected me to my Grandmothers. Earrings draw attention to the face, and people will look you in the eyes and start a conversation, and conversations around culture and connection are so important for daily life. We’d like to make designs that go from head to toe, but we’re still here making earrings for the time being.Pow Wow culture is a huge representation of all the beauty that our culture encompasses. The designs, the colour and the life and love weaved into the regalia inspired me and connected me to my roots. I’m not a dancer but it’s kind of a “ life is a pow wow, so make a grand entry” sort of expression. The jewelry and beadwork is like DNA bringing us closer to the ones before us who fought so hard to exist. Our ancestors are the reason we’re here to share Indigenous fashion and collaborate with incredible companies such as H&B. "The jewelry and beadwork is like DNA bringing us closer to the ones before us who fought so hard to exist. Our ancestors are the reason we’re here to share Indigenous fashion and collaborate with incredible companies such as H&B.“ Angel- Growing up as a native girl on the reserve I didn’t see our culture being represented in a positive light anywhere. The stereotypes and stigma surrounding our people were steeped in the trauma caused by colonization. Our people stood for much more than what recent history has dictated. The beauty and power of Indigeneity is strong. We existed on this land before Canada was even a thought. Our people were abundant, and shared a sacred balance with the Earth and everything that encompassed the natural world. Indi City is a reclamation, a statement and a love song to our Ancestors. We work for the Grandmothers and we work to storytell through visual adornment, which is an important aspect of Indigenous culture. Our blood memory is couture, and we live this as daily life. We want to take up space and create positive representation so that Indigenous youth know they belong anywhere their dreams lead them. What does it mean to create Indigenous fashion and jewelry for Indigenous and non-Indigenous folx to wear?  We wanted to make sure that we could share appropriate aspects of Indigeneity with the global market. Indi City stands as a respectful nod to our ancestors, and we present our work in a way that allows a greater audience to appreciate Indigenous culture without worrying about appropriation. Our jewelry is meant to start important conversations and bring truth to the beauty and power of our culture. Why was it important to make sure your jewelry could be worn by anyone? How did this influence your collaboration with Hillberg & Berk? Humanity is about connection, and adornment is something we all have in common. Jewelry is a symbol of connection and can be passed down as heirlooms. We work to curate pieces that may carry these stories from the past and present forward into the future. Hillberg & Berk resonates with our brand for many reasons; we find resonance in the giving back, and the seeking to move forward in reciprocity. It’s neat that the founders of both companies share “home” being the Treaty 4 territory of Saskatchewan. We thought this was a great and synergistic opportunity to stand together as female entrepreneurs.  Each of your pieces tell such a story. What are your sources of inspiration for designing jewelry? What inspires the designs and colours of your pieces? Indi City belongs to our Grandmothers, whose beadwork inspires our designs. We’re here as a channel to curate this divine feminine energy into contemporary design and share it in greater quantities. Our choices for design and colour are based on what sort of power and medicine is needed to support the Indigenous rising. Traditionally we upheld and respected the Matriarchy for the intuitive power it held. "Indi City belongs to our Grandmothers, whose beadwork inspires our designs. We’re here as a channel to curate this divine feminine energy into contemporary design and share it in greater quantities.” What's your biggest, boldest ambition for the future? We’d like to see Indi City grow as a brand and move towards creating head-to-toe looks that can be taken to the global market. We’d also like to burst through and open doors for other Indigenous entrepreneurs to create a future of Indigenous economic sovereignty, authentic representation and sustainability across Turtle Island. What’s your favourite thing about your career? We love our supporters, and we love that they feel powerful in Indi City. The feedback we most often hear is how the earrings start important conversations. This is the backbone of our purpose because it means people are taking a moment to connect in an uplifting way. What advice do you have for entrepreneurs starting out? Traditionally our people were mentored by elders and community right from childhood. They would observe the children playing and take notice of their innate talents and gifts. The children were then paired with the right people and taught everything they needed to know. I’d encourage entrepreneurs to always trust their intuition when it comes to business, and to seek mentors in a variety of vocations and aspects of life, not just business. "I’d encourage entrepreneurs to always trust their intuition when it comes to business, and to seek mentors in a variety of vocations and aspects of life, not just business.” Why did you want to collaborate with H&B? Describe the process of bringing two aesthetic styles together into one? What has this experience been like? H&B is a staple of Canadian fashion. I am certain that most fashionistas have at least one pair of Sparkle Balls™. We admire and adore all women in business, and seek to uphold the Matriarchy in any way we can. Indi City is all about bringing divine feminine energy together any way we can. Finding a way to add the signature Sparkle Ball™ to an Indi City design was an amazing journey. Bringing Sky and Water together through the creative collaboration was so exciting.  What is the design inspiration behind the Nîpîy earring? What does Nîpîy mean? Why was it important to you to name this product in Cree language?  Nîpîy means water in Nēhiyawēwin. Language reclamation and protecting the earth and water go hand in hand. They’re essential aspects of Indigeneity. Water is life, we are water and water is us. Please make sure to thank the water and let it know you love it. Speak into it everyday when you shower, brush your teeth, and fill your water bottle. This cycle of reciprocity and love will only bring about goodness.  June is National Indigenous History Month. What do you want to share with our community about the importance of acknowledging and celebrating Indigenous cultural history, Indigenous voices and creators like yourselves? This land that we all live on has been under the loving care of Indigenous Peoples’ since time immemorial. Our blood memory connects us to songs and spirits that exist here. Indigenous History Month is a renewing of the moon cycle that comes 13 times a year. It’s a time to build relationships, to celebrate and acknowledge the Indigenous voices and creators who are vital to a healthy community. Innate wisdom and knowledge can be transferred so that we all have a beat on what sort of future we want to build together. "This land that we all live on has been under the loving care of Indigenous Peoples’ since time immemorial. Our blood memory connects us to songs and spirits that exist here. Indigenous History Month is a renewing of the moon cycle that comes 13 times a year. It’s a time to build relationships, to celebrate and acknowledge the Indigenous voices and creators who are vital to a healthy community. ” Writing: Carter Selinger

The release of Birthday Cake Sparkle inspired us to talk to someone who knows their way around a beautiful dessert. Enter Venessa Liang, a pharmacist and dessert creator who appeared on The Food Network’s Great Chocolate Showdown. We talked to Venessa about the importance of family, culture, community, and balance in her life. This is one of our sweetest profiles yet. You’re going to want to get to know her. What inspired you to have a blended career as a pharmacist and also a dessert creator? It sort of just happened that way! I never planned to become a pharmacist when I was younger and I definitely never envisioned creating cakes and chocolate the way I do now. Although, I must say, I’ve truly found two amazing passions that I can’t live without. I would never give one up for the other because I want my cake and to eat it too!How long does it take you to create a cake? This one definitely depends on what kind of cake I am making but in a simple answer - it takes days!! From creating fillings, buttercream and cakes to designing and decorating - it is a serious juggle to finish everything in a timely manner AFTER working a 40 hour week. How do you balance all the aspects of your life; your two careers, your family, and your social life? There’s a reason why my husband calls me HURRICANE VENESSA. I don’t think I’m that perfect overachiever that has everything balanced. If anything, I’ve learned that trying to do everything, accomplish everything and be happy with everything is NOT sustainable long term. It can take a strain on both your physical and mental health and then permanently break that “balance” we’re all trying to achieve. Lately, I’ve tried to focus on being content with “smaller” goals within each pillar that is important to me. So instead of trying to attain perfection in every aspect of my life (which yes, I can’t believe I’ve tried to do this for so long), I focus on being proud of the small wins! Putting less pressure on myself to reach my own expectations is a huge part of being content with where I am in all the aspects of my life. “Putting less pressure on myself to reach my own expectations is a huge part of being content with where I am in all the aspects of my life.” We love how much you feature your family on your Instagram! Why are weekly family dinners so important to you? Our Chinese culture’s love language is and has always been food! While saying “I love you” and showing emotion to each other as a family was NOT a norm in our day to day, dinner together was always a must. No matter what happened, we always sat down to eat together at the end of the day. Now that we are separated into different towns and cities, we set aside our Mondays once a week to spend that quality time together. Many people may think we put too much effort into our food life but enjoying scrumptious Chinese food is something that we all relate to and enjoy immensely. Furthermore, sharing my culture and our food with society was never something that I did - for fear of judgement and frankly, racism. Since it’s 2022, I believe that there is no room for discrimination and no one should feel embarrassed by what they are eating - especially when what we’re eating is SO DELICIOUS! I find joy in sharing and providing education about my culture, and I hope to inspire others to be more open and adventurous when they think of Asian cuisine. Tell us about a woman who has inspired you, or does inspire you? One of my greatest inspirations is my grandma! Or, “a