Becoming Bold Without Permission
By Betsy Hamm
I wouldn’t say I started my career off being bold.
Young, inexperienced, and working inside a big corporate company? That kind of environment has a way of training you to stay in your lane. Follow the process. Don’t ruffle feathers. Be “professional.”
Over time, I grew up. I built confidence. And as that confidence grew, so did the feeling that I wanted more—more flexibility, more impact, more ownership. I wanted my work to matter in a way I could actually feel and see.
Then I got an opportunity to join a founder-led, emerging brand: Duck Donuts.
And that was a different world.
Gone were the layers and red tape and “let’s circle back next quarter.” In their place was speed, scrappiness, creativity, and real decisions that had real consequences. Working alongside a true entrepreneur lit a fire in me. It pushed me to take smart risks, move quicker, and stop waiting for someone to give me permission.
I had a unique chance to help shape the strategy and structure of a growing brand. We weren’t just selling donuts—we wanted Duck Donuts to become a beloved household name.
The wins came. The company grew. And I noticed something: my willingness to take up space grew too.
What started as a marketing role turned into opportunities that honestly felt “outside of my lane.” But I kept stepping forward anyway. And every time I did, I got a little bolder.
Four years in, the founder decided it was time to sell the business to a private equity group. And suddenly, the question was on the table: CEO.
If you would’ve told me ten years earlier that I’d raise my hand to lead an international donut franchise, I would’ve laughed. Hard. But there I was—equal parts terrified and confident—saying yes.
For the next four years, I lived outside my comfort zone a lot. Being bold isn’t some badge you earn once and then wear forever. It’s a constant battle to do what you believe is right, even when other people don’t see what you see yet. It’s making decisions with imperfect information. It’s taking the heat. It’s second-guessing yourself at 2:00 a.m. and still showing up the next morning ready to lead.
There were highs. There were lows. There were moments I felt unstoppable… and moments I wanted to run.
After an amazing run, it was time for my next chapter.
A year ago, I left that CEO role and started my own company. No built-in team. No resources. No “this is how we do it.” Just me.
A solopreneur with a dream and a heck of a lot of ambition. Resetting my career has been exciting, frightening, and surprisingly rewarding. Some days it’s not easy. A lot of days it’s fun. And many days it’s both before lunch.
Now I get to focus on what I love: helping brands grow.
Removing obstacles. Getting clear on where they’re going and how they’re going to get there.
I also launched a podcast focused on women in leadership—because I’m passionate about women supporting women, and I’m tired of watching brilliant women shrink themselves to make other people comfortable.
What I’ve learned this past year of becoming bold without apology:
If you want to be confident and courageous… you need a strong circle.
People who cheer for you. People who tell you the truth. People who connect you to opportunities. People who remind you who you are when you’re spiraling. Networking and exposure matter, but it’s the real relationships that change everything.
Bold isn’t loud. Bold is choosing yourself. Bold is taking the next step before you feel ready. Bold is trusting your voice, using it, and not apologizing for the space you’re taking up.
And if you’re in a season of reinvention, growth, or a big leap?
You don’t have to do it alone. And you definitely don’t earn your boldness.
You just have to practice it.
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