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.

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!”