Staying Aligned

Danielle Stescki is a Strategic Communications and Media professional who loves using storytelling to drive equity and connection. She was honored to receive Montgomery College’s 2023 Equity Award and to be named a Top Student Consultant through Johns Hopkins’ Community Consulting Lab. Danielle recently earned her master’s in Marketing from Johns Hopkins University. Read our Q+A with the amazing Danielle below, and check out her full feature in this month's issue of En Root!

This month's theme is all about tapping into what energizes you. Tell us how this theme has played a role in your personal or professional life.

For me, energy comes from purpose, especially when I’m creating something that helps others feel seen, heard, or empowered. Whether it’s producing a multilingual campaign that fosters belonging on a college campus or helping a small business clarify their message to reach new customers, I’m energized by work that sparks connection and drives change.

In both my personal and professional life, I’ve learned that the best kind of momentum comes when I align my efforts with my values: creativity, equity, growth, and meaningful communication. That’s when I lose track of time. Not from burnout, but because I’m fully engaged. It’s a kind of fuel you can’t fake.

Tapping into what energizes me isn’t just about staying productive. It’s about staying aligned, and making space for the kind of impact that matters.

At OutGrowth, we believe in designing the space and time to reimagine the path forward. How do you think that a commitment to work that energizes us can help us to navigate our lives and careers?

A commitment to work that energizes us isn’t just about finding joy in what we do. It’s about staying grounded in who we are. When we prioritize the kind of work that lights us up, we’re more resilient in the face of change and more creative in how we meet challenges. We become better problem-solvers, collaborators, and leaders.

At different points in my life, I’ve had to pause and reimagine the path forward. Not because I was lost, but because I was out of alignment. The moments that gave me the most clarity were the ones when I asked, What actually gives me energy? Not what looks good on paper or checks the boxes, but what fuels my sense of purpose.

That question has been my compass.

Committing to energizing work isn’t always easy, especially when the world pulls us in many directions. But it’s essential if we want to build careers and lives that are sustainable, meaningful, and uniquely our own. It’s how we create space not just to grow, but to thrive.

What is one hard lesson you learned in this past year that contributed to your growth?

This past year, I learned that being good at something doesn’t mean you have to keep doing it, especially if it no longer brings you joy or aligns with your values. For a long time, I stayed in roles where I was producing great work but feeling deeply unfulfilled. I told myself that being needed was enough. But eventually, I realized that doing meaningful work for others can’t come at the cost of losing connection to myself.

Letting go wasn’t easy. It meant reevaluating my identity, redefining success, and sitting with discomfort. But that process taught me how to trust my instincts, honor my energy, and make decisions that reflect the life I want to live. Not just the one I’ve built so far.

That lesson reshaped how I lead, create, and show up in every space. Growth came when I stopped settling and started choosing, with clarity and courage.

What is one competency or skill you hope to develop in 2025?

In 2025, I’m focused on deepening my skills in data-driven marketing, specifically, using analytics and AI tools to better understand audiences and measure impact. As someone with a strong foundation in storytelling and creative strategy, I’m excited to balance that with sharper analytical thinking.

I want to be able to not only feel when something is working, but to prove it, optimize it, and scale it. Learning how to translate insights into action is a skill I know will make me a stronger marketer, leader, and problem-solver in this next chapter of my career.

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by people who turn challenges into purpose, who use their voice, creativity, or lived experience to make something better for someone else. Whether it’s a student sharing their story to empower others or a small business owner redefining what’s possible in their community, that kind of courage and vision moves me.

I’m also deeply inspired by the power of storytelling, especially when it’s used to build bridges, spark change, or help someone feel seen. When stories are told with care and intention, they don’t just inform, they connect. And that connection is what fuels so much of my work and my why.

At OutGrowth, we believe in preparing the next generation of leaders. What is one resource you'd recommend to those looking to carve out the time for growth in the next year?

Carving out time for growth doesn’t always require big leaps. Sometimes, it starts with the right resource at the right moment. Here are a few that have inspired me:

Podcast Get Hired with Andrew Seaman

This podcast offers practical, empowering advice for navigating the evolving job market. It’s great for anyone looking to build a meaningful, values-aligned career—especially in moments of transition.

Article – How to Understand the Four Domains of Strength

This piece from Leadership Vision Consulting helped me better understand how to harness individual and team strengths. It’s a powerful resource for anyone looking to grow as a leader and collaborator.

TED Talk – The Likability Dilemma for Women Leaders by Robin Hauser

This talk sheds light on the double standards women face in leadership, and how we can challenge those norms with empathy and intention. It’s a must-watch for emerging leaders who want to lead authentically.

Each of these resources has encouraged me to pause, reflect, and take action, and I hope they do the same for you.

What's next? What are you excited about in the coming year?

Right now, I’m not chasing anything specific. I’m embracing a “wait and see” approach. After completing my master’s degree in marketing from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, I’m giving myself space to rest, reflect, and recharge.

I’ve spent the past few years in motion, learning, working, growing. This year, I’m excited about the idea of not having a packed agenda. Maybe I’ll find a quiet place for a relaxing vacation. Maybe something unexpected will spark my next chapter. Either way, I’m open.

Sometimes, growth looks like slowing down and letting clarity come in its own time.