From Reception to the Executive Table

The real story of showing up, speaking up, and leading without the title

I didn’t start in HR.

I started in reception.

For years, I worked in manufacturing, great with customers, strong in sales, a fast learner, but I kept getting sent back to the front desk. It didn’t matter how good I was. It didn’t matter how much I wanted more. I was young, female, and underestimated.

Eventually, I had enough.

I took a leap and landed in recruitment. It felt right from the start. But my first boss? She was a storm. One day I was her golden child. The next, I was the villain. She led through shame, broadcasting our “failures” company-wide and pitting people against each other.

I left.

Then I went back.

Then I left for good.

Finding My Way, Earning My Place

That’s when I joined an oil and gas servicing company to do recruitment. I lasted four weeks before heading back to what felt familiar. But eventually, I returned and this time in a broader HR role.

That’s when things opened up. I started doing international HR: boots-on-the-ground work in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Kurdistan, and the UAE. I didn’t learn global HR from a textbook. I lived it.

I moved into a new role at another company as HR Manager, reporting to two HR Directors. Then one day, both were let go. Just like that, the role became mine. No announcement. No training. Just expectation.

And so, I stepped up.

The Title Did Not Come Right Away

By 2017, the industry was struggling. Our company had shrunk from 6,800 employees to 1,000. I was exhausted. I enrolled in an MBA program to stretch myself and maybe explore a new direction.

Right before classes began, we acquired another company. Both HR VPs were let go. Their workload landed on my desk. Still no title change, just the work.

I studied at night. I did VP work by day. The company gave me flexibility, but I paid for the MBA myself. Not because they wouldn’t, but because I wanted it to be mine.

Walking Into the Room Before Anyone Called Me In

One Sunday night, I got a text. I was expected in the executive meeting the next morning.

There was no announcement. No context. I walked in and sat down. Everyone knew who I was, but no one knew why I was there.

That moment was uncomfortable. But I showed up anyway.

Because I had been doing the work for a long time before anyone handed me a seat.

The Hardest Leadership Years

By 2020, COVID hit. Our headcount dropped again. On day one of the lockdown, we had to do a mass layoff—over the phone. We brought in counselors to help. We led with as much humanity as we could.

Then came the leadership turnover. A new CEO. A new board. A new culture. The CEO avoided tough conversations. One board member began calling me at home to yell. It felt too familiar. I had been here before.

But Through It All, There Was My Team

My HR team was the best part of the job. We trusted each other. We served the field with grit and care. We built a culture that reflected the people we supported.

Then one day, I was replaced.

My team stayed. But the rhythm we had was gone. And that’s okay.

Business isn’t family. I’ve learned that the hard way more than once.

But I don’t regret giving it everything I had. That team mattered. That chapter mattered. Even if it didn’t last forever.

The Rebuild

That’s when I joined Rodina Ventures, working alongside my husband, Andrew. Not as a fallback. As a fresh start.

I didn’t get here the easy way. I got here by showing up, stepping in, and doing the work—title or no title. I got here with integrity, humor, and loyalty to the people who made the work worth doing.

You won’t find that on a resume.

But you’ll find it in every room I walk into.

The Day I Chose Truth Over Belonging

It was before I had the VP title. But I was already carrying the weight of the role.

We had acquired a new company. Compensation was up for debate. Their model was different than ours, and I had a strong opinion. So did the new CFO. We clashed—loudly.

At the next executive meeting, the CEO asked for input. One by one, everyone aligned with the CFO. I knew what was coming. I had a choice.

Blend in.

Or speak up.

I chose the hard road. I spoke up, not to be combative, but because I believed in the people-first approach we had built.

When I finished, the room was silent. Then the CEO looked around and said, “I agree with you, Dawn.”

In the end, we went with the CFO’s plan. It was the right move for the business.

But for me, that meeting was a turning point.

That was the day I learned I didn’t have to agree to belong. I didn’t have to choose safety over truth. I could hold my ground and still hold my place at the table.

And I’ve stayed that person ever since.

Final Thought

Leadership is rarely a straight line. Mine started at reception and led me to the executive table—but not through title changes alone.

It happened because I chose to show up, to speak up, and to lead from wherever I was standing.

That’s the heart of what we do at Rodina Ventures.

And if this story resonates, we might have something to build together.

Ready to Talk It Through?

If you’re navigating a transition, carrying more than your title reflects, or simply tired of doing it alone, I get it.

I’ve been there. And I’d be glad to walk through it with you.

Let’s find your next step. Together.