Amy Robichaud is a woman on a mission. As Dress for Success Vancouver‘s new executive director, her goal is to continue to empower women through the two-decades-old organization—not to mention, throw the best-darn DFSV fundraising gala ever! —Noa Nichol
Hi Amy! Tell us a bit about yourself to start.
I Joined Dress for Success Vancouver as the executive director on April 1st of this year. Prior to that I’ve always been an entrepreneurial and impact-driven person. I have a decade of experience helping non-profit and charitable organizations across North America advance their ideas, revenue and diversity goals through policy and practice. I am the former director of partnership and engagement for Minerva BC, the co-founder of FundHer.ca and a speaker on mental health, intergeneration leadership, implicit bias, women in politics, leadership and civic engagement. I am extremely passionate about women’s rights. My husband, Glen and I have lived all over Canada but now happily call Vancouver home along with our pets, and overgrown library.
Tell us about the upcoming Impact 360 event.
This will be my first IMPACT 360 event so I’m really looking forward to it! The event is Wednesday May 8th, returning to the Regency Lexus Showroom in Kitsilano where it was last year. As we’ve done in the past, there will be a silent auction which is looking incredible, food, drinks, networking and the infamous live auction with Fred Lee. This event raises necessary funds that we use throughout the year to fund our programs. The highlight of the event is always the Runway to Success Fashion Show. Nine of our Client Ambassadors will walk the runway dressed in fashions from Turnabout Luxury Resale, a huge supporter of ours, while a bit of their story is shared with the crowd. The fashion show is a perfect way to honour all the women that have passed through the Dress for Success dressing, career and mentorship programs.
Anything new and exciting happening with/at this year’s event?
This year’s event is extra special as Dress for Success Vancouver is celebrating 20 years. This makes them the global organization’s longest running international affiliate. To celebrate this milestone we’ve given IMPACT 360 a Roaring ’20s theme. We’re going to have themed cocktails, food, music and décor. We’re also going to see an incredible crowd of supporters, clients, volunteers and staff who’ve been involved in Dress for Success Vancouver since the beginning so it’ll be somewhat of a reunion as well!
The thing you’re most looking forward to as DFSV’s new exec director?
I’m thrilled to be joining DFSV at this critical time of growth. A longtime admirer, I have seen the value of its programs and the impact they create. The energy around supporting women in our community is both palpable and critical right now, and DFSV is well positioned to execute its growth strategy and support the economic inclusion of more women through the career development programs along with its successful professional attire efforts. Growth through new and innovative ideas is an area where I believe I can contribute significantly, and I am delighted to get to work with and become part of the DFSV community of champions.
Number 1 career tip/piece of advice you’ve gained and would like to pass along?
A coach once told me, "You’re going to win some you shouldn’t and you are going to lose some you shouldn’t" as a way to help me realize that I’m not always in control and that all victories and defeats are part of something bigger. I think about this advice daily and am always happy to pass it on: the impact we make in this world is based on the relationships we have and isn’t entirely up to us, for better or worse. The best we can do is to keep trying, learning and to stay humble.
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