Redefining Success with YWCA Focus Forward
When Ida was searching for work after being laid off, she came across an online advertisement for YWCA Focus Forward, a free YWCA BC employment program that helps women assess their skills and strengths, set career goals, build professional connections and develop strategies for finding meaningful, sustainable employment. Through workshops, coaching and peer support, participants gain the tools and confidence to navigate their next career step.
At the time, Ida was navigating one of the most challenging periods of her career. With nearly 15 years of experience as an art director in luxury retail, including a decade working in England, she had built an impressive portfolio and a successful career. But after moving to Vancouver four years ago, she discovered that opportunities in the city's luxury retail market were limited.
"There aren't many luxury brands here," she said. "They're very niche and the opportunities don't come up very often."
After losing her job in a round of company-wide cuts, Ida spent eight months searching for work. Like many creative professionals, she found herself vulnerable to industry cutbacks.
"Art directors are often among the first positions to be cut," Ida explained.
The long job search took a toll. Despite applying for roles, networking and doing everything she thought she was supposed to do, she struggled to find work in her industry.
"I was wondering what I was doing wrong," Ida said. "I felt like I was doing everything right, but nobody was hiring me."
The job insecurity came at a very difficult time for Ida, just after she had a baby and bought a house. For nearly two years, her husband carried the family's financial responsibilities while she searched for stable employment and cared for their young child.
Determined to get back into the job market, Ida accepted a position with an agency. But it quickly became clear that the role was not the right fit.
"The agency shaped the role around what they thought I could do," she said. "But it wasn't aligned with my experience or what I wanted."
The experience led Ida to reflect on what direction she wanted to take. She had spent most of her career working her way into leadership positions, and she began questioning not only her industry, but also the kind of responsibilities she wanted moving forward.
"As an art director, you're responsible for so much," she said. "You're overseeing projects, expectations and making sure everything runs smoothly. After everything I'd been through, I realized I didn't necessarily want that level of responsibility anymore."
Taking Back Her Power
Through YWCA Focus Forward and later the YWCA PowerUp program, Ida explored new possibilities while gaining valuable insight into her strengths, priorities and career goals.
One of the biggest lessons she learned was that not every unsuccessful job application is a personal failure.
"The biggest thing I learned was that it's not always me," she said. "If there's no alignment between an employee and an employer, it's not going to work. That was a difficult truth to learn, but it was also incredibly reassuring."
The experience helped shift her mindset. Instead of trying to become the "perfect" candidate for every position, she began evaluating whether a role was the right fit for her.
"I always thought I had to say yes to everything," she said. "Now I know it's okay to say no. My priorities have changed and it's important to find a role that aligns with what I actually want."
Equally impactful was the support she found through the program's cohort.
"Job hunting is incredibly lonely," Ida said. "Being part of a group of women who were going through similar experiences made such a difference."
The cohort became a space where participants could celebrate successes, share setbacks and offer advice. For Ida, the sense of understanding and community was equally as important as the practical skills she learned.
"We supported each other through everything," she said. "People who haven't been through a long job search don't always understand what it's like. The women in the group did."
Today, Ida has secured a six-month contract as a senior designer with a global agency. While the position still allows her to use her extensive creative expertise, it also offers something she has come to value: the opportunity to focus on the work she enjoys without the weight of high-level leadership responsibilities.
"The workflow is much more established," she said. "There are other people responsible for overseeing everything. I can focus on the design and support junior designers without having to carry the responsibility for the entire operation."
Rather than seeing the move as a step backward, Ida sees it as a conscious decision about what success looks like at this stage in her life.
"It's actually a relief," she said. "I'm stepping into this role feeling more comfortable and confident about what I want."
Giving Back with the Help of YWCA PowerUp
Outside of her professional career, Ida is passionate about tackling food insecurity and reducing food waste. For the past four years, she has volunteered as a food rescue advocate, collecting surplus food from supermarkets and helping redistribute it to families in need, including single mothers.
"I see how much food gets thrown away while people are struggling to put food on the table," she said. "I'd love to build something bigger around that one day."
Exploring the possibility of launching a charity was one of the reasons she enrolled in YWCA PowerUp. While her priority is settling into her new role, she hopes to continue pursuing that vision in the future.
Looking back, Ida says YWCA Focus Forward provided much more than career support. It gave her confidence, perspective and a community when she needed it most.
"It helped me realize that I'm not alone," she said. "I have the skills, I have the experience and finding the right fit matters. I'm doing so much better now and I'm really glad I joined."
YWCA BC's Focus Forward program empowers women to identify their strengths, expand their networks and move toward sustainable employment. Your support helps make these opportunities accessible to those who need them most.