poa” as we call her. She is one of the strongest women I know and has been a constant throughout my life. While she may be tiny and adorable, she brings forth an energy so strong that she is a force to be reckoned with. She reminds me that any problems I come to face in my day to day are nothing compared to what she has gone through to make it to today. If grandma can do it, I can do it too.If you could choose one word to describe yourself, what would you choose and why? Extravagant. Life is too short to choose the safe and boring option. “Life is too short to choose the safe and boring option.” You appeared on The Food Network’s Great Chocolate Showdown. Can you tell us how this came about and what the experience was like on the show? This one definitely happened out of the blue! You wouldn’t believe it but a casting director messaged me on Instagram and the rest is basically history! The experience was definitely unlike anything I have ever done. It was exhausting, thrilling, fun and debilitating all at the same time. I made great, life long baker friends and I learned SO much about chocolate that put me onto the path I am on today. Do you have any tips for staying calm while under pressure? Deep breaths and ramen noodles.What advice do you have for anyone who is an amateur baker who wants to take their baking to the next level? 1. Practice, practice, practice! Accept that failure is a reality and learn from those mistakes to make yourself better at your craft. I definitely did not become who I am overnight and I have my fair share of failures under my belt too! Was I upset about them at the time? Yes. Am I better at what I do now because of it? Absolutely. 2. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box! The “next level” may seem unattainable at the time but sometimes, it just takes a leap outside of your comfort zone to really up your game. “Accept that failure is a reality and learn from those mistakes to make yourself better at your craft.” If you were a Sparkle colour, what colour would you be? Gold! For too long, I hated on anything resembling yellow or gold because it attached me to my race as a Chinese person. Today, I am proud to represent my culture and my ethnicity as I am. I want to be able to show younger generations of myself that our culture is beautiful and absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. It’s bold, beautiful and “worth its weight in gold” “I want to be able to show younger generations of myself that our culture is beautiful and absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.”

Amy Robichaud is the Chair of the Dress for Success Canada Foundation and the Executive Director of Dress for Success Vancouver. She spoke with us about her organization’s beneficial programs and world-class stylists. She also talked about the psychological power of fashion, community, and how she found advocacy and activism at a very young age. You’re going to want to get to know her.Could you talk a little bit about what Dress for Success in Canada is all about? Our goal at Dress for Success in Canada is to empower women into good jobs, financial independence, and personal success. Our most well-known flagship services are our dressing services—we get women the attire they need for interviews and work. But we also provide free 1-on-1 career coaching for women who are looking for work and need help preparing for interviews, or want to build a better CV, or improve their linkedin profile, or who are trying to access government services. You name it. We also provide free mental health counseling with clinical practitioners for women who need that. We do workshops on everything from financial literacy, to managing your mental health, to balancing family and work, to heart health and taking care of yourself. We also do leadership programs and provide women who have found work with professional development guidance for up to one year free of charge.We’re working to democratize networking so that the women who come to Dress for Success in Canada have an equal opportunity to build the same professional, business, and peer networks that we all rely on and credit our success to. “Our goal at Dress for Success in Canada is to empower women into good jobs, financial independence, and personal success.” Why do you believe in partnerships between nonprofits and brands like H&B? What are some of the benefits of these kinds of relationships? There is a very strict definition of what charity is, which is important, but there is also a broader concept of just doing good—being a good citizen and showing up for your community. We all have the responsibility to do that. So partnerships like the one Dress for Success Canada has with Hillberg and Berk are important because we work together to broaden the idea of a product. We try to create something that emphasizes what a product can do for a community, and for the people in that community. We work together to help make this concept of “doing good” a more accessible, attainable thing. Being part of a community means you have a responsibility to and for each other. Our partnership with H&B exemplifies that. We take care of each other. That’s community. And when you find the right partnership, it’s like finding the right outfit. It all comes together. “Being part of a community means you have a responsibility to and for each other. Our partnership with H&B exemplifies that. We take care of each other. That’s community. And when you find the right partnership, it’s like finding the right outfit. It all comes together.” Has this kind of advocacy