Stories of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and insights from phenomenal artists, creatives and entrepreneurs who’ve successfully managed to overcome imposter syndrome.

Allegra Deangel

Realizing that, while certainly not everyone suffers from some form of impostor syndrome, so many people do that we’re never alone in our feelings. Finding and connecting with people who feel the same way and want to commiserate, whether its about work, academics, personal interests, etc. helped me realize that we can support each other, and that no one is truly omniscient about any one topic or activity. I also find that in the moment, what helps me is channeling the energy of someone who doesn’t have impostor syndrome (i.e. “think like a [person in the typical demographic group for this situation]”) – because that person isn’t actually any more “qualified” to be there than anyone else, even if they’re an expert! Read more>>

Blake Jurasin

I think with most people, imposter syndrome permeates the music industry. I often feel imposter syndrome when I’m teaching a guitar lesson or right before/after playing a show on a big stage. To me, imposter syndrome is not just a one-time experience; it continually effects your day-to-day. Read more>>

Keith Saltojanes

Overcoming imposter syndrome when performing improv, or doing anything creative for that matter, is an ongoing process. It doesn’t completely go away- there are always moments where one could think, “What if people can tell I’m not as good as I should be?” But the reality is, people can’t read our thoughts. When someone steps onto a stage or shares their creative work, the audience assumes that person is meant to be there. It’s only when the individual begins to show uncertainty- apologizing preemptively, avoiding eye contact, speaking too quietly, or trailing off…that doubts arise. Read more>>

G. S. Gerry

I felt like imposter syndrome wouldn’t come into play for me. When I decided to become an author my first goal was to write in a unique voice with narratives that aren’t along the traditional lines. I knew I wanted to bring something different to the table—something that flips the narrative on its head and dances on the boundaries of conventional writing. My stories aren’t your typical bedtime reads; they’re rollercoasters of satire and wit, with a sprinkle of the absurd. Overcoming imposter syndrome meant embracing the fact that my voice wasn’t just another echo in the literary canyon. Read more>>

Rasheed Romain

Overcoming imposter syndrome comes in waves for me. I think it happens whenever I start something new or enter a space that I’m not familiar with. I’ve always felt like eyes were on me, watching and thinking that I don’t belong in that space. However, I’ve come to learn that it’s really just my inner thoughts of fear manifesting into the voices in my head. In those moments, I remind myself that I am worthy of what comes my way and that the approval of my peers does not dictate my success in that space. Read more>>

Jackie Smook

I started to believe I was what I really wanted to be. I was in voice lessons starting at the age of 5. I was in acting classes, dance classes – though I still can’t really dance – have a degree in musical theater and acting and still couldn’t bare to call myself an actor, puppeteer, you name it. I couldn’t. Even though I had put in this time. I then decided one day to call myself the things I wanted to be. It’s like manifesting. A hopeful little fib. I started opening my “what do you do?” reply with “I’m an actor.” I then started telling myself I was.  Read more>>

Kristy Faytle

Well, first I think it’s important to acknowledge imposter syndrome is something will come up at different points in your life and your career. I don’t think you can truly ever overcome it if you are also constantly challenging yourself and looking to grow. When I am feeling a case of imposter syndrome coming on, first I remind myself of a quote I love by Mindy Kaling (who then wrote a book based on this quote), “Why not me?” Because in all seriousness, why NOT me? I work hard, I strive for excellence in the service I provide, and I am passionate about creating genuine and lasting relationships with my clients. There is nothing about me that would prevent me from achieving the success I want for my business. Read more>>

David Lee

I’m not sure I overcame imposter syndrome; I just got a lot better at managing it. Even now, considering this question, and the invitation for this interview, I find myself wondering if I belong here. To varying degrees, I’ve experienced – and continue to experience – all the different types of imposter syndrome. For the longest time, I had the feeling that if I wasn’t naturally good at something, it meant that there was something wrong with me. I’ve been able to let go of this one but for me, other manifestations of imposter syndrome are harder to let go of. Read more>>

Sherrika Sanders

I learned that imposter syndrome keeps me humble. I do not allow it to let me shy away from new ideas and challenges. Instead, I use it to ask myself: Why not me? While new challenges can be intimidating, I had to start listening to what I was telling others – if someone is offering you an opportunity, it’s because they trust you can do it. So why don’t you trust you can do it? I can’t let someone else have more belief in me than I have in myself.  Read more>>

Amber Staedtler

Good old imposter syndrome. I first heard the term about 8 years ago. A light bulb went off. It was like finding a definition for so many of my struggles. Why I never felt good enough despite the genuine success I had achieved. Why I always gave credit to luck or coincidence instead of my own hard work. Why I could see the beauty in the achievements of others but never in myself. Read more>>

