DFS Vancouver Presents Kirsten Sutton at Inaugural Success Luncheon October 30th, 2013

Dress for Success is pleased to welcome Kirsten Sutton, VP & Managing Director of SAP Labs Canada, as one of four speakers at the Inaugural Success Luncheon on Wednesday, October 30th at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. 

About Kirsten

 

Kirsten Sutton, VP & Managing Director
of SAP Labs Canada

Kirsten Sutton was appointed Managing Director of SAP Labs Canada on January 3, 2012. Previously the Managing Director of SAP Labs Vancouver where she served as external and internal liaison for the Vancouver Lab and represented Vancouver across the global SAP Labs network, Kirsten’s role has expanded to include management of all the SAP Labs facilities across Canada.

 

An integral part of SAP’s global research and development network, the SAP Labs Canada organization spans the country including Vancouver, Toronto, Waterloo and Montreal. SAP Labs Vancouver was established in 1984 and is the birthplace of SAP’s robust Business Intelligence platform. SAP Labs Montreal was established in 1998 and is a key development center for applications running on SAP HANA, and Mobility. SAP Labs Toronto was established in 2005 and has responsibility for development of Retail and Service industry solutions. SAP Labs Waterloo was established in 1981 and is a center of excellence for SAP HANA, database and mobility platform.

Prior to her appointment as Managing Director for SAP Labs Vancouver, Kirsten was Global Director of Technology Development Operations for SAP, as well as Chair of the Vancouver Leadership Team. Previous to this she was Global Director of Translation where she incorporated leading edge technologies and progressive processes in the centralization of translation services across the organization. 

Further to her very full career with SAP, Kirsten is a Director on both the Board of the Minerva Foundation for BC Women as well as the BCTIA (British Columbia Technology Industry Association). Kirsten is also a playwright and a French chef; two skills that lend to her artistic and social flair and give new meaning to the notion of “dinner theatre”. 

Kirsten holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Creative Writing from Western Washington University, and BA Honors in English from the University of California at Irvine. She is based out of the SAP Vancouver office in Yaletown.

About Dress for Success Vancouver
Dress for Success Vancouver is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.  Since its inception in 1999, Dress for Success Vancouver has helped more than 17,000 women towards self-sufficiency. 

Event Details
Get your tickets at www.dressforsuccess.org/vancouver
Enjoy a 3 course lunch and the opportunity to network with other prominent business contacts across all sectors.  

All proceeds are in support of Dress for Success Vancouver!

Mentor Spotlight, Karen Willis

Name: Karen Willis

How long have you been mentoring at Dress for Success Vancouver?  About 2 ½ years. I started working in Dressing Services along with my daughter … we thought it was a great way to spend a Saturday combining our love of clothes with helping others and getting some mother/daughter bonding time. Last October, on the suggestion of a colleague who is a mentor, I attended a DFS Professional Women’s Group meeting to see what it was all about. I was inspired by the energy, sense of community, and support for one another that was generated by the amazing women that are part of that group, and since then I have been offering my services as a mentor.

What is the best thing about mentoring with DFS? Memorable moments?  The best thing for me is getting to know these incredibly strong, resilient women who have come to PWG to learn, grow and advance … they come from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures and it is so interesting to learn more about them. One of my most memorable moments was when one of the women I had helped fine tune her resume told me she had been offered a great job with an organization she was keenly interested in working for. I was so happy and excited for her … it was a great moment.

What do you do when you aren't mentoring?  I love to travel and would be a vagabond if I had the time and funds to support it. I also have a passion for decorating and seem to be constantly renovating some area of my home … I like the creative process.

Who is your style icon? Audrey Hepburn represents the classic style I like.

What is your dream vacation? Having a minimum of six months of uninterrupted time to explore all the countries on my bucket list. 

What is your motto?  Carpe diem! (Seize the Day!)

DFS Vancouver Presents Laurie Schultz at Inaugural Success Luncheon October 30th, 2013

Dress for Success Vancouver is thrilled to host Laurie Schultz, President and CEO of ACL Services for our Inaugural Success Luncheon Series on October 30th. 

Laurie Schultz, President and CEO, is responsible for leading the successful execution of ACL's strategic growth plans.

With over 12 years of software experience with Intuit and Sage, Laurie has led 10 different software businesses spanning personal finance through small business accounting and mid market ERP solutions. Prior to joining ACL, Laurie was the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sage North America’s mid market ERP portfolio where she was accountable for seven products sold in over 100 countries through a reseller channel of 2,000 partners and an employee base of 600. Prior to her time with Intuit and Sage, Laurie worked for KPMG in their Marketing and Business Development Consulting Practice, and for Telus in Product Management.  She is a recognized industry leader and was recently featured as one of Canada’s Top 20 Women in the IT Channel and in the Top 100 Women in North American Channel. Laurie holds a MBA and Bachelor of Commerce degree, both from the University of Alberta. She acts on the Board of Dress For Success Vancouver, a not for profit organization committed to helping low or no income women to transition into the workforce, and also serves on the Board of the British Columbia Technology Industry Association (BCTIA), an industry-funded organization committed to growing BC’s technology industry.