work always been something you envisioned yourself doing? The advocacy that I do for economic inclusion for women, and equity in general, is deeply personal. I grew up with a lot of privilege in some ways, but in other ways, I experienced just how difficult it was for women to succeed. My mother is the strongest, most amazing woman I know. She was our family’s breadwinner for most of my childhood. She had to be a bulldozer. I grew up with a very powerful and present example of what it meant to be a woman who was struggling to provide for her family and succeed in the economy. She did what she needed to do, but it shouldn’t have been so hard for her.Were there any moments earlier in life that you look back on now as indications you’d be well-suited to this kind of work? I gave my first advocacy speech before I had words. I stood on the hearth in a nightgown and impassionately intoned something to my family for several minutes. It’s a pretty straight line in my brain from that moment to lecturing adults for littering at age seven, to joining the debate team at 12, to going to university for public policy and political theory. I was raised in a family that made a point of talking about what was going on in the world. A lot of families say that politics and religion are things you should keep away from the dinner table, but that was our dinner table. Those conversations gave me the ability to see injustices and to decide to care about them. Who are some of your role models? My mom is always at the top of my list. There’s a lot of women, or people, in their thirties who wake up one day, look in the mirror, and say: “Oh my god I look like my parents.” For me it’s like, “Yup, there’s my mom.” And that’s a great feeling because I admire her and she’s taught me a ton. Also, Roberta Bondar. I spent a lot of my childhood wanting to be an astronaut before I realized that math was not a strong suit for me. Roberta broke barriers and, while she did, talked about being a woman in a place where it wasn’t considered normal. I saw her doing something that women weren’t doing with grace and determination, and she always spoke about it with eloquence while advocating for other women to get involved. I actually got to meet her as an adult. She was the most gracious human. So that was pretty phenomenal. “There’s a lot of women, or people, in their thirties who wake up one day, look in the mirror, and say: “Oh my god I look like my parents.” For me it’s like, “Yup, there’s my mom.” And that’s a great feeling because I admire her and she’s taught me a ton.” Could you share a Dress for Success Vancouver story that has been especially important to you? A client came in last year who was looking for a second job to cover the cost of school supplies for her kids, and she ended up going through the dressing service process. During the process, she shared her story of becoming a refugee—how she fled her home country to ensure the safety of her children because her husband had broken both of her legs. She told us all this information while trying to find shoes that wouldn’t hurt her, because she never healed properly. It feels like such a small thing for us to be able to say: “We have shoes that will fit and feel great.” That’s such a small thing for us, but for her it was the first time shoes hadn’t hurt her feet in years, and she left feeling confident about getting a second job to help her kids. We had another client who’d been unemployed since before the pandemic. She’d worked in the tech sector and hadn’t found work in a long time. Ageism was a huge part of her situation. She’s smart and educated and has held senior roles, but after 3 years she was feeling so beaten down with “no’s” (and a global crisis) that she’d completely lost her sense of self. No one had helped her. She was referred to us and we offered her counseling with a clinical psychologist so she could have someone to talk to. After that, she came in for a dressing service, and again, for the first time in years, this was the place where people saw her, acknowledged her, helped her, and believed in her. So, those are two very different clients, but it is as meaningful for both of them to be able to access our services. “When a client leaves, she leaves with a bag full of new-to-her clothing and a literal arsenal of tools and resources to help her feel better.” Given that you typically try on clothes with a friend or family member, does the dressing service create a unique intimacy and opportunity to talk about physical and mental health? There’s this sort of innate trust and vulnerability that comes with trying on clothes and being in a changeroom with other women. Our stylists do so much more than put them in beautiful, confidence-building attire. They listen, they offer other services we have, they commiserate, and empathize. They share their own experiences and they build trust and, when a client leaves, she leaves with a bag full of new-to-her clothing and a literal arsenal of tools and resources to help her feel better.Styling revolves around the psychological concept of enclothed cognition, which is the meaning and symbolism that we give to clothing. For example, we associate a doctor’s white coat with authority and intelligence. Studies have shown we’ll actually give more trust to somebody in a lab coat than someone who is not. But we also do that with ourselves. We all have a version of our own power suit—the jeans that make us feel the best, the shirt that we stand tallest in, and the shoes that we stand straighter in. It’s hard to pinpoint what it is, but something happens