The Moment I Showed Up for My Community Taught Me How to Lead

April 2026

I used to believe leadership had a title—something granted with permission, validation, and a clear hierarchy where someone else always sat at the top. For most of my career, I was comfortable being “the 2.” The assistant director who reports to the director. The vice president who reports to the president. I thrived in those roles. I executed, supported, built, and delivered. But I never fully stepped into owning the vision.

Even when I embarked on my entrepreneurial journey, I instinctively sought out a business partner—someone to share the weight, the decisions, the visibility—so I wouldn’t have to be alone at the top. If I’m honest, I didn’t even want to name my company after myself, because that would position me fully in charge for all the world to see. It wasn’t capability that held me back—it was confidence. I didn’t fully trust my leadership skills, and I wasn’t sure I could stand on my own as “the 1.”

Everything shifted the moment I truly showed up for my community.

It wasn’t one big moment. It was a series of choices—saying yes when I was unsure, speaking up when it would have been easier to stay quiet, and stepping forward when no one formally asked me to lead. In those moments, people saw something in me that I didn’t yet see in myself. They called it out. They affirmed it. And they challenged me to rise to it.

That affirmation gave me the courage to make one of the most pivotal decisions of my career—dissolving my business partnership and launching Herd Strategies. There was no safety net anymore. No one above me to defer to. Just me, my vision, and my willingness to figure it out.

And I was wobbly at times. Still am.

But I wasn’t alone.

My community taught me that leadership doesn’t mean doing it by yourself—it means being bold enough to ask for help. I reached out to leaders I admired. I asked questions. I sought guidance. And they showed up. They mentored me, coached me, counseled me, and propped me up when I needed it most.

They spoke my name in rooms I wasn’t in.

They made space for me at tables that once felt out of reach.

They reminded me that I belonged—even before I fully believed it myself.

There’s a quote that resonates deeply with my journey:

“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” — Angela Davis

For a long time, I accepted being “the 2.” I accepted playing the background, deferring decisions, and shrinking my voice. I told myself it was a strategy—but in truth, it was fear. Fear of being fully seen. Fear of being fully responsible. But through the encouragement of my community and a growing conviction within me, I realized I could no longer accept that version of myself.

So I made a decision—to step up and step out. To change what I had been tolerating. To embrace being “the 1,” even when it felt unfamiliar. That shift didn’t make me perfect, but it made me accountable to my calling—and that changed everything.

What I’ve learned is that leadership is less about a title and more about responsibility. It’s about showing up, serving others, and creating space—just as space was created for me.

I’ve always said your work speaks for itself, and I am a true testament to the power of word-of-mouth. Opportunities came because I showed up, did the work, and built trust within my community.

Through trial and error, deep breaths, and faith, I stepped forward—and my community embraced me.

Even now, they continue to teach me how to lead.

Because leadership isn’t a destination. It’s something you grow into—one moment of courage, one act of service, and one leap of faith at a time.

As always, we encourage you to share our newsletter with a friend. If you have ideas for topics we should explore, please don’t hesitate to email us at info@herdstrategies.com. We’d love to hear from you.

Signing Off,

Denise

For those doing meaningful work behind the scenes and looking to amplify their voice, we created a free guide: The 10 Commandments of Effective Media Relations: a practical resource to help you build stronger relationships and get your message heard.

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