BEAUTY IN BROKENNESS

When one door of happiness closes, another opens (Helen Keller)

It’s a tough decision, to choose whether IFC – World Bank and Fitted for Work. After completing core courses at my Melbourne Business School, we learned over and over the importance of making good decision. How we shouldn’t “trapped” in decision-making traps. I’m never good at it until this article is written.

However, I remember Jan Cochrane-Harry, director of strategic marketing MBS, once said at our WAM marketing speaker forum that her advice was “know what you want, follow your gut, be an initiator for change and make time for yourself”. So despite the strong encouragement to accept World Bank offer (Jakarta based), I chose the other way around.

You know what? That’s one of best decisions I’ve ever made. I never regret it. Finally, I’m able to make a good decision in my life.

Fitted for Work (FFW; www.fittedforwork.org) Melbourne, was founded by volunteers in July 2005, is a unique adaptation of a number of overseas models to provide disadvantaged unemployed women with a free service that delivers professional and individualized:

• Business Clothing and Accessories through its ‘Boutique’
• Presentation & Interview Skills
• A range of Client Support Programs

Women accessing the services are referred by Job Network Providers (JNPs) who see FFW as a complimentary extension of their services in helping disadvantaged unemployed women

• Gain Employment
• Financial Independence
• Transform their lives

My first day, I entered their Boutique to get the feel. I saw this tall, naturally beautiful young lady with long black hair; waiting at reception with her jeans. She looked ordinary. Then I came 15 minutes later, that young woman used an elegant maroon suit. She looked so different, different good and prettier. I guessed, we (there were four of us at the room) were all amazed with the transformation.

Then the young lady looked herself at the mirror, it’s just a magical moment. I saw a smile in her face and suddenly I felt that something in my heart had been touched in a way I couldn’t explain. I had a lump in my throat. I talked to her, give some additional fashion comment (with my basic knowledge). She looked so happy and clearly she felt good. She kept looking at the mirror, and you can see the smile is still on and the sparkling eyes as she amazed herself to look so pretty and elegant. The good look gave her instant confidence and dignity. I think, to see that transformation is magnificent. It’s from zero to hero. There are many beauties in brokenness out there in modern society. True beauty that’s ready to be discovered, hidden by series of difficult circumstances.

My role is as research analyst and business strategist. My internship project is doing feasibility study including organizational analysis for Fitted for Work going social enterprise and to be able to expand them nationally. Business models I should analyze are Recycled Clothing Store and Virtual Online Gift model. I read book “The end of charity: Time for Social Enterprise” by Nic Frances; former CEO of Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL) and hundreds of articles to support the project.

The challenge is to build comprehensive analysis by fragmented information. I’m surprised how little information I can get about social enterprise at Australia in particular. It’s tricky to get the right information. We should know how, where and whom to be able to provide proper recommendation. So creativity, smart-street, interpersonal, independence, genuine interest toward community project and initiative is set of skills that highly appreciated. Most not-for-profit organization were built by good intention yet done with ad hoc and volunteer based. But as the organization and number of volunteers are growing, it’s impossible to retain the natural organization structure.

Yet it’s exciting and remarkably experience as I do think that working at not-for-profit sector enable us to work with range of diverse group of people. I met many people with affluent background that have strong community commitment. It’s even better as MBS Career Center provide us with mentorship program by PwC. My mentor is Brendon Cutt, Director of Personal Improvement.

I have honors working with Karen with her motherly warm-hearted character and extensive experience at not-for-profit organization (board members of Y.E.A.H = Youth Empowerment Against HIV/AIDS and pretty like model - Ali, CEO of Y.E.A.H, recently invited to New York by United Nation to participate at international forum about HIV/AIDS. They are fun, pretty, smart and mostly surprising are having strong community sense.

There are too many “beauties” wasted due to lack of self-esteem, feeling incapable to walk the life and feeling ugly inside for whatever root causes. They shouldn’t. I believe everyone has its function to fill gaps in the worlds. Unfortunately, women; despite their capability; have been years put in disadvantaged position even in advanced countries.

I’m gracefully thanked both MBS Career Center and EMBA class of 2007 to provide the opportunity to me. A flash in my memory, what I wrote at my personal essay to go to MBS, “what would you do post your MBA?”, I wrote to be able to establish HOPE for LIFE foundation to address women and children needs. I guess that it’s all about. How this internship fitted into my aspiration, to provide hope for women out there seeking way back to work force, to regain their life and independence. To free themselves from unnecessary fears and doubts. I would note this internship as one unforgettable experience at my MBA journey.

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