I come from a single-mother household, so from a very young age I understood the importance of working hard and learning how to take on different roles. I got my first job when I was fifteen years old, and from there I began building my professional life early. I earned a diploma in marketing, worked in agencies, and eventually became an account executive, managing well-known clients and carrying a lot of responsibility.
By my mid-twenties, I was proud of everything I had achieved, but I was also exhausted. I was very close to burning out when I decided to take a break and move to Vancouver to study English and travel on my own for the first time. That short experience changed me more than I expected. Walking through downtown Vancouver, surrounded by mountains, ocean, and rain, I felt something click. I remember walking the streets and imagining all the possibilities and opportunities I could have there. I felt calm, hopeful, and excited about the idea of starting over. I returned to Brazil determined to move to Vancouver and build a new life.
My Move To Canada Didn’t Go As Expected
When I moved to Canada in 2019, things did not unfold the way I imagined. My best friend, who was supposed to move with me, didn’t get her visa approved. I ended up living in a house that looked perfect at first, but had mice, a roommate I didn’t connect with, and was in a city I was still trying to understand. I found survival jobs and tried to stay positive, balancing work, college, and the emotional challenge of adapting to a completely new life in a country that felt beautiful but unfamiliar.
Even though I was grateful for the experience, I missed working in an agency environment. I missed developing projects, solving problems, and feeling intellectually challenged. I spent countless hours watching videos on YouTube about how to improve my résumé, how to prepare for interviews, and how to apply for jobs in Canada. I don’t know if it was my foreign name, my accent, or my unknown references, but it felt almost impossible to find a role in marketing, whether as an account executive or even as an assistant.
That period was discouraging. As an immigrant, I often felt like people were judging my accent or didn’t fully value my experience. Slowly, that started to affect my confidence and the way I saw myself.
The Working Women’s Group Became My Step Forward
One evening on the bus home from work, a friend told me about Dress for Success Vancouver.
She had joined the WWG program and spoke about the workshops, how welcomed she felt, and the relationship she had built with her mentor. As soon as I got home, I applied for the same program. As someone who has always valued learning, self-improvement, and personal growth, and who was dreaming of pivoting careers, the program felt like exactly what I needed.
From my very first interaction with Dress for Success Vancouver, I felt like it was the first time since moving to Canada that I didn’t feel judged. I felt listened to. From the first call, I felt seen. As I started attending the monthly WWG workshops, I felt supported by the staff and the other women in my cohort. I learned that even though we came from different countries and backgrounds, many of us shared the same struggles, the same insecurities, and the same feeling of not being enough, regardless of our résumés, careers, or years of experience.
My WWG Mentor Helped Me Navigate Big Change
One of the most life-changing parts of my experience in the WWG was connecting with my mentor, who quickly became someone I deeply trusted and admired. She consistently brought valuable insights and asked thoughtful questions that challenged me to grow. Through our conversations, I realized that I didn’t just need a new job. I needed a change in direction.
She guided me through that transition with patience and encouragement. What could have been an overwhelming and scary process became exciting and even fun. With her support, I felt empowered to explore new possibilities and to trust myself again.
During this time, I made a decision that once would have felt impossible. I left my job in insurance and started working with my partner at a photo and video production company, where I now lead marketing and operations. At first, I was afraid. Once again, my mentor and the women in my cohort played a crucial role in helping me think through practical solutions that would allow me to feel financially secure in the long term, even in the case of a breakup. Having that support and those conversations gave me the confidence I needed to move forward.
My Dressing Services Appointment Gave Me Confidence
I completed the WWG program by attending a Dressing Services appointment that felt incredibly meaningful. I was supported by a volunteer who was genuinely interested in helping me find an outfit that reflected who I am and the professional spaces I was stepping into. It wasn’t just about clothing. It was about feeling prepared, confident, and supported during a moment of growth.
About a year later, I truly understood the impact of that experience. I was invited to attend an important professional event where networking was essential. The room was filled with CEOs, directors, managers, and industry leaders. As someone who works from home most of the time, stepping into that environment felt intimidating. Having the right outfit made a real difference. It gave me the confidence to initiate conversations, exchange business cards, and imagine new partnerships without feeling like I didn’t belong.
Today, I am proud of the life and career I am building in Canada. My journey is still evolving, and I don’t have a perfect or finished ending. What I do have is clarity, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging. Dress for Success Vancouver played an important role in helping me reconnect with my potential and believe in myself again.
That first step of support created momentum that continues to shape my work and my life. When one woman is supported, the impact truly reaches far beyond her.
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