Misa Doi

I live by the adage, “Fake it ’til you make it.” You must have faith in yourself and your capabilities, even if you lack the confidence and experience. If you don’t believe you deserve where you want to be, why should anyone else?  Read more>>

Tao Ho

At various stages of life, and even now, I find myself continually immersed in this feeling. Sometimes, I discover peace; other times, it eludes me. For a long while, I doubted my work and questioned the reactions of others, ensnaring myself in an indescribable sense of constraint. Through this constraint, I gradually realized: why can’t I treat myself with the same fairness and kindness, and stand by my own side? Read more>> 

Leona Perez

“Ah, imposter syndrome! It’s a familiar companion for many creatives. For me, it was a constant whisper that I wasn’t good enough, that my art was a fluke, and that I’d be ‘found out’ soon. But I knew I couldn’t let it hold me back. Read more>>

Nathan Wakefield

I’ve always struggled with imposter syndrome a lot as an entertainer. The best way I’ve found to overcome it is through repetition. That is, the more shows I do, the more natural it feels overtime. It also helps with the amount of time I put into developing and rehearsing material behind the scenes. The more overall time I dedicate to my craft both on and off stage, the easier it is for me to feel as though I belong there. I also try to remind myself that I get to perform because it’s what I love to do and the audience (for the most part) wants me to succeed so that they can be entertained. If we’re all on the same page, everyone belongs there and everyone wins. Read more>>

Barney Wells

Oh, gosh. What a great question. I don’t know if you ever overcome it, fully. I know for me, it can come in waves. I’ll feel like , “wow! I really know what I’m doing here” and then have massive feelings of doubt all in the span of a few days. Conquering that feeling and getting out of that funk, for me, comes in different forms. Sometimes it’s just battling my way out of it and a lot of positive affirmations. Read more>>

Linda Negron

Overcoming imposter syndrome has been a journey for me as a leader and communicator. One of the most powerful tools I’ve used is active listening. Early in my career, I realized that listening carefully to others so you can understand rather than just respond, especially in challenging situations, gave me clarity and confidence. It wasn’t just about hearing a complain or praise but truly understanding where I could improve or how I was contributing. This led me to actively seek out valuable feedback—not just the reassuring “You’re doing great,” but the kind of feedback that helps you grow. I wanted to know where I could elevate my skills and how my leadership was impacting others. Read more>>

Karen Leight

I believe imposter syndrome is something many of us continue to navigate, myself included. It’s funny because, while I don’t obsess over my own hair, I’ve found that I have a real talent for styling others’. On days when my work doesn’t meet my own high standards, I remind myself that one off-day doesn’t define my skills or my career. What matters most is maintaining genuine care for my clients and ensuring their satisfaction. I’m fortunate to have a strong support system that encourages me and keeps me grounded, even when those feelings of doubt arise. Read more>>

Sophie Tran

I’m honored to be a daughter of two trailblazers who can only be described as legendary. Their work in Vietnamese American diasporic media shaped culture for the Little Saigon communities all over the world and later their contributions to Vietnamese children’s educational programming were renowned globally. They built an empire with their bare hands only for it to crumble as technology offered new ways to make illegal copies of their products.  Read more>>

Cailin Simpson

I would say I haven’t fully overcome imposter syndrome, but then again, who has? In every walk of life, there are spaces where we find ourselves uncomfortable because of the actual and perceived skills of others around us that differ from our own. It’s natural, I’d say, to feel out of place, but it becomes a problem when we shrink ourselves to take up less space, blend into the walls, or try to escape our own skin. Read more>>

Brandon Tran

Imposter syndrome is an interesting concept because I don’t think it’s something you really overcome rather something you learn to live with. I’ve had the opportunity to talk to professionals in the industry and to hear how critical they are of themselves and their work goes to show that, one, it exists in all of us, and two, it still bogs the mind no matter where you are in life. Read more>>

Leah Kyriakis

I believe you overcome imposter syndrome by believing in yourself and trusting your capabilities. Never compare yourself and your work to others. Trusting that what you bring to the table is unique to you and your approach. It’s easier said than done, but you just have to keep moving forward in your craft, keep learning and putting yourself out there. As time goes by, confidence grows in yourself and imposter syndrome disappears. Read more>>

