As we know at DFSA, women profoundly influence their families, neighborhoods, and communities. Entrepreneurship is an excellent vehicle for widening that impact and doing something uniquely natural to women: birthing things.

As we celebrate International Girls Day, I want to take a moment to recognize not just the incredible potential young girls hold, but also the profound impact they have on shaping a brighter, more inclusive world.

This holiday season, we invite you to join us in making Lauren's Christmas wishes come true for her and her children. We've created an Amazon wishlist filled with items that will bring a little joy and comfort to their lives, and a monetary donation form for funds associated with Lauren’s LSAT registration and child tutoring expenses.

Aneri is a second year masters student who enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering in August 2023 and is set to graduate with her Master’s in Computer Science and Engineering in May 2025. While most of her family resides in India, she remains steadfast in reaching her goals as a Texas Longhorn.

Celebrate International Day of Climate Action with us at Mantra Yoga Collective’s The Retreat for a special collaborative community event on Thursday, October 24 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at The Retreat studio located at 3300 W. Anderson Ln., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78757.

I have chosen Financial Planning Month to share that small part of my own personal financial journey. It took me about three years, but I committed to paying down that debt and getting myself to a positive net worth number. It was hard, but I made it through and hope my story will help some people take a moment to look at their own finances.

I was inspired to speak on International Equal Pay Day because I mentor a lot of women, and the themes seem to be the same, most women are great managers and will fight for their team, but do not negotiate well for themselves.

AMD’s Diane Ramos is a featured voice of Latino leadership and DFSA board member. She joins us in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month which kicks off today through October 15 by sharing her personal traditions and values.

I originally chose to speak on Women’s Equality Day because of my own experiences as a woman working in the largely male-dominated field of insurance. I wanted to share my thoughts about what worked and didn’t work for me. When I selected the topic a few months ago, I had no idea that as I write this we would be witnessing history unfold in the U.S. presidential race.

Simona initially heard about Dress for Success Austin while in school to become a medical assistant a few years ago. Her instructor mentioned how DFSA provides professional attire, career coaching and other support to women. At the time, her finances were limited due to the demands of her accelerated nursing program so the timing of this resource was helpful as she worked her way to being an RN and LVN.

Britny was working for a tech company before a series of medical issues led to job loss. This setback began when she received a diagnosis that impacted her mental health and performance. Over the past two years, Britny has worked diligently to learn about her mental health to thrive in her next role.

Always inspired by non-profit work that supports economic security, Sylvia started volunteering at DFSA in February 2023. It’s what initially connected her passion to our mission — helping others “not just survive, but thrive. All people, but especially women!”

Read how you can prioritize your mental health for Professional Wellness Month and how employers can make a difference.

We’ve got some news! Dress for Success Austin recently welcomed six new faces to DFSA staff. Help us say hello to these rockstar team members: Nina Guilford, Julia Hathaway, Jessica Chandler, Liz Seither, Haley Poorman, and Harolyn Collins. We sent along some rapid-fire questions to get to know them at a glance, see what they had to say!

Over the course of the last 12 months, Sarah has grown her network of women thanks to the organization and her involvement as a donor, volunteer, career coach, and Circle of Impact member. As someone who was looking for a job herself, Sarah has been able to fully utilize DFSA programs to empower her own career while empowering Central Texas women.

Originally from Chicago, Latonya arrived in Austin about six months before discovering Dress for Success Austin. She found the organization through an internet search while looking for career resources. She was familiar with Dress for Success from her time in Chicago so when the name appeared in her search results, she took action and scheduled an appointment.

Shirdelle was first introduced to DFSA through her work at SAFE Austin as their Community Engagement Coordinator. Her passion for advocacy largely stems from her own childhood experiences. She now utilizes those life skills to advocate for herself and others. She attended DFSA’s Community Connect, a monthly gathering where close partners gather together to exchange resources and better serve our community. It was there that inspired her to get more involved.

Juanita discovered DFSA on a Campus Life announcement board at Huston-Tillotson University where she studies psychology. She immediately scheduled three appointments as she works on the initial stages of a business idea.

Despite being laid off from a finance role in December, Sarita is taking this opportunity to use her decade-long experience to pursue a similar role, one tied to her passion for training in mortgage management.

Click to view our 2023 Impact Report.