AdviceFirst and enable.me are proud supporters of Dress for Success Auckland. Recently, our people have been involved in initiatives to further the work of this impactful charity.
Dress for Success focuses on empowering women to become confidently employed and gain financial freedom.
They have a few elements to their support – the immediate physical and practical needs of interview-appropriate and day-to-day clothing, hygiene products, and additional frameworks to help women achieve employment including career coaching, help applying for roles, and interview preparation.
Their support has expanded over the years to become much more than a dress – or solely business-wear.
AdviceFirst Wealth Adviser Emily Owens Speaks at FSC25
Dress for Success was the charity partner for the Financial Services Council Annual Conference (FSC25) in September.
As part of this, the charity invited AdviceFirst Wealth Adviser Emily Owens to attend and share her own personal connection.
Emily joined Robyn Moore, Executive Manager of Dress for Success Auckland, on stage at FSC25 to share her story, aiming to inspire the financial services industry to see the change they can make in other people’s lives.
Emily Owens: Dress for Success is “Buried Treasure”
Recently returning to the offices of Dress for Success 20 years after walking through the doors as a client herself, Emily was surprised to see how much it has evolved and grown over those decades.
When she was a teenager, she accessed the support of Dress for Success – located at the time on Boston Road, Mt Eden – to get some clothing to confidently attend job interviews.
Though the charity offered a one-time visit at the time, rather than the expanded ongoing support they provide now, Emily still credits the “safe space” provided by the charity as a catalyst that influenced her future trajectory.
She says, “It was super comfortable, and I was amongst really lovely people, really warm… for the first time we had the same goal for me.”
“It was not just the clothing; the clothing was the physical reason to turn up. But it was around what next and the support I received.”
Now, Emily is a Wealth Adviser at AdviceFirst and is in the position to give back to the charity that supported her.
She champions AdviceFirst and enable.me’s support of Dress for Success as a corporate sponsor – from clothing drives to team volunteering, and a financial wellbeing workshop – and is eager to provide support back to the charity.
Read Emily’s full story here on the enable.me website.
Continuing the Connection Through Volunteering and Financial Wellbeing
We share Dress for Success’ aim to empower women financially.
That’s why in September, enable.me Financial Coach Rebecca Starkey ran a workshop for Dress for Success clients in our Auckland offices.
She covered the money mindsets and subtle shifts that can help us get ahead, as well as practical tips for where to start.
To support the workshop attendees on their journey, we provided a complimentary 12-month license to moneyfit.me Tracker and access to our Get In Control course to help each of them continue to build financial confidence.
As part of our employee wellbeing programme, each year AdviceFirst and enable.me staff receive Do Good Charity Leave to volunteer their time and energy.
Our Auckland-based marketing team volunteered in New Lynn to help Dress for Success set up for their community sale at LynnMall.
AdviceFirst and enable.me are dedicated to continuing the support of Dress for Success with future initiatives in our shared mission to break down barriers and empower women to achieve financial freedom.
If you have experienced or are experiencing family harm, you can access help or information here:
- Women’s Refuge: Crisis line – 0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843 (available 24/7)
- Shine: Helpline – 0508 744 633 (available 24/7)
- It’s Not Ok: Family violence information line – 0800 456 450
- Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga: National Network of Family Violence Services
- White Ribbon: Aiming to eliminate men’s violence towards women
- NZ Government: For information about financial abuse
