Danielle Wallis | Moving Forward
October 2025
When I first heard I was to be nominated as an NYWICI Trailblazer, my first thought was that I didn’t deserve it.
This wasn’t a new feeling. At critical points in my career, I’ve often felt unready. Not ready for my first job at Digitas. Not ready to jump over to American Express. And certainly not ready to be chief marketing officer for Connected Commerce at JPMorgan Chase.
At every pivotal moment, doubt crept in. And yet, each of those steps became a critical moment in my career journey. This feeling isn’t unique. Many women wait until they’ve checked every box, earned every credential, or feel fully confident before making a big move. Over time, I’ve learned that you’ll never feel completely ready.
And that’s okay.
That uneasy feeling often comes with growth. It’s the fear you feel before stepping out into the unknown. And the surprise you feel when you look back and realize how far you’ve come.
So when that fear starts to creep in before a new opportunity, I remind myself to move forward. Because on the other side of fear, I have always emerged as a stronger marketer and leader.
How have I kept fear and uncertainty from paralyzing me? I’ve been fortunate to have people in my corner – mentors, leaders, colleagues, friends, and family – who have encouraged me to move forward. They encouraged me to raise my hand when I wanted to stay seated, and they told me “You’ve got this” when I wasn’t sure myself.
The belief my supporters had taught me three lessons that continue to guide me and that I hope resonate with others navigating their own chapter:
- Readiness is a myth.
There’s no perfect level of preparation that eliminates fear. The idea that we must feel completely ready before leaping keeps us stagnant. Growth requires moving forward even before we’re finished.
I recall a client calling me at Digitas, on of my first jobs out of college, suggesting that I join her team at American Express. My understanding was that I needed more experience and perhaps even an MBA before I could consider such a role. She convinced me to try. Without that push, I wonder if I ever would have left agency life and moved to the client side.
- Fear can be fuel.
Fear doesn’t disqualify you from leading. Instead, it’s a sign that you’re stretching into something bigger. Acknowledging fear rather than waiting for it to disappear allows you to learn, adapt, and ultimately thrive.
When I moved into an international role at American Express, I had never led a global team. I’d never managed marketing programs across countries and hundreds of employees. Where would I even begin? But I leapt. That fear pushed me to grow in ways I couldn’t have anticipated.
- Find courage within your community.
Surrounding yourself with people who believe in you can be the difference between hesitation and action. Your community shouldn’t just only cheerleaders, but truth-tellers. People who can look at you and tell you how it really it is. And support you regardless.
I will always be grateful for a leader and mentor who asked me to take on a role working for him outside my comfort zone. He joked that I could spell the job title, and that was about it. But he believed I could learn it and make it my own. What initially felt terrifying became one of my proudest career chapters.
Looking back, I realize that my most pivotal career moments were defined by moving forward despite the doubt. When you commit to learning on the job, you will rise to meet the challenge.
So, to anyone who feels they’re not ready for a new role, a leadership challenge, or a bigger project, remember this: You don’t have to be ready; you have to move forward.
