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.

Christy Howard

For most of my life, I looked outside myself for validation, constantly questioning whether I was smart enough, good enough, or even looked the part. I was determined to succeed, yet underneath the drive was a deep-seated fear of being “found out”—a classic case of imposter syndrome. Read More>>

Shartavia Denise

At first, I didn’t even know it had a name—I just thought I wasn’t good enough. Every time someone complimented my work or booked me, I’d lowkey question if I was really that girl or if they just didn’t know better options. Crazy, right? But imposter syndrome had me playing small in rooms I prayed to be in. Read More>>

Michalla

I didn’t — and I don’t believe I ever truly will. Imposter syndrome isn’t something we permanently defeat; it’s something we learn to navigate. It arises whenever we step into new or unfamiliar territory. That sense of not being good enough, the fear that we don’t know enough, or the worry that others will see right through us — it’s all part of growth. Read More>>

Carolyn McEntee

Imposter syndrome is something I still grapple with from time to time-especially when I hit a new milestone in my career. I’ve come to realize that this feeling often surfaces during periods of growth and success. Read More>>

Nancy Made

Honestly what really helped me was the fact that I came to accept how imposter syndrome exists in everyone and not just me. I also chose to embrace it as it’s something I know that I will still experience in the future. Read More>>

Brea Holmes

Imposter Syndrome is the belief that you’re not meant to be in a certain space or doing a certain thing. There is this sense of “I have no right to be here” or “I don’t deserve to be here”. I fought with these ideals a lot, and I still do sometimes. Read More>>

Lady Jenny Bolivar

For a long time, imposter syndrome quietly followed me — especially as I transitioned out of corporate America and into the entrepreneurial space. After over 20 years working in high-level, structured environments where roles and outcomes were clearly defined, stepping into a leadership position where I was creating the path as I walked it felt… unsettling. Read More>>

Kira Griffin

Since I was young, I’ve always been aware that I’m half Asian, but I’ve also always been aware that I don’t really look enough like it to fully associate myself with that culture. I never grew up knowing the language, eating the food, or immersing myself in Korean culture in any way. Read More>>

John Sungju Kim

Like most unpleasant things in life, imposter syndrome hits like a school bus on a Sunday. As an artsy kid surrounded by nerds in high school; I felt that my art was above average, and boldly applied to a fashion program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  Read More>>

Devin Smith

Being not only a woman in the brewing industry but also younger than many of my professional peers, imposter syndrome is something I’ve grappled with throughout my career. While the industry is becoming more welcoming to women, people are still often surprised to learn that I’m a brewer. Hearing comments like, “Oh, YOU brew the beer? No way!” or “Tell the brewer he did a great job,” can really tighten the grip of imposter syndrome. That’s certainly how I’ve felt in the past. Read More>>

Jodi Anthes

When I knew it was time to leave my 9-5 to work for myself and start my social media management and coaching business, I was terrified. I felt like my work wasn’t ‘big’ enough to attract clients of my own to build a real business. But when I stepped back to look at all I had achieved so far for my clients and in my previous roles, I realized I was sabotaging my own success. Read More>>

LJ Williams

I think imposter syndrome is something that everyone encounters at some point in their creative journey. To be honest, I don’t think it’s something you overcome; it’s something you manage. Right now, I’m working on my second documentary, and there are so many scenarios that I’ll fabricate on why this won’t be as successful as my first one. This is actually preventing me from even looking at the footage. Read More>>

Jasmine Smith

My very first book deal was announced in September of 2023, but it will not be released until Summer of 2026. Nearly three years later. I have spent the last three years feeling like an imposter every time I tell someone “I’m an author,” or “I have a book coming out.” It’s very difficult to feel like the real deal when you don’t have a cover, a release date, or at one time, a finished manuscript. Read More>>

Maude May

Getting older certainly assisted me in overcoming imposter syndrome. I realized that there wasn’t
anyone telling me what I could create or how I could make it. I knew I had the skills and that I was “the boss of me.” Read More>>

Sharifa F

I’ve dealt with impostor syndrome on two major occasions in my life: when I first started teaching after graduate school and when I decided to become a gaming content creator. Both times, it was scary. There was a feeling that none of this would work out in my favor and that I would be exposed for not having the skills and abilities that I said that I had. Read More>>

Miriam Dorsett

When I think about that question I think about the phrase “fake it till you make it!” which I’ve heard many times throughout my life. Mentors and colleagues have said it to me, men and women alike. I’ve even said it to myself, to friends, mentees and associates. But at some point in my founder journey I came to a realization about what a load of bull it is! Especially from the entrepreneur perspective. I had to shift my mindset around fake it until you make it to overcome my imposter syndrome. Read More>>

John Paul Grigsby

A lot of imposter syndrome comes from projecting what we think other people are thinking.

Sometimes people can be mean or jealous, often because of their own insecurities, or even their own imposter syndrome. If we let those people get into our heads, or start speculating about what’s going on in theirs, it can be distracting and make it harder to do whatever it is we’re trying to do. Thinking hypothetically into the future, or even too much about the present, can create a mental block. Read More>>

Brendan Schneider

To be honest, I don’t think I’ve overcome imposter syndrome, and I’m not sure I ever will completely. It’s more of a constant tension that ebbs and flows throughout my career. There are still moments when I walk into a room and think, ‘Do I really belong here?’ or ‘Am I qualified to speak on this topic?’ Read More>>