Stepping Into Strength: What a Female Commodore Learned About Doubt, Trust & Growth

What does it really mean to lead when you're filled with doubt, surrounded by resistance, and still expected to show up strong?

In this episode of Message in the Middle, I’m joined by Dr. Jenn Donahue, a retired U.S. Navy Captain, former Commodore of an 1,800-person regiment, and a civil engineer who's led high-stakes geotechnical projects all over the world, including building bridges in Iraq and combat outposts in Afghanistan.

But today, Jenn opens up about:

• The reality of facing impostor syndrome in high-command roles, and how Jen worked through it
• Mindset shifts to help you reframe fear and step into new seasons of growth
• What to do when you’re stuck in comfort, afraid to fail, and unsure what’s next
• The challenges of being a woman in male-dominated spaces, and how she built leadership that felt authentic
• What it means to create trust and safety in teams (and families)
• The hard truth about following orders or making decisions you don’t believe in and the integrity to lead anyway

Jenn’s story is a reminder that strength isn’t loud, it’s earned through trust, courage, and doing the hard inner work. If you’re navigating your own self- discovery, questioning, growing, or even just stretching, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Jenn:

• Learn more about Dr. Jenn Donahue:  https://www.jenndonahue.com/
• Connect with Jenn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenndonahue-phd-pe/

Connect with Marianne:

• Website: Message In The Middle with Marianne
• Message In the Middle Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlists
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966
• Email: Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne

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