Veronica Van Doran

I attribute my success to being willing to grow through uncomfortable situations instead of avoiding them. A lot of my career and personal growth came from stepping into rooms where I didn’t feel fully ready yet, learning quickly, and trusting that I could figure things out. I’ve also learned that success is not just about working hard it’s about resilience, accountability, and building strong relationships with people around you. Whether in my civilian career or military service, I’ve tried to lead with empathy while still holding high standards for myself and others.

For other young women, especially those navigating careers, leadership, or major life transitions, I think one of the most important things is understanding that confidence doesn’t always come first. Sometimes confidence is built after you take the leap, not before it. Growth happens when you stop waiting to feel perfectly prepared and start trusting your ability to adapt.

"Ask for forgiveness, not permission" the importance of trusting my judgment and not wait for perfect conditions to take initiative. Some of the biggest opportunities in my career came from being willing to bring forward ideas, solve problems proactively, and take calculated risks before I had every answer. I’ve learned that strong leadership is often about balancing initiative with accountability; being confident enough to move things forward, while also being adaptable and willing to learn along the way. That mindset has helped me grow in both my military and civilian career, especially in fast-paced environments where innovation and decisiveness matter

My biggest advice would be to trust that your perspective has value, even early in your career. Don’t be afraid to speak up, ask questions, or bring new ideas forward just because you feel inexperienced. Some of the best growth comes from stepping outside your comfort zone and being willing to learn in real time. I’d also encourage young women to focus on building strong relationships and finding mentors who challenge and support them. Your work matters, but so does your reputation, how you communicate, and how you make people feel when working with you. Most importantly, don’t underestimate yourself. You do not have to have every qualification, every answer, or every ounce of confidence before pursuing opportunities. Be adaptable, stay curious, and allow yourself room to grow into the leader you want to become.

I think one of the biggest opportunities in our field right now is the rapid evolution of AI and how it can transform the way we work, communicate, and deliver value to clients and patients. There’s a lot of excitement around AI, but there’s also a responsibility to use it thoughtfully and strategically, especially in healthcare and media where accuracy, trust, and personalization matter so much. I’ve been really interested in exploring how AI can improve collaboration, decision-making, and efficiency internally, while also helping us better understand audiences and deliver more meaningful experiences externally. A big focus for me has been thinking beyond day-to-day execution and asking how we can influence the future of the enterprise as a whole. Another area I’m passionate about is empowering teams. I want the people I work with to have autonomy, confidence, and opportunities to contribute ideas that shape larger business decisions, not just execute tasks. I think one of the greatest opportunities leaders have right now is creating environments where innovation can come from anywhere, regardless of title or experience level.

One of the values that is most important to me, both professionally and personally, is creating meaningful impact through education and communication. There’s so much noise in the world today — from media, advertising, and constant information; that I believe it’s important to make sure the messages we put in front of people are relevant, valuable, and genuinely helpful.

In my current role, that often means helping educate both patients and healthcare providers. On the patient side, I’m passionate about making sure people have the information and resources they need to have more productive conversations with their doctors and advocate for their own health. Healthcare can feel overwhelming, and doctors are balancing so much, so empowering patients to walk into those conversations informed and confident is incredibly important to me. At the same time, I value the role we play in helping educate healthcare providers on new treatments, evolving research, and resources that can ultimately improve patient care. Medicine is constantly advancing, and helping connect the right information to the right audiences can make a real difference in outcomes and awareness. I also really value continuous learning, mentorship, and connection. I love teaching, but I equally love learning from other people and hearing different perspectives. I think it’s incredibly important for women to support and empower one another, share experiences, and help each other grow into the best versions of ourselves , both professionally and personally.