Be sure to catch Laurie speak on Wednesday, Oct. 30th, 2013:

Get your tickets at www.dressforsuccess.org/vancouver

Enjoy a 3 course lunch and the opportunity to network with other prominent business contacts across all sectors.  All proceeds are in support of Dress for Success Vancouver!

About Dress for Success Vancouver

Dress for Success Vancouver is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.  Since its inception in 1999, Dress for Success Vancouver has helped more than 17,000 women towards self-sufficiency. 

Employee Spotlight, Jennifer Halinda, Executive Director

Name: Jennifer Halinda 

Role at DFS Vancouver: Executive Director 

How long have you been working at DFS Vancouver? 5 years as a volunteer stylist, full time position since March 2013. 

What is the best thing about working here? Any memorable moments? The best thing- our mission! To help women become successful in work and life. The amazing volunteers, the wonderful donors and supporters, and our clients. Memorable moments: seeing women's confidence build, a sparkle in their eye, a smile at the end of a visit. Hearing about their successes with getting a new job! 

What do you do with your time outside of the 9-5 with DFS Vancouver? Currently, enjoying the many festivals around the city. I am a Food Network fan and love ethnic cafe's, food carts, and cooking. I also collect original art and have a library of Art Gallery books from around the world. They are great souvenirs from my travels. 

Who is your style icon? Audrey Hepburn. Daniel Craig. Couple: Victoria and David Beckham. 

Dream vacation? Greece seems to be calling. I see it everywhere. Hopefully next year. 

What is your motto? Be yourself. Everyone else is taken :)

Client Spotlight, Genevieve Sechter

Name: Genevieve Sechter, PWG (Professional Women's Group) Delegate 2013 - 2014

Where do you live? Vancouver, BC

When did you first get introduced to Dress for Success Vancouver? Maureen Houghton at Gordon Neighbourhood House referred me while taking some professional workshops in February 2012.

What has been your most important lesson learned from the PWG program? 

The most important lesson that I have learned from the PWG program is that it is never too late to start something new, reinvent yourself or become the person you were always destined to become.

What is your occupation? 

I work full-time as the Receptionist at Regent College (a theological graduate school on the UBC campus). It is an amazing place to work. I love meeting people from all over the world and reflecting on diverse angles of important issues. There is always something new to ponder.

Who is your hero? 

Jesus is definitely my hero. I have officially been a Christian for a shorter time than I have been involved with Dress For Success and He continues to show me how deeply He understands, loves, and supports me. Being a Christian is not a one-time event. It's not a baptism. It's not a set of rules. It's an ongoing, dynamic and intricate relationship between my soul and God, who much to my surprise, chose me and continues to choose me every day in tangible and personal ways.

Dream vacation? 

One of those thatched roof huts in Tahiti that is propped above the water - exotic and romantic (my style)! The opportunity to speak French while enjoying palm trees and glimmering blue waters is very tempting! Not to mention that I have never been south of the equator. It would be the perfect location to start with! Do a Google image search for Tahiti resorts and you will see what I'm talking about!

What is your motto? 

Love fiercely, hope incessantly, and consider that every experience and person has something valuable to teach me about myself and God. I'm not perfect, but I risk everything I have to give it my best shot!

Volunteer Spotlight, Jen Newsted

Name: Jen Newsted

How long have you volunteered at DFS Vancouver? I just had my 6-month volunteer-versary.

What role do you do? Every Thursday I alternate as Lead & Stylist, and I help with social media, so don’t forget to check out @DFSVancouver on Twitter, Instagram & gives them a like on Facebook.

What is the best thing about volunteering here? I am endlessly blown away by the women I meet, all with different stories, all with the same goals to get their lives to a better place. The best thing about the hour I spend with a client, is seeing the smile on her face when she comes out of the fitting room. That smile is filled with the confidence she’s been needing and I know my job is done and she is going to walk out the door and ace that interview.

What do you do with your time when not volunteering at DFS Vancouver? Marketing Communications keeps me busy from 9 – 5.

Dream vacation? Sun. Sand. Book. Repeat.

What is your motto? Business time.

Volunteer Spotlight: Katherine Grant, Volunteer extraordinaire & shoe-a-holic

Name:
 Katherine Grant

How long have you volunteered at DFS Vancouver?

I have been volunteering on all the fundraising events for Dress for Success Vancouver for 9 years!


What role do you do?

