We’ve got some of the most incredible artists, creatives and entrepreneurs in our community and we are constantly shocked by how prevalent imposter syndrome is. So many incredibly talented folks are haunted by self-doubt by a society that often tells you not to think too highly of yourself, but in order to have the strength to take on big challenges and make meaningful change in the world you’ve got to believe in yourself and so we wanted to create a space for conversations around overcoming imposter syndrome.
Renee St Pierre
I’ll let you know when I do, ha! No, but seriously When I first started baking sourdough and trying to turn it into a real business, imposter syndrome hit hard. I’d scroll through photos of perfect loaves online and think, “Who am I kidding? Read More>>
Cathy Ferrell
Imposter syndrome is something that many people struggle with, but can be very isolating. Getting involved in community and listening to other people’s stories helps me work through this. For most of my life, I have enjoyed writing, but I never took myself seriously as a poet. Why would anyone be interested in hearing what I had to say? Read More>>
Amber Axelton
I overcame imposter syndrome by creating art that represents me. During the pandemic, I needed to forge a new career for myself going forward, and while we were all endlessly scrolling through the internet, it was very easy to look at the people who were already experts in their field and feel like I was never going to measure up. Read More>>
Jenny Bredeken
I’ve learned to overcome imposter syndrome by picturing the highest potential version of myself and acting like that person, especially when I don’t feel ready. As a person with big dreams, I’ve often felt like I was running behind. But when I look back on my life, I can see how everything has unfolded with perfect timing. Read More>>
Cher Hobbick
I don’t know that I’ve overcome imposter syndrome — I think I’ve just learned to challenge it like I would a rule I don’t agree with or an authority figure I don’t respect. I push back. I tell it it’s wrong, it’s ridiculous, and frankly, it doesn’t know what it’s talking about. It’s basically a middle finger to imposter syndrome. Read More>>
Eliana Feldkamp
I stopped trying to silence imposter syndrome and started listening to what it was teaching me. Usually, it showed up when I was stepping into something new or going to a huge event on my own. Realizing that helped me reframe it though – not as a sign I wasn’t ready or worthy of the opportunity, but as proof that I was growing. Read More>>
Melissa dos Prazeres Allard
I didn’t. Because I don’t believe in imposter syndrome. I feel nervous, scared, and doubtful a lot, as I am always navigating new territory as the owner of a growing business, a mum of a growing child who I’ve never parented at this age or stage before. Read More>>
Giovanni Moran
Imposter syndrome is something every artist, entrepreneur, or creative faces at some point. For me, it was especially present in my early years, when I was still shaping my craft, asking endless questions, and learning the answers as I went. I didn’t have a mentor to guide me, so I had to become my own. Read More>>
Valeria Serra
I don’t think I can say I fully overcome imposter syndrome cause I get it often, sometimes when I finally have a day off after many events, I tend to think “I have to keep working or I need to look for more events or else I will get behind” Read More>>
Amy Hansen
When I first stepped into wedding photography, I felt like I had somehow tricked every couple who hired me. There was this lingering fear that I wasn’t “experienced enough,” or that one wrong move would prove I didn’t belong behind the camera. Wedding days are high stakes, they only happen once, and that responsibility can feel overwhelming. Read More>>
Will Brahm
Imposter syndrome is a trick of the mind. Our subconscious wants us to WAIT for the world to place us in a situation that is ideal. In reality, it is our DAILY decisions and routine that place us in the situation we want to be in. Read More>>
Tori Kanhayuwa
I don’t know that there is a complete ‘overcoming of imposter syndrome’ if I’m being honest. As an emerging artist who didn’t go to art school and only started my art journey a few years ago, it’s really about continuously growing and allowing that growth to combat the episodes of imposter syndrome you’ll inevitably face. Read More>>
Amy Nolan Carolyn Johnson
When you realize that no one really knows what they’re doing, that gives you the audacity to do it, too. We were pretty young when we realized we could just…do stuff. Start a business! Advertise to find clients! Change our pricing! It’s been a journey. Of course, there is a learning curve, but we have always stuck true to our values and ourselves. Read More>>
Jean Picou
The short answer is, I haven’t. What I’ve learned to do is to step out of that mindset quicker and not linger there too long. Imposter syndrome still likes to pop in, uninvited; it’s stubborn that way. But what helps is reminding myself that I have a place in this creative game. Read More>>
Emily Laratta
In the beginning of my content creation journey, I definitely struggled with imposter syndrome. I’d compare myself to other creators and question whether my voice or style really mattered. What helped me overcome that was consistently showing up — even when things weren’t perfect. Read More>>
Brezzey
You know, for a long time, I confused humility with shrinking. I thought playing small meant I was being grounded — when really, I was dimming myself out of fear that I didn’t belong in the rooms I dreamed of being in. Read More>>
Felicia Gambino
