We were lucky to catch up with Danielle Dallas Roosa recently and have shared our conversation below.
Danielle Dallas, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Being the granddaughter of an Apollo astronaut, you can definitely say there was a high bar growing up. My sister was an exceptional reader and I struggled, she was great at math and I was….well, terrible at it. However, you put me in a social situation and I *thrive*. I remember crying to my mother after bombing a test I studied my ass off for and she told me my skill set will never be measured on a traditional test, and that’s a great thing. She was trying to encourage me of my strengths (creativity, communication, leadership). Soon thereafter, I was diagnosed with Dyslexia (shocker to no one).
I was lucky enough to work at NASA HQ in college and I remember walking the same halls as my grandfather (metaphorically, HQ moved their office in the 90s) and felt elated but also like I didn’t deserve to be there. How can someone who came from some of the greatest minds in America be dyslexic? So, I found ways to make sure every press release/internal document I prepared was edited by my fellow interns. I made sure that no one, would think I was the dreaded 4-letter word; DUMB. I found my stride at NASA, I would sit across from wiry engineers and ask them to explain a subject to me as if I were a child (mostly because I needed to understand it) so I could then break it down and put it into digestible content for the general public to understand. I found that I enjoyed attending meetings at 7AM because I was so passionate about space exploration and communicating that to the world.
After thriving at NASA and graduating with honors, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue my passion of film and soon thereafter started my own company titled, Back to Space. Back to Space combines my passions for space exploration and entertainment. We are building immersive VR/AR experiences that allow all attendees to experience space travel and see themselves as space explores. However, when I was pitching this to investors, the space community, potential sponsors, I felt like I was still hiding a secret; that I’m not like my grandfather, secretly, I’m in over my head. Also, keep in mind, I was 23. TWENTY THREE and I had my own company with people 3x my age working with me. I would lead the pitch calls and set the agenda for the meetings. I kept shaking my head thinking, do they know me? Why do they believe in me? I found myself giving a presentation at Microsoft when I was 25 in front of 400 people and I had to pinch myself. Why are these people here…listening to me? But as I have done my entire life, I dug my heels in. I worked harder to found ways around my struggles and I never gave up.
As time has gone on, I have concluded dyslexia is the best thing that has ever happened to me. People trusting me to run at company at age 23 has led me to be the “me” of today. And I’m proud of her. Fun Fact: there is a huge correlation to dyslexia and entrepreneurship. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world are dyslexic (Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson etc..). I think that’s because we have to figure it out and that’s the mindset I’ve had my entire life; figure it out. The path I take might not be the same path a traditional person takes, but I get there. (this sounds cocky) but I get well beyond “there”. I get there creatively, persistently, and I no longer wait for someone to expose me for dumb because I’m not, I just think differently and thank god for that.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I love what I do. Every day, I wake up and get to create an experience in which people go to space. And not just astronauts, everyone. Back to Space is redefining the boundaries of space-themed entertainment by creating immersive pop-up experiences that blend real-world interactions with state-of-the-art virtual reality. ‘Space travelers’ are transported to a near future world of space travel. All five senses are engaged through immersive theater, cutting-edge technology, and interactive storytelling that span the universe.
As an actor, it’s so fun. As a writer, it’s so fun. As an entrepreneur, it’s sooo fun. I remember being a brand ambassador at a space function and someone said, “we need to make space more accessible. People think you need 3 degrees to entertain having a career in space and as space exploration evolves that will not be true”. Now, that’s not to say don’t pursue STEM. Absolutely pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. What about the creative types? Ah! Now we’re speaking my language, baby! Since the inception of Back to Space, I’ve always wanted to make anyone, all walks of life, feel the power of space exploration and we’re doing that the best way I know how to, through storytelling.
As the founder of this company, I have gone through many (many) months without pay checks but still working my ass off to make sure this company is successful. It may seem crazy, but I really believe in what we are doing. Recently, we hired a new CEO, Gabriella Zielke, and she has completely transformed this company. We will be opening our doors in Dallas, Texas Q1 of next year! I’m beyond excited!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Here are my top 3 important qualities for entrepreneurs/life.
1. Do not take no for an answer. But here’s the key part: try and understand WHY they said no.
If it’s a BS reason, let it roll off your back. But sometimes people say no for good reason. And those reasons are often fixable. Maybe the pitch wasn’t strong, your assumptions were off, etc. It’s hard to listen to feedback, trust me, it’s hard. But let go of your ego, take the L for right now, and learn what you can do going forward to be stronger.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, support, advice…from literally anyone. People love to help people. I hosted round tables and talked about my company twice a week to random people I found on LinkedIn. These individuals would take time out of their day and listen to some crazy redhead with a pipedream. Almost all of them helped me in one way or another.
If there is an entrepreneur you look up to, message them. Email them. We live in a time in which we can connect with virtually (ha) anyone. I have been blessed with how many people wanted to help me and I was never afraid to ask.
3. Don’t be afraid of conflict. Conflict is scary! But it’s actually an essential part of growth and progress. I have to admit, I find some strange satisfaction in facing conflict, though I’m not advocating for yelling or unkindness. Instead, my approach is to be honest, direct, and kind when communicating your perspective, while making an effort to understand where your counterpart is coming from.
Conflict might be tough (TOUGHHH) initially, but it can save you from heaps of gossip, misunderstandings, and unnecessary bullshit. When assembling your team, make sure you select individuals who are great at respectful disagreement. Progress in life doesn’t come from surrounding yourself with yes-men or yes-women.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
YESSS! We are looking for collaborations, sponsorships, and investors in Back to Space!! When we open, this is going to really be out of this world. Our “Research Base” the first iteration of our traveling immersive pop ups will open Q1 of next year. I’m in charge of the marketing (excited yell) so we are currently rolling out our social media plan, stocking our gift shop and looking for companies who want some product placement. If you love space and you want your product to be in front of thousands upon thousands of eyes, let me know! Email me at danielle@backtospace.com
Contact Info:
- Website: www.backtospace.com
- Instagram: @danielledallas
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/danielledallasroosa
Image Credits
@johnnymarlow
