VS&Co recognizes this time every year as more than an acknowledgement, but as an opportunity to spotlight our bold, brave, and unique community. This March and beyond, we are committed to advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion and highlighting women who fight for these tenets daily.

Spotlight on Our Associates

Allegra Hanlon, Marketing Manager

Why is it important for corporations to consider diversity among women when hiring?

“Having diverse women in a corporation means more creativity, empathy, and overall better ideas that can truly propel a company forward.”

How does the theme “Women who advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion” resonate with you?

“I am Colombian—with many family members still living there—but I am also Irish American, fair skinned, and light eyed. I feel so proud of my two heritages and to be part of a company that understands the importance of bringing women in who advocate for each other.”

Barb Holmes, L&D Senior Specialist

Why is it important for corporations to consider diversity among women when hiring?

“Organizations that have a hiring mindset focused on diversity amongst women are not just hiring for the sake of numbers. It means they have hiring practices rooted in taking the time to acknowledge the individual experiences of women.”

How does the theme “Women who advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion” resonate with you?

“This year’s theme encourages my thinking and forces me to pause and look introspectively at what I’m doing to educate and advocate for the contributions of women.”

Huiqiao Ding, Manager, International Partner Ecommerce 

Why is it important for corporations to consider diversity among women when hiring?

“I work for the VS international team, so it’s crucial to be open minded about varied experiences and cultural differences. This is especially true for VS to understand because women come from all different walks of life..”

How does the theme “Women who advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion” resonate with you?

“Women already face challenges from the historical remnants of wealth and social inequities. We can only thrive when we are there for each other, building the pipeline for future female leaders.”

Katie Emerson, Applications Lead  

Why is it important for corporations to consider diversity among women when hiring?

“Because women should be considered for all roles and in every company. There shouldn’t be limitations put on women because of their gender and that is diversity to me.”

How does the theme “Women who advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion” resonate with you?

“Being a part of our Women’s Inclusion Network here at VS, I see women that advocate for one another daily. It’s that affirmation that continues to inspire me in always putting equity, diversity, and inclusion at the core of everything I do.”

Brooke West, Senior Manager, Marketing

Why is it important for corporations to consider diversity among women when hiring?

“Differences in identity, cultural background, and overall life experiences bring unique points of view to the table, which are crucial to help the brand and its associates expand our thinking and grow to reach our goals.”

How does the theme “Women who advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion” resonate with you?

“I love to see women supporting women and advocating for each other. It’s such a cornerstone of our brand and what we do, not only for our customers but internally with our teams and cross functional partners.”

We’re Partnering with Dress for Success Columbus

Meet the organization that works to provide women with the tools they need to succeed through workforce readiness and employment retention programs. Our women’s resource group, WIN, is joining forces with the Ohio-based nonprofit to give women complimentary services including suits for interviews, job-search assistance, and access to a career center equipped with modern resources like laptops and professional workshops.

This collaboration injects fashion into empowerment, providing essential support for women to look and feel confident, prepared, and positioned for success in both their careers and personal lives.

Q&A With Habiba Bankston, Executive Director, Dress for Success Columbus

What impact do you hope your partnership with VS&Co will have on your organization?

“Similar to VS&Co, Dress for Success is so much more than clothes. When a woman walks through our doors, she gets a holistic empowerment experience that sets her on a path towards self-defined success. With the support and partnership of VS&Co, we will build upon our programs and efforts to advance workplace equity by ensuring that women are given the support they need to obtain, sustain, and truly grow their careers. With this partnership, we strive to continue the legacy of leading the way in putting women on the path to prosperity through workforce readiness, and personal, and professional development. 

Can you share your thoughts around clothing equity in the workplace?

“It is about acknowledging and respecting the diversity of individuals and their choices. By fostering an inclusive environment that embraces various cultural, religious, and personal expressions, organizations can create a more positive and equitable workplace. Inclusion is the key to creating an innovative and productive workforce and individuality has inherent value that should be expressed without fear of judgement. This is why Dress for Success is committed to making fashion accessible to all women. We are focused on advancing equity for women and removing barriers that limit their upward mobility. In addition to a suite of career development programming, this also includes access to our boutique full of professional attire that accommodates a wide range of professions, personalities, sizes, workplace environments, and values.”

Learn about Our Irg, Women’s Inclusion Network (WIN)

For us, our celebration this month first begins internally with our workforce of 87% women and is led by WIN, our inclusion resource group for associates who identify as women and their allies. All events throughout the month will be centered on the theme of equity, diversity, and inclusion.