when we style people—the clothes allow their natural confidence to shine through, and it becomes more about the woman than the clothes we put her in. It becomes about how she feels in her body and not her body itself. “Something happens when we style people—the clothes allow their natural confidence to shine through, and it becomes more about the woman than the clothes we put her in. It becomes about how she feels in her body and not her body itself.” At H&B we like to talk about women “rising together”. Can you tell us about some of the relationships you’ve formed with other women through this work? How important are those relationships to your outlook and general wellbeing? In our community at Dress for Success Canada we always talk about “lifting as we rise” and I think that’s one of the reasons our partnership with Hillberg & Berk is such a good fit. There’s a definitive brand alignment there. This organization is the only place I’ve worked in gender advocacy where it’s impossible to tell the clients, volunteers, and staff apart. Part of the reason that’s so difficult is because we have clients who have become volunteers, volunteers who have become clients, clients who have become staff, and staff who have accessed our services. Every last one of us has some way they can learn, be lifted, or rise, and we all have the ability to do that for someone else. I know it’s really frowned upon in business literature to talk about your staff as a family, but it’s so hard for me not to feel that way with the people I work with because there is this sense of holistic community to what we do. What I felt from the very beginning through Hillberg & Berk and through the branding, through the jewellery, through Share Your Sparkle, was this alignment with Rachel’s vision. She’s built a team that doesn't just talk about this idea of “helping people rise,” but who believe it themselves. This true values alignment made all our conversations about creating and building a partnership publicly as easy as breathing. There’s a magic in it that I don’t know how to describe otherwise. “Every last one of us has some way they can learn, be lifted, or rise, and we all have the ability to do that for someone else.” Can you talk a little bit about the styling process at Dress for Success in Vancouver? Have you seen any great looks that you’d like to share? Some of the best celebrity stylists are located in Vancouver and many of them choose to give their time back to our organization. It’s pretty amazing how someone who has just finished dressing people for the Golden Globes will be here the next day helping style a woman who is trying to get a second job. You see the difference in someone who professionally knows how to build confidence in someone and find pieces that are appropriate for their body and match their personality. Our stylists always show me what a powerful form of self-expression clothing can be. It’s nice to be able to see people receive that gift.It seems like it would be important to feel confident and ready for anything while doing this crucial advocacy work. Is there any jewellery that helps you feel this way? I have a gold locket that’s been with my family for generations that my great aunt gave to me. That’s a piece that helps me do this work because I put it on and I feel like I have this lineage of women with me. I also have an M necklace with diamonds in it. Both my mother and grandmother have the same one because we all share the same middle name. We call ourselves the 3 Marlenes. So, when I wear that it makes me feel deeply connected to them and I know they’re with me. There’s something about when I put those pieces on—there’s extra power in it.Ok, I promise I’m not just saying this because we’re having this conversation for Hillberg & Berk, but I bought the Leopard print Sparkle Balls™ as soon as they came out, and they’ve landed as part of my wardrobe on the regular. They’re fun. They’re fierce. They’re a little edgy, but they also go with everything and I get compliments on them all the time. They’ve become part of that enclothed cognition where if I need a little extra help one day, one of my family necklaces and the Sparkle Balls™ are going on. Writing: Carter Selinger

The Dress for Success Ambassador Program is a diverse and inclusive skill development program that creates leadership opportunities for its participants. By sharing their stories during workshops and events, former clients become volunteers and representatives of Dress for Success Vancouver. It’s a way for community members to continue learning while giving back. Let’s meet some Dress for Success ambassadors! Silvia A glass ceiling represents a barrier that women experience in the workplace and prohibits them from success. How have you shattered glass ceilings? I work in a male-dominated field. It’s changing little by little. More women are working in logistics, but very few have moved into leadership positions. I do my best at work and encourage other women to do the same. We have to support each other. The Vice President of our company is a woman, and she is an inspiration to me. In what ways has Dress for Success made an impact on your life and why did you choose to be an ambassador? Dress for Success always welcomes and supports women with respect no matter where they are in life. It’s been four years now since I went for my first fitting appointment. Since then, I have had many other opportunities through Dress for Success: I received valuable networking opportunities with the Professional Women’s Group, I’ve attended professional workshops