Roya is a shining example of professional resilience, combining her deep commitment to leadership with an exciting entrepreneurial vision. A Texas native, Veteran, and single mother, Roya’s career journey is a powerful testament to the value of building a strong personal brand and never giving up on a dream.

My name is Sarah Wasaff, and I’ve proudly served on the board for Dress for Success Austin for the past five years. I’m also a Wealth Manager with Creative Planning, an independent firm dedicated to helping clients create customized financial plans that support their goals and values. In my work, I guide families toward financial freedom, and through DFSA, I help women gain the tools and confidence to achieve economic independence. Both roles share the same heart — empowering people to take control of their futures. Over the years, I’ve seen that when women feel confident about their money, it opens the door to new opportunities in every area of life. That’s why I’m excited to share these financial tips and a decade-by-decade playbook to help you build strength, stability and freedom at any stage of your journey.

A special thanks to Flash Party Photo Booth for an incredible partnership for many DFSA events to come, starting with our 12th Annual Little Black Dress Soiree. To view the full gallery of photos from LBD 2025, visit here.

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I find myself reflecting on the deep roots and meaningful traditions that have shaped my life. This month is a time to honor the generations who came before me, those whose journeys and sacrifices paved the way for my existence. My heritage comes from Spanish, Portuguese, and Native American cultures, and knowing how many people survived for me to be here today amazes me.

Meet Blessing Tate — a mother, a Veteran, and an absolute powerhouse. Blessing is a woman who embodies resilience and a relentless pursuit of her passions. In 2020, she completed her undergraduate studies in Earth & Environmental Science at Brooklyn College. She's now on the cusp of earning her master's degree in Earth & Environmental Policy from Johns Hopkins University.

I jumped at the chance to write this post for National Wellness Month —because I’m deeply passionate about spreading the word on well-being.

As a former medical and healthcare reporter, I had the privilege of covering some of the most exciting breakthroughs in science and medicine. Today, as a public relations professional working with medical and healthcare brands, I still get a front-row seat to innovation and life-changing advancements. But my interest in wellness runs deeper than my career. It’s personal—and it’s become a true passion.

Alexandria's connection to our services runs close to home, thanks to her sister, an educator at IDEA Public Schools, who consistently refers women our way. It was this network of support that brought Alexandria to our doors, and left her feeling empowered following a resume review session. With some quick tweaks now in progress, Alexandria is set to make her next move.

Her career philosophy is beautifully simple, but profound: "Be happy in a role knowing that you're helping someone help themselves."

When Monique first walked into DFSA in 2021, she was referred by Safe Alliance and came seeking support, guidance, and a path forward. What she found was a community ready to uplift her.

Myranda just graduated from Austin Community College with her associate’s in visual design, but this is just the beginning. She is currently prepping for her fall semester at Western Governors University to pursue a bachelor’s in marketing through their award-winning online degree program.

Rachel is originally from Portland, Oregon but moved to Austin eight years ago in pursuit of warmer weather. Prior to moving, she went to the University of Oregon where she completed the Communication Disorders and Sciences undergrad program and attended Eastern Washington University for grad school.

With a passion for working with kids, Rachel always knew she wanted to specialize in speech therapy. She liked that it was a more niche field with the ability to work with small groups.

As a card-carrying member of Gen X, we were not taught about mental health as kids. We were expected to get through it, no matter what it was or how hard it was, and there really wasn’t going to be anyone on the other side to console us when it was over. Now, I see how this generation of kids are being taught about mental health and rightfully so.

DFSA is thrilled to announce the expansion of its current headquarters by 2,557 square feet, allowing us to reach our goal of serving 25% more women in the Greater Austin area.

Looking back on the past three years with both Schneider Electric and Dress for Success Austin, I have immense gratitude for the progress that these organizations have achieved related to sustainability and efficiency.

Kerry is a Veteran currently serving in the Army National Guard for 28 years and is set to retire in February 2026. With a career change on the horizon, Kerry came into DFSA to prepare for the civilian workforce with travel plans in her near future.

Click here to view our 2024 Impact Report.

Stacey, Summer and Ladene join DFSA’s 2025 Board of Directors alongside Andrea Nicholas, Paula Harmon, Greta Gonzales, Trena Robinson, Sarah Wasaff, Diane Ramos, Teresa Brinson, Teri Evans, Leanne Metcalfe, Dubravka Romano, Vandana Singh, and Dottie Watkins.

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.

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.