I have to begin by saying that you certainly did not go easy on me with the list of questions to pick from. The reality is, I believe my story encases many of the questions that were asked and don’t necessarily only answer one question. Read More>>
Rickisa Owens-Bacon
Imposter syndrome used to have me questioning everything — my talent, my timing, my right to take up space. What changed? I stopped waiting to feel ready and started showing up anyway. Each time I did, the fear got quieter. Confidence isn’t a destination — it’s an energy, and we can tap into it at any time. Read More>>
Amber Tice
When I started as a personal brand photographer, imposter syndrome hit me hard. I constantly compared myself to others and questioned whether I was really good enough. But over time, I realized it’s something everyone deals with at some point, no matter their profession or experience level. Read More>>
HECTOR GUERRERO
What do I do and how do I overcome imposter syndrome? I’m a creator, storyteller, and explorer. My work is about uncovering the soul of a city — the forgotten corners, the stories that hide in plain sight, the art, and the people that make a place feel alive. Read More>>
Lindsay Valentine
I love this question because I think so many entrepreneurs find themselves face-to-face with thoughts along this line. Whether its feeling like an imposter or some of the cousins to imposter syndrome like finding the bravery to price your services higher or how to tactfully stand up to a customer who wants more than you agreed to. Read More>>
Owen Campbell
Imposter syndrome is a massive weight for any clinician. You go from having your hand held by instructors, to a patient sitting in front of you. In my first few years of practice I worked with two excellent clinicians who were able to give me good advice and critique my performance. This helped me to get over the first level of impostor syndrome. Read More>>
Amber August
If I’m being honest, I haven’t fully overcome my sense of being an ‘imposter.’ I just continue to do the things that I enjoy despite not feeling qualified to do so. Read More>>
Alicia Magner
I don’t pay attention to it one bit. I do my own thing and have fun with my clients. Most of my clients have become like family and I feel like I am happier paying more attention to them than anything. Read More>>
Raven Ponder
I don’t think imposter syndrome is something you “overcome.” I think you outgrow it. In the beginning, I thought confidence came first. What I learned is confidence is earned through evidence. So I shifted my focus from trying to feel ready to simply doing the work and letting results speak for me. Read More>>
Lynette Beebe
Honestly, I had to research the meaning of imposter syndrome before I could answer this. As with many things it seems imposter syndrome is a new name for an old malady if you want to call it that. Read More>>
Autumn Griffin
For me, overcoming imposter syndrome came down to faith and learning to see myself differently. For years, I questioned whether I truly belonged in certain rooms, especially as I was working my way up as a publicist behind the scenes in Hollywood. That uncertainty traced back to childhood. I was the quiet kid who avoided speaking up in class out of fear of sounding dumb. Read More>>
Bethany Kroesing
For me, overcoming imposter syndrome has been about learning to challenge those fear-based thoughts and look at the actual proof around me that says they’re not true. I am a part of a peer consultation group where we create a confidential space that allows us to get feedback on both clinical topics and business-related questions. Read More>>
Damon Eagleton
In all honesty, I had to look up what ‘imposter syndrome’ is. (smile). There are areas in which I am naturally gifted. I learn things really quickly, and at a deeper level of understanding in those areas. However, even with God-given, natural talent, there comes the need to work on the skills associated with those talents. I practice. I practice. I practice… Read More>>
Melissa Rottunda
Honestly, sometimes a little bit of delusion goes a long way. I’ve had to remind myself that if I’m doing the work, then I am the thing I think I’m not qualified to be. We often wait to hit some invisible milestone – some number, title, or external validation – before we give ourselves permission to feel legitimate. Read More>>
DERRIEL ALEXANDER
I’m definitely better now, but I still have my moments. There are times I question if I’m doing enough or if I truly belong in certain spaces, but I’ve learned that those thoughts don’t define me. What helps me is remembering that I was chosen for this path for a reason, and every step of my journey is intentional. Read More>>
Brenden Roberts
As a filmmaker, it is common to work with creative minds and often big personalities. I was fortunate enough to work on several large films coming out of film school. Almost as if being a fly on the wall, I got to watch the masters at work. Read More>>
Deborah Lansdowne
How I Managed Impostor Syndrome and Built Resilience When I was promoted to Branch Operations Manager at Siemens Telecommunications, I felt a surge of pride — quickly followed by fear. My new role required relocating from Northern Virginia to Schaumburg, Illinois. I had hoped for the Atlanta position: warm weather, familiar culture, and a management team that looked like me. Read More>>
Michele Hall
I haven’t! Read More>>
Karen Moore
Overcoming imposter syndrome wasn’t a single moment—it was a disciplined evolution that required me to fundamentally redefine what ‘looking the part’ actually means. After 25 years in events, travel, and hospitality, I had the expertise. I had the track record. I had successfully orchestrated everything from intimate celