Roya is empowered to pursue her dream career

Roya is a Texas native, Veteran, and single mother who has participated in several Dress for Success Austin programs. In 2008, she left a career with the Air Force after four years of service and is now a reservation sales agent at a global hotel group.

At DFSA, Roya has especially valued our Path to Employment (P2E) mentorship program which she has utilized on multiple occasions alongside mentors Bethany, Josie, and Sylvia. With the help of her mentors, she has polished her resume and cover letter to prepare for future interviews and fuel her job search. Her most recent mentor, Sylvia, often reminds her that it’s about casting a wide net to find the perfect role especially in a landscape that offers so many opportunities across various industries.

Roya finds that the most meaningful part of the process is connecting with mentors who empower her. She never fails to remember that there are women before her that have made a difference in the lives of other women and those who continue to make a difference. She comments that, similar to breakthrough women in history, the women at DFSA have made a lasting impact in more ways than one.

She comments that programs like Path to Employment have created a new perspective on finding a new role and what it means to Brag!: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It, a book recommended by her mentor that’s a constant reminder in her own career. Roya now positions herself to say, “I’m quite capable of this!”

Our Path to Employment program goes beyond written materials. It’s a space where clients like Roya can really start to shape where they see their careers. In Roya’s case, she was an Administrative Assistant in her last year of the Air Force where she worked directly with the commander and assistant commander. She now utilizes those skills in her current role within reservations where she communicates with C-Suite guests for a luxury hospitality space. During her mentor sessions, she quickly learned just how much she brings to the table with her past and present roles — getting her that much closer to her dream career.

“The women at DFSA have made a lasting impact in more ways than one.”