Becoming Ava is a leadership story for anyone who has ever stepped into responsibility before feeling fully ready.
Through the eyes of Ava—a capable, thoughtful professional navigating her first true leadership role—this book explores the quiet, often unseen moments that shape a leader: the self-doubt after difficult conversations, the weight of accountability, the tension between policy and people, and the gradual discovery of one’s own leadership voice.
Rather than offering prescriptive rules or buzzword-heavy frameworks, Becoming Ava blends storytelling with real-world leadership lessons drawn from workplace realities. Readers walk alongside Ava as she learns how to lead teams, handle conflict, balance empathy with authority, and make decisions that don’t always come with clear answers. Each chapter invites reflection, encouraging readers to examine their own experiences, instincts, and growth as leaders.
Written for first-time supervisors, emerging leaders, and professionals navigating transition, Becoming Ava is both a mirror and a guide—affirming that leadership is not about perfection, but about awareness, courage, and continuous learning.
This is a book for those becoming leaders—and becoming themselves at the same time.
Dawn Marie Page writes and teaches about leadership, growth, and becoming who you are meant to be.
Dawn Marie Page is a leadership development professional, HR leader, and founder of Smart Girl Enterprises, a platform dedicated to supporting new and emerging supervisors as they grow into confident, people-centered leaders. With a career spanning human resources, labor relations, compensation, investigations, and organizational leadership, Dawn has spent years guiding leaders through the moments they are least prepared for—difficult conversations, performance challenges, self-doubt, and the transition from individual contributor to leader of others. Her work is rooted in real-world experience, emotional intelligence, and a deep belief that leadership is learned through reflection as much as instruction. Becoming Ava draws from Dawn’s professional background and personal observations of leadership in action, blending storytelling with practical insight to illuminate the human side of management. Her approach centers on self-awareness, integrity, and growth—helping leaders find their voice without losing themselves in the process. Dawn lives in Arizona and continues to write, teach, and create leadership resources designed to empower individuals—especially women—to lead with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
by Dawn Page