Sonia Dong

Imposter syndrome has appeared most often in my professional life. Taking on a leadership role, being promoted, changing or pivoting careers and becoming a business owner have all resulted in imposter syndrome. Negative self-talk, and allowing fear and anxiety to take over as my default mode made it difficult for me to show my true value and to shine. What worked to overcome imposter syndrome was a multi-pronged approach that focused on mindset shifts and evidence-gathering.  Read more>>

Stormi Zezotarski

The short answer is, you don’t – you just pretend you’re already what you’ve always wanted to be; Before you know it- you ARE exactly that. The long answer, is it took years to just simply do, and to be.
The greatest advice I’ve ever received as an artist was “Do the job you want before you have it.” And that’s what I had to force myself to do. Even when I worked primarily as a server, I had to physically make a schedule for myself and label it “my other job” even before I made any money. Read more>>

Michael J. Bello

At Outrageous Records Inc, we don’t just make music; we build platforms for artists who want to push boundaries. What excites me most about my work is seeing artists grow and express their unique sound in ways that they never thought possible. Having been in the entertainment industry, from my experience in acting to running a Record Label, imposter syndrome can be challenging. Read more>>

Zilai Feng

To be very honest, I myself am still in the process of figuring this one out since it comes and goes, but here is what I can share: I notice the times when the imposter syndrome happens is usually either when I first started working with someone or at somewhere new, or when my work does not appear to be received well. And while these feelings are so real and frustrating, the reason it is called a syndrome is very likely because it does not reflect the facts in reality. Read more>>

Sean Chow

When I was younger, in middle school and high school, I was always known to be ‘the guy’ for videos, whether it be for student council, or the basketball team. My technical knowledge regarding basic principles of filmmaking was ok, certainly the best among my classmates. I had a skill that I thought I was good at and it gave me a sense of pride that people would get me to make their videos. When I decided to continue pursuing filmmaking at NYU, I thought that I would continue being the best among my peers, but boy was I wrong. Read more>>

Zack Solomon

There’s a very funny thing about imposter syndrome, and that’s that it never really goes away. I’ve overcome imposter syndrome countless times, and it’s something that I am in a constant battle with. Don’t get me wrong, it’s gotten a lot more manageable over the years and has quieted down a lot compared to just a few years ago. This is largely thanks to my psychologist and the incredible support network I have in my family, friends, and loved ones. Read more>>

Katy Turbeville

I have had lots of trouble with imposter syndrome. I am a self-taught knitter and unlikely entrepreneur, so it has been hard to see myself in an influential role. So, beginning with our brick and mortar yarn shop in Muncie, Indiana it was the community of the crafters around me encouraging me to try new things, and looking to me for guidance for their own questions and projects. The more I heard our patrons valuing my advice, the more confidence I gained. Read more>>

Molly Tracy

Imposter syndrome is definitely something I battled with when I started my solo-entrepreneurial journey. I had always heard that entrepreneurship was “lonely” and I had interpreted that to mean that as a solopreneur, you’re going to be working on your own and not surrounded by a team at first. What I came to learn was that entrepreneurship was lonely because you didn’t have a team or a boss to hand down praise to you any longer.  Read more>>

Livie Casto

I’ll be honest and say that imposter syndrome isn’t necessarily something I believe one can “overcome”, or at least it’s not something I’ve fully overcome yet. Actually scratch that, yes I think you can overcome it, but I also believe that being a person with a growth mindset means that you’ll find yourself in situations that are uncharted (at least for you) and for me, uncharted is pretty synonymous with uncomfortable and unknown. Read more>>

Brionna Futrell

We all grapple with Imposter syndrome, especially when you’re called to achieve something significant. It’s common to feel unworthy and unqualified, leading to discouragement and the question, “Why me?” I recently confronted these same feelings. In June 2023, my vision for my digital marketing agency began to take shape, and now, a year later, I find myself partnering with one of my very first clients. This achievement was incredibly exciting, especially after a year of self-doubt and wondering if I could make it happen. Read more>>

Ashley Morgan

Imposter syndrome is a very difficult thing to overcome. Growing up, I always felt like I was stepping into every room with the intrinsic belief that I had no right being there in the first place. Being an artist, and being a woman, can absolutely still feel that way.
I’m not going to lie and say that I’m completely cured of the little voice in my head that tells me that i’m not, and will never be, good enough. Read more>>

Laura Orsolini

I often felt that my discomfort, in regard to the quality of my art, largely depended from an excess – or should I say an illusion?- of control.
I had to realise I needed to flow together with my inspiration rather than try to dominate it.
To switch from the stiffness of control to the richness of a continuous metamorphosis allowed me to embrace my art with its uniqueness, its gifts and its limits. Read more>>