In 2015, my life took an unexpected turn when I was diagnosed with cancer. Between surgeries and chemotherapy, I found myself confined to my home, unable to work, and grappling with a persistent cough that just wouldn’t go away. I realized the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and having focus on something else.
Eager to stay engaged and make a positive impact, I reached out to Microsoft’s philanthropy team to explore opportunities for remote volunteering. They introduced me to Dress for Success, a global organization that had recently opened its doors in Singapore. Their mission was clear: to empower economically disadvantaged women by providing them with career advice, professional attire, and interview preparation to help them live more prosperous lives.
While they couldn’t immediately accommodate remote volunteers like myself, we agreed to stay. After completing my treatment and regaining my strength, they kindly invited me to Dress for Success Singapore kick off launch event. There, I was introduced to their volunteer coaching program, which aimed to help women build their careers and self-confidence.
Although I was enthusiastic about becoming a volunteer coach, I understood the sensitivity of the situation. Many of the women seeking assistance had experienced serious issues such as domestic violence, making it inappropriate for a male coach to be involved. However, this setback didn’t deter me.
During a training day, I crossed paths with Susan Vaughan, an ex-colleague who was working on a project to scale up Dress for Success’ coaching efforts. We shared a vision of creating a comprehensive career program and toolkit that could be utilized on a larger scale, transforming the lives of countless women in Singapore. I joined forces with Susan and the organization’s team to kickstart the development of this program.
The result was a powerful set of tools and resources that could be scaled, providing a structured approach to career coaching and empowering women with the skills they needed to succeed in the job market.
Beyond the toolkit, I’ve attended Dress For Success fundraising events and heard more of the inspiring work undertaken by a generous team of volunteers.
Through this journey, I discovered a world I had never known existed—the world of women facing unimaginable challenges through no fault of their own.
The Dress for Success team globally are doing remarkable things make a difference for these woman by providing a platform of support to develop professionally and gain financial independence for their families in the process.
What started out as an exploration to do some good as a form of distraction from my cancer recovery turned into a whole learning experience and made me realise how fortunate I was.
To learn more, take a look at the Dress For Success sites:
