In Conversation with our Give with Grace Ambassadors

MT:  To partner with Forever New to actually do something that serves community, that to me is everything. There are so many people who don’t have access to something as simple as professional clothing and it has no bearing on their capacity, they’re just missing out on that one thing and so, to fill that gap…I think it is a step towards equity.

JD: I am extremely excited to be a part of this campaign because it is a very important initiative that helps women to secure employment, especially after experiencing homelessness, poverty, domestic violence. This is very close to my heart because I have experienced that as a young girl and as a refugee.

SD: As an adopted woman born in an orphanage but given every chance at a better life, I am acutely aware of the role economic independence plays in being able to provide for yourself and your family, and I have always admired Dress for Success and their work.

MT: When you know why you’re doing something, you will push through and for me, that’s speaking up for things that serve communities that I belong to that once didn’t get to be heard, didn’t get to be seen. I stay grounded in purpose, in service, and I feel like that helps me get through each project.

JD: I am always inspired and empowered by other women not just in my fields but women in my life that fight through challenges, adversity, and everyday life in general, and continue to show up every day, no matter what.

SD: There is always a level of motivation that comes from challenging myself to do better but what truly gets me up in the morning is the capacity to impact others through that work. Whether it be through a lightbulb moment during a podcast episode or a simple quote that cheers you up momentarily on a tough day.

MT: Be relentless in your pursuit of what sets your soul on fire. Sometimes, we get so caught up when things go wrong but those rejections are often redirections. If somebody tells you no, or something doesn’t work out, there’s always a plan b, plan c, find another way to do it.

JD: Give it all you have, believe in yourself, never let anyone put you down and always continue fighting, not just for your dreams but for yourself. Always be kind.

SD: The journey is far more important than the destination. The quote I repeat to myself at least once a day is, ‘you don’t have to climb the whole staircase, just take the first step’.

MT: It has to be the launch of my book Unbounded. I wanted to write a book since I was 8 years old. I think because of how my parents have reacted to it…that makes it even better.

JD: I am proud of what I have been able to achieve as an athlete but more importantly I am proud of being able to get through being a refugee, surviving domestic abuse and my mental health challenges. I am proud to be able to use my platform and my voice to help others by speaking up and sharing my story.

SD: Leaving law. It’s not especially ground-breaking to leave a job you hate, but to leave a job that you actually enjoy BUT don’t feel is your best contribution to humanity is far scarier.

MT: I wanted to write a book that helps people unbind themselves from limiting beliefs. Every single chapter in Unbounded is an action to take to change your life. I think no matter who you are in the world you’ll be able to see yourself somewhere in it and walk away with a really great sense of just what you are capable of in this lifetime.

JD: My first book Unbreakable explains my whole life, on and off the [tennis] court and all the struggles I faced. My follow-up book, which will be out next September is all about diving deeper into mental health. Ultimately, they [both books] are about giving others strength and hope.

SD: We focus a lot on external expectations when deciding what we should do with our lives but often that’s to the exclusion of asking, “do I even like this?” So, the book, Seize the Yay, hopes to encourage readers to focus a little more on joy, fulfilment, and our own uniqueness in finding a life that you love. 

MT: When it comes to uplifting women’s voices in everyday life, we need to make sure we have representation of their voices in every single sphere, especially underrepresented women, First Nations women, women with disabilities, women of colour, those in the LGBT+ community. Tying it back to the campaign, it does exactly that [embraces equity], because if resources and clothes are the gap between a woman being able to have an opportunity and then bettering herself and her community, let’s bridge that gap.

JD: Don’t dismiss, silence or disrespect women in any field or any part of everyday life. Education for boys at a young age is important, for them to understand that women are not any less important.

SD: I think the best way for us all to embrace equity together is to collaborate not compete. So, if there’s a way you can give another woman a leg up, take the opportunity.

MT: I’ve become a lot more comfortable in my aesthetic, so it’s a little bit of business, little bit of chic, and I like to play up masculine and feminine as well. It’s not about looking serious, it’s about what makes me feel the most me.

JD: My staples are suiting, dresses, blazers, blouses, and pumps. Belts, jewellery, and bags are a must as well to accessorise my outfits.

SD: I am a huge fan of a simple blazer, block colours, and versatile textures like denim that go with everything. My wardrobe is 90% staples and then I might throw in a seasonal print or something a bit fun.