I own an Audio Visual staging and presentation company, so I provide all the AV equipment, create the onscreen content, write the scripts and speeches and stage manage the events.  I also produce the collateral material (logo’s, posters, invitations, tickets) as required.  I try to introduce as many of my clients to Dress for Success Vancouver so they may become sponsors as well! I politely (but with determination) get all my friends to support Dress for Success Vancouver by getting them to attend all the events, donating clothing and spending money at the silent auctions.  They are wonderful friends!!!


What is the best thing about volunteering here? Any memorable moments?

I am so blessed to have met and made friends with these wonderful women!  Val, Deb, Lucia, Jennifer and Christina have enriched my life and made me even more grateful for how lucky I am. And Sandy!!! He is the best!  The entire staff and volunteers are angels! Too many to mention… Sara, Veronica, Virginia, plus 300 more!


What do you do with your time when not volunteering at DFS Vancouver?

I golf, read, travel, paint watercolours and occasionally work a 60 hour week, (ha – every week is a 60 hour week). I never sleep. And I drink too much coffee.


Who is your style icon?

I love Joseph Ribkoff.  They are beautiful, quirky, colourful clothes that fit like a dream! And anything made by Nine West or Aldo. I have a terrible shoe addiction and am too embarrassed to say how many pairs I own (103!). 


Dream vacation?

Last year I went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth.  It was inspiring and so far, hard to top.


What is your motto?

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."- Mother Teresa 

Mentor Spotlight: Kim Conroy, Career Centre

Name:  Kim Conroy

How long have you been a mentor with DFS Vancouver? Since 2006 (with some time off in 2012).  Started with Saturday group and now with Thursday TDPWG group.

What is the best thing about being a mentor here? Any memorable moments? The best thing about being a mentor is making connections with women that I would never have had the opportunity to meet otherwise.   The diversity of the women I have worked with is amazing to me.  I am humbled by the stories I hear and truly inspired by the strength and courage I see and hear about.  Even though our life experiences may have been different, I believe that the opportunity to connect and acknowledge that we are not alone on this journey can offer insight and support to us all.  I am very grateful for the lessons I have learned about myself through all my experiences with DFS, but mostly that compassion and connection enable us all to develop courage and a stronger sense of belonging.

What do you do with your time when not volunteering at DFS Vancouver?  Right now, I am in my own period of transition, so I spend a lot of time reading and writing.  I am an avid journal writer and have also recently started a blog.  I am also passionate about photography, a relatively new interest, and I have taken a number of workshops in Santa Fe and Vancouver to improve my skills and to connect with other enthusiasts.

Who is your style icon? Don’t really have a style icon, but people who inspire me to live a more authentic life include Brene Brown, Phillip Moffitt and kd lang.

Dream vacation?  An opportunity to learn about a place and the people who live there – and also to make some great photographs!  That is really energizing, whether it is close to home or around the world.

What is your motto? I'll leave you with a quote from Brene Brown: "Empathy is simply listening, holding space, withholding judgement, emotionally connecting and communicating that incredibly healing message 'You're not alone'".

Client Spotlight: Linda Leadley, 2012 Professional Women's Group Graduate

Name: Linda Leadley

Where do you live? Burnaby, BC


When did you first get introduced to Dress for Success Vancouver?  May of 2004 through a work program that I was involved in at the time.


What has been your most important lesson learned from the PWG program?  Self-marketing for employment is about more than an outfit.


What is your occupation? Currently I am finishing an Accounting and Payroll course to add payroll to my skills as Bookkeeper.

Who is your hero? Many different types of “hero’s” came to mind for this question but my romantic hero would be Hugh Grant.

Dream vacation? Driving through and around North America.

What is your motto?  Show up and do your best.

Employee Spotlight: Christina Florencio, Marketing & Sponsorship Manager

Name: Christina Florencio

What is your role? Marketing & Sponsorship Manager since Novemeber 2012

Volunteer since: 2009

What is the best thing about working here? Working with inspiring people: my co-workers and board members, the volunteers, our donors and sponsors and most of all, our clients. I see the most powerful transformations everyday. It is so rewarding.

Can you share a memorable moment? My most memorable moment was my first shift as a make up artist and I applied make up on a client that was trying to change her life around. She was a crystal meth addict for over 20 years and her face lit up the moment she saw herself in the mirror. It was such an empowering moment for the both of us.

What do you do with your time outside of the 9-5 with DFS Vancouver? I dance with a Filipino Cultural Dance group and I enjoy dancing Flamenco. You can also find me walking/biking the seawall or enjoying a delicious meal at a neighbourhood hole in the wall or at the newest resto in town, usually paired with a big glass of wine or craft beer.

Who is your style icon? Jennifer Lopez

My dream vacation would be... Bora Bora, French Polynesia

My motto is: A girl's gotta eat