Published for Dress for Success Twin Cities on January 3, 2022

Starting from a job that would have been hers for many years to redefining what her path to success was; Travona’s personality, skills, and attitude make her the perfect spotlight for her story this month! Her story shows that it never is too late to start over.

Travona worked as a corporate hairdresser for nearly 10 years. She was passionate, adored her clients, and found comfort in the work she was doing. It felt like a part of her identity, a place with job security and coworkers that she loved- she was a hairdresser and was thriving.

However, when the COVID-19 pandemic happened; Travona was furloughed. She stayed at home for about a year and a half. She began looking for work frantically, as the rest of the world was. After applying online and getting quite a few job rejections, she started to go into panic mode, wondering what she was going to do for money. She had bills to pay and a lifestyle she had created that she enjoyed. After facing job rejections, she decided to take this unexpected time off of work for some self-discovery. Realizing the importance of self-care, she began expressing herself creatively through painting, journaling, and taking long walks around the lake. She decided to focus on her present, which would eventually shed light on her future.

Travona came across Twin Cities RISE, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit focused on transforming lives impacted by racial or socio-economic barriers through career training and employment. She decided to apply with no expectations, except revamping her resume to be able to find employment. Travona was deeply affected by the lessons taught at Twin Cities Rise. Simultaneously, the world was shaken up by the murder of George Floyd. Travona knew within herself that it was time to shift her focus to those within her community. Through Twin Cities Rise she then began to look for community-based work.

After completing the 8-week career training, she decided to enter into an internship to update her skills and was connected to Dress for Success Twin Cities. She connected with Megan and the two instantly clicked and began to work together. Travona was paired with a Life Coach and received an amazing Confidence Kit that helped her add to her professional wardrobe.

Dress for Success has many professional groups, and Travona decided to join some of them, such as Empower Hour, and Days of Success, she became a member of the U-LEAD team and attended mentorship discussions for aspiring coaches.

During the workshops, Travona was expecting broad topics but was met with topics that were personal for her. Through a powerful conversation about job loss and grief- Travona realized that even though she had a job she could eventually return to; she still felt a loss when it came to her job. The impact was still there. Her exploration of job loss allowed her to figure out what endings meant, how important the neutral zones are between jobs for planning her next move, and finally allowing the healing process to begin. With that, she took the next step toward building a new career.

As her internship with Dress for Success Twin Cities ended, Travona was leaving feeling more confident, self-aware, and ready for her next steps. Building a network along the way, Travona began searching for work, her new network was helping to connect her to possible opportunities. A position with Twin Cities Rise opened up and she applied. She got the position! It felt full circle for her and she believes in the work they are doing and has the opportunity to serve her community

There is something spectacular that happens when opportunity meets preparation. Travona stated, “Without TCR and DFSTC she doesn't know where she would be today.” Travona has been working for about 4 months now and feels confident in the direction her career is headed. She has also enrolled in Life Coaching classes and hopes to utilize this certification to continue service within her community and provide support for people on their journeys. She also plans to come back as a volunteer coach at Dress for Success Twin Cities.

“We can grow really secure in our jobs and start to build our identities around them. Like at my hairdressing job. My clients felt like family, I made good money and I had fun. Almost on a form of autopilot, then the pandemic hit, crumbling my idea of stability but also creating a chance for me to rethink what is possible for myself.” “There is comfort in routine and I was quite cozy.” She says, looking back at her job. “Now my 9-5 is the work that I want to do and is serving my purpose!” “My reasons for what I do and why I do it are more clear now.” She adds, “I am right where I want to be!”

Now, on the journey to start her career as a Life Coach, Travona can use her personal life experience as a launching pad to help others find the path that they desire and find the motivation to be the best version of themselves they can be.

While there is still a long way to go before calling herself a full-fledged Life Coach, she is well on her way and thriving in her new career. “I am astonished at where I am at, I never knew I could be here but I’m in a good place.”

Published for Dress for Success Twin Cities on October 6, 2021

Bryn Martello is not just a woman. As one of Dress for Success Twin Cities U Leaders, she has grown into a figure of grace and poise with her two fingers on the heartbeat of supporting women through thick and thin. Her goal of creating her tribe comes from her own rocky past.

“I didn’t have community [of women] to help me move forward,” Bryn said, “There was no locus to keep my centered. I wanted to be a professional woman and a successful mother- a political force that can speak out.”

Bryn’s story begins after being in the Shakopee Women’s Prison multiple times for alcohol offenses. While service her sentence, Bryn got involved in Challenge Incarceration Boot Camp. Through an intense period of 18 month – in 3 phases- participants who are charged with nonviolent drug and property offenses can be considered for early release. The goal of “Boot Camp,” as she says it, comes in three phases. The first phase was volunteer work in the community. On the first month of phase 1, Bryn was chosen to help at Dress for Success Twin Cities as a sales volunteer.

Bryn’s time volunteering struck up contacts with the professional women at DFSTC; Tammy Tragar and Program Director Megan Meuli among them. From watching these women at work and being exposed to the possibilities, Bryn saw what kind of woman she wanted to be in the future, leading her to study as a Pre-Law Major. The experience working at DFSTC fueled the need to develop her skills of compassion, activism, and a strong sense of boundaries. And out of that came the need to have a mentor, “a paragon to run towards instead of away from.

With her graduation from Boot Camp, a new resume, and interview skills to boot, Bryn’s professional life drastically changed for the better; immediately, there were people wanting to interview her for “at least three jobs- [which] is super rare.” Along with her new job at Habitat for Humanity, it took a heartbeat decision to continue her work service at DFSTC. As she continued, Bryn’s self-worth only grew. At the workplace, “they didn’t see me as less than- they saw an intelligent woman.” At DFSTC, Bryn continued to do weekly volunteer work and help clean and stock outfits, even through personal struggles. In this new period of equilibrium, “I had a position to help women who were in my position 10 years ago.” Bryn tells, “I am a woman who had talents [and] a positive, strong community member.” Her defining moment was speaking at the Securis Financial Annual Meeting. Bryn was asked to tell her story and about how DFSTC had affected her. While nervous, she poured her heart out to the rapt audience and openly talked about her life. When she was finished, Bryn was swarmed with support. “Multiple people came to me with job offers… they spoke to me as an asset.”

But like all things, there is struggle. Bryn learned to be honest about them; relapses before court dates being one of them. Even so, her path was not to be only downwards but meandering up and down. Her departure from Habitat for Humanity led to being a part of DFSTC’s U Lead Program- it fueled her with the motivation to continue in nonprofit work as the life and career she wanted.

Bryn’s definition of success comes from pushing forwards. It comes to find balance, being at peace, and always helping others. “True success is working exactly within our means,” she says, “Just because you are good at something, doesn’t mean you’ll enjoy it. Find your community and be balanced. It’s all to help humanity and redefine society as beneficial for all. No woman should be an island.”