TRANSFORMATIONS: Michele C. Meyer-Shipp Dressing Women in the Real World
Our Shop YWCA featured donor this month is Michele C. Meyer-Shipp, CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide. She leads the organization's 144 affiliates in 23 countries as it continues its mission to help women achieve economic independence via a suite of services to include job readiness support, professional development resources, coaching and mentorship, and workplace attire.
Before Dress for Success, Michele held executive leadership roles as an employment attorney and built a career in human resources, specializing in diversity, equity and inclusion leadership. She was Chief People & Culture Officer for Major League Baseball, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at KPMG LLP, and Global Chief Diversity Officer for both Prudential Financial and the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.
Her passion is to help people advance their careers and is a sought-after speaker and contributor for major media outlets including the New York Times, USA Today, The Economist, Forbes, Fortune, Business Insider, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and more. She is a 2021 recipient of The Network Journal’s 25 Influential Black Women in Business, among other major awards she received.
“I am passionate about Dress for Success because the organization is transformative,” Michele said. “I have witnessed women who step through our doors all over the world literally transform their lives.”
This transformation is part of the main mission of Dress for Success, and is a core value that we share with Shop YWCA – women empowerment. Finding the right outfit can turn lives around and bring the courage to overcome an obstacle. Michele described it as “magical.” “They come in feeling down about themselves and their abilities, but leave our doors motivated, inspired, and empowered” she said.
Michele donated two Lafayette dresses with an intent to pass on to its next owner how they made her feel sharp and empowered. She wore these outfits as a gift to herself when she became a partner of one of the Big Four accounting firms KPMG, where she served as Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer.
“I love them because they are easy to travel with, do not wrinkle easily, and do not take up much space in a carry-on suitcase,” she adds. Michele said she wore them during work-related important meetings, and allowed her to move around with ease and comfort.
These dresses are now available in Shop YWCA. 100% of proceeds directly support YWCA O‘ahu Programs, which provides participants with essential skills needed to navigate the current employment market.
Reflecting on her life’s work and her love to travel, Michele happily donates her power dresses to celebrate this community of empowered women, and inspire success for its next owner. If not working, she spends time with her husband Michael and three adult sons, and has a passion for football and golf.
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