175 Application Rejections Taught Me to Be Proudly Overqualified

They self-selected out of my proven delivery impact. Their loss, not mine.

Thank you to the 175 companies I applied to over the last six months—for not hiring me. Your inaction has given me a gift: a new lease on life.

I am Donna Vincent Roa and their inaction allowed me to pause, reflect, and make deliberate decisions about what comes next. I’ve evaluated my superpowers, identified the strengths that make me both unique and valuable, and redefined how I work and who I want to work with going forward.

• One non-negotiable: I will not work for toxic leaders, colleagues, or cultures that stifle creativity—or for organizations that can’t extend basic courtesies.

Silence is Clarifying

Here’s why. I once spent three weeks developing a comprehensive proposal—proof of concept, 10 characters, a marketing plan, scripts, and strategy—the complete package.

I invested my experience, creativity, and heart into it. I was excited about the technology and could see so much good coming out of it. I wanted to be a part of it.

The result? Silence.

No acknowledgment, no “we’ve moved on,” "get lost," "you scare us," not even a simple “this isn’t the right fit.” When did basic courtesy become optional? (If the CEO is reading this, I will get over it. One day.)

Oddly enough, that silence was clarifying.

Go Where You Excel

It reminded me that I’ve been super fortunate enough to know what it feels like to be valued: 10 years at Kaizen, A Tetra Tech Company, where I was trusted to be a rockstar and deliver on USAID contracts, and where I was counted on as an innovator, changemaker, and positive disruptor.

• I led teams of over 100 people and delivered on global USAID projects valued at almost $80M ($47M, $22M, and $10.76M). Let’s just say—I’ve got a little something on the ball.

I’ve also seen the flip side.

Environments where showing up at a desk mattered more than the work. Cultures that treated remote flexibility like a perk, not a norm.

I've worked remotely since 2002, before it was cool. Those lessons taught me just as much—mostly about what I won’t say yes to again. Life’s too short to shrink yourself for a paycheck.

Micromanagers, you know exactly who you are!

I am Proudly Overqualified

I’ve earned top marks on every project I’ve touched. That’s not ego, that’s data. So when I’m passed over, I see it for what it is: not a reflection of my ability, but a reminder that I’m built to create opportunities, not just wait for them.

In this season, I’ve also positioned my voice to use it in a different way—not just as a strategist and advisor, but literally.

Voice acting—narration, promos, e-learning—has become part of my current package, alongside the work I’m doing to guide CEOs and organizations toward impact-driven growth.

It’s all rooted in the same skill set: storytelling, clarity, and the ability to move people.

I’m embracing the label of “overqualified” as a badge of honor—a confirmation that I still have the firepower to do extraordinary things. With that clarity, I’m launching Vincent Roa Group to partner with CEOs who lead impact-driven missions and embrace positive disruption.

So yes—thank you. Sometimes, not getting what you think you want is exactly what you need.

If you’ve ever been redirected by rejection into something greater, I’d love to hear how it reshaped your path.

Remember that "No" doesn't mean you are not good enough. You are the one who got away.