Smartworks CEO Kate Stephens: Meghan Markle Is the Perfect Patron for Their Cause to Help Unemployed Women

Footwear, Shoe, Fashion accessory, Handbag, Bag, — (Image credit: WPA Pool)

The charity Smart Works has helped 11,000 unemployed women prepare for forthcoming interviews by providing practical advice and the right outfit—and the 60 percent who go on to land the job get a small capsule wardrobe to match their new roles. Yesterday, it was announced that Meghan Markle would be the official patron for Smart Works, and she made an unannounced visit to the charity (in fabulous shoes, btw). In an article in The Telegraph, Smart Works CEO Kate Stephens explains why the duchess is the perfect fit for the organization, and how we're going to be seeing a lot more of their collaboration.

The "duchess effect" doesn't just apply to clothes, apparently. With the increased exposure to Smart Works' efforts, Stephens explains, "We now hope to provide that service to any woman in the UK who needs it." Ultimately, Stephens says, there should be a Smart Works office in every local community. Meghan has always been very much into charitable causes that promote women's rights, even before she became a royal, so her choices to support organizations like this one are usually very deliberate.

True to form, apparently Meghan was hands-on from the first moment she became involved in Smart Works. So that enthusiasm is actually a good thing (contrary to some reports that say it makes her "difficult" somehow). "Once she starts talking, it's easy to forget who she is and just listen to her. She's fantastic with giving the right advice and helping people to believe in themselves again," says Stephens.

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"Fashion is not frivolous," she adds. "It's not just about the clothes here: it’s how the clothes unlock your potential and how other women can support you in that process. That’s the big picture the Duchess is passionate about." Somehow, Meghan Markle has found a way not just to wow us with her fashion, but use it for good!

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Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.

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