and been given immeasurable support. This organization gave me an opportunity to truly connect with other professional women, listen to their life stories, and also share mine. I’m a proud Dress for Success Vancouver Ambassador and I want to give back to this community. “Confidence is believing that you’re able to do whatever you want. It’s the knowledge that you have the tools, the ability and power, and the infinite capacity to learn.” What does confidence mean to you? Confidence is believing that you’re able to do whatever you want. It’s the knowledge that you have the tools, the ability and power, and the infinite capacity to learn. But it’s easy to forget those things. That’s why being surrounded by trusting people who encourage and remind you of what you can do is so priceless. Sanam A glass ceiling represents a barrier that women experience in the workplace/in their careers. How have you shattered glass ceilings? I shattered the glass ceiling by speaking out and expressing what I needed. I remember situations in the past where I tried to follow my goal while ignoring these barriers, but that approach required so much extra effort. “I shattered the glass ceiling by speaking out and expressing what I needed.” In what ways has Dress for Success made an impact on your life and why did you choose to be an ambassador? I feel more energetic and powerful in so many different situations. The Professional Women’s Group taught me that when I encounter a problem, the first thing I should do is draw up a plan and then take action. I chose to be an ambassador to keep in touch with the amazing people I’ve met through Dress For Success, and to create more networking opportunities. Who or what inspires you everyday to step outside of your comfort zone Both my manager and mentor at Dress for Success are sources of inspiration. I’m inspired by people who are excited to communicate and learn new things. Tracy A glass ceiling represents a barrier that women experience in the workplace and prohibits them from success. How have you shattered glass ceilings? I have done this several times in my journey both as a student and during my career. I became the first female Secretary General of my student union in a highly competitive election. Despite my colleagues thinking it would be impossible, I received a commonwealth scholarship for my MSc while heavily pregnant with my daughter. In my career I was able to broker a peaceful resolution with local communities, government, and oil companies on issues surrounding oil exploitation. I developed the first-ever multi-stakeholder mechanism, an act that most of my colleagues had given up on. “It’s helpful for women, especially immigrant women and women from minority groups, to hear stories like mine as they continue on their journeys.” In what ways has Dress for Success made an impact on your life and why did you choose to be an ambassador? The knowledge I gained from their workshops and the amazing network of women I’ve met through this organization have been invaluable. That’s why I contribute to the growth of Dress for Success. It’s helpful for women, especially immigrant women and women from minority groups, to hear stories like mine as they continue on their journeys.Why is giving back so important to you? It allows me to build relationships with people in my local community and learn about different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. And, most importantly, it helps my mental health. I feel happy knowing I’m giving back to society. Marie A glass ceiling represents a barrier that women experience in the workplace and prohibits them from success. How have you shattered glass ceilings? I’ve been involved in many positions in my professional career where I've been asked to contribute ideas for women’s empowerment initiatives, but the lack of actual support at these organizations caused me to struggle to achieve my career goals. It wasn’t until I joined the Professional Women’s Group—after partaking in the mentorship program and curated workshops—that I achieved a longstanding career goal. The Professional Women’s Group mentorship program empowered me to take action and shatter my career barriers. It rebuilt my persistence and tenacity—critical traits that helped me overcome barriers and pivot into a better-fitting job that aligned with my personal values. “The impact has been profoundly positive and nudged me towards wanting to be an Ambassador as a way to give back to the community and help other women shatter the barriers in their lives.” In what ways has Dress for Success made an impact on your life and why did you choose to be an ambassador? Dress For Success has not only introduced me to a network of women that support and nurture me, it has also equipped me with practical life lessons that transformed my personal and professional life. The impact has been profoundly positive and nudged me towards wanting to be an Ambassador as a way to give back to the community and help other women shatter the barriers in their lives. I’m excited to begin the next chapter with Dress For Success as an ambassador, and to impart my newfound knowledge and confidence to help others succeed on their Dress For Success journeys. What motivates you to be a changemaker? The need and desire to make a difference drives me to be a changemaker. I believe a small change can go a long way, and that’s what motivates me to get involved and participate in my community as a changemaker.   H&B at Dress for Success Vancouver, participating in Ambassador Suiting Programs, Winter 2022 Writing: Carter Selinger