I thought I was joining a program to rebuild my career. I didn’t realize it would also rebuild my confidence as a mother.
When I moved to Vancouver from The Bahamas, I felt like I was starting over in every direction. I was navigating a new country, a new culture, and the pressure of creating stability for my family while trying to rediscover who I was as a woman and a professional. Then I became a mother again – far from the familiar support systems I once relied on. I wanted to be strong for my children, but inside, I was overwhelmed and unsure of how to rebuild my life from the ground up.
Finding Dress for Success Vancouver changed everything.
When I joined the Professional Women’s Group (now Working Women’s Group), I expected career guidance. What I found was a community that saw me as a whole person – a woman, a mother, and a leader in the making. My mentor listened with empathy and helped me recognize strengths I had overlooked. She didn’t just help me prepare for a career; she helped me rebuild my sense of identity.
When I went on maternity leave, I worried I would lose momentum. Instead, the workshops became a lifeline. I attended sessions with my baby beside me, learning about leadership, balance, and self-awareness during one of the most vulnerable seasons of my life. Those workshops reminded me that motherhood wasn’t a pause in my journey – it was part of my evolution.
The skills I learned didn’t just shape my professional path; they transformed the way I showed up at home. I became more intentional, more confident, and more grounded. I communicated differently. I made decisions with clarity. I led my household with a strength I didn’t know I had. My children saw a mother who was growing, learning, and stepping into her power, and that changed the atmosphere of our home.
My Dressing Services appointment was another defining moment. Standing in front of the mirror in a blazer that fit perfectly, holding my baby in my arms, I saw a woman who was ready to step into her future. That outfit wasn’t just clothing; it was a symbol of the confidence I was reclaiming.
As my confidence grew, so did my desire to give back. I became a volunteer Community Resource Specialist, helping women access food programs, child care support, housing resources, and financial guidance. Many of them were mothers too, carrying the same weight I once carried. Supporting them felt like closing a circle – proof that when one woman rises, she lifts others with her.
Receiving the 2023 Lucia Crosson Award was a moment of deep pride. It wasn’t just recognition of my volunteer work; it was a reflection of the woman I had become. From feeling lost in a new country to becoming a mother, mentor, and community leader. The transformation was undeniable.
And now, as a Dress for Success Vancouver Ambassador, I stand even taller. I get to represent the mission that helped rebuild my life. I get to share my story so other women, especially mothers, can see what’s possible when they are supported, believed in, and given the tools to rise. Being an Ambassador isn’t just a title; it’s a responsibility I carry with gratitude and purpose.
Today, I stand in my career with confidence, in my home with strength, and in my community with intention. Dress for Success Vancouver didn’t just help me rebuild my professional life, they helped me become the mother and leader I always hoped my children would see.
Because when a mother is supported, her entire world rises with her. And I am living proof that when you uplift one woman, you uplift a family, a community, and a future.
Donnette’s story is proof of what’s possible when a mother is supported. This Mother’s Day, honour a mother in your life by becoming a monthly Success Donor. Every new monthly gift made in May is matched by a generous board member. Start your monthly gift today.
