Redefining Success: From Spacecraft to Social Impact

By Jennifer Dawson

When did success stop meaning the same thing for you?

For 20 years, my metrics for success were external and relentlessly traditional: degrees, certifications, promotions, and a growing 401k balance. I followed the script perfectly. After earning a doctorate in mechanical engineering, I initially pursued a tenure-track professorship. When that environment proved unwelcoming, I pivoted to corporate America, where the successes became even more tangible.

I spent years ticking items off a professional bucket list. I built and launched spacecraft; knowing the hardware I touched is now in orbit was an undeniable thrill. I climbed the ranks, becoming one of my company’s youngest senior directors and leading an organization of over 100 engineers. I earned industry accolades and the financial stability that comes with corporate leadership. By all standard accounts, I had "made it."

However, these achievements hid a corrosive reality. I found that competent, brave women are often gaslighted into believing they are a problem. When I performed at a high level, I accidentally activated the "Organizational Immune System". Men in positions of power often got defensive, seeking to eliminate the threat I posed simply for being effective and well-liked.

Success stopped looking like success when I realized the cost was a toxic level of exhaustion. I was spending too much energy navigating a barrage of microaggressions that eroded my self-efficacy. I couldn’t just show up and do my best work; I was constantly playing a game of chess to avoid threatening others. I believed the lie that if I wasn't running myself ragged, I was squandering my potential.

How do women measure wins differently today?

The turning point came when I realized that resiliency skills only go so far. After a particularly brutal cycle with a toxic manager, I retreated to a role with less responsibility and fewer politics to heal. Then, The Covenant School shooting occurred.

As the mom of two school-aged children, I realized a pattern – every school shooting left me feeling fearful and hopeless. In that moment I experienced what Paul Froese calls "existential urgency," a realization that life is finite, and finding meaning requires fierce commitment.

I left the corporate rat race to become Executive Director of Critical Reach, a nonprofit with a mission of building safer communities for our children. Today, I measure wins not by profit margins, but by intrinsic motivators:

• Autonomy: As Executive Director, I set my priorities and work in a state of flow, balancing hard work with rest.

• Meaning: Our work to reduce the harm of gun violence is fueled by a community that has generously rallied around us.

• Progress: I designed solutions that have found immediate traction, evidenced by strong product-market fit and accelerating adoption.

• Competence: My skills, insight, and strategy have led to organizational strength, validating that my leadership can drive results without toxicity.

What internal win mattered most in your journey?

The most significant win has been dismantling the belief that I needed to make myself smaller to survive.

In my previous life, I had to architect a “survival kit" just to get through the work week. Now, I am building the culture I always wished I had—one where I can be my full self at work, and so can my team.

Many peers thought I was crazy to leave a lucrative trajectory, asking why I would waste my promise. But it is the relationships and the deep, mission-driven work that give my professional life its true meaning. I haven't stepped down; I’ve stepped into a role where I no longer hustle for my worth. That is the ultimate win.

Connect With Jennifer

www.criticalreach.org

www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdawsonphd