Rise 2026: an afternoon of inspiration and connection

On a beautiful spring afternoon at Ironlight in Lake Oswego, Vista hosted Rise 2026 — bringing together 60+ women for conversation, connection, and a little inspiration. What began as She Leads has grown into something bigger, and the new name fits: Rise is about growth, possibility, and living with intention.

Purpose and planning

Chief People Officer Tana Thomson welcomed guests and introduced the afternoon’s theme — that Rise exists to help women feel empowered and inspired, not just financially, but in every dimension of life. Director of Legacy Planning Julia Tierney picked up that thread with an overview of Vista’s evidence-based investing philosophy and an introduction to The Purpose Project, a self-guided workbook built around research into what makes for a genuinely fulfilling retirement. “Retirement is not just a financial transition,” Julia said. “It is one of the biggest life transitions we will go through.” The workbook helps clients design that next chapter with intention — covering connection, giving back, meaningful work, learning, and leisure.

Susie Wright in conversation

The centerpiece of the afternoon was a conversation between Chief Client Officer Lindsey Williams and Susie Wright — founder of So Susie and, as it happens, a Vista client.

Susie’s story is one of reinvention. After more than 25 years at Nordstrom — first as a buyer, then as a personal stylist — a scooter accident on her birthday in 2018 left her with a broken foot and unexpected time on her hands. She started writing a fashion blog, sent it to about 100 people, and earned $300 that first month. She knew immediately she was onto something.

She committed to writing three posts a week and hasn’t missed a week since. By 2020, she left Nordstrom for good, built a basement studio, and went all in. Today, So Susie reaches more than 700,000 Instagram followers and publishes daily across her website, email, and social channels — with a team of seven and a new Substack launching with her daughter Emily.

What’s driven the growth? Consistency, authenticity, and a refusal to recommend anything she wouldn’t buy herself. “I just want to wake up and write about whatever I want to write about,” she said.

The conversation ranged from fashion advice to the realities of building a business later in life — and it drew on the same themes that make Rise what it is: confidence, reinvention, and designing a life on your own terms.

We’re grateful for every person who showed up and for all the energy in the room, and look forward to the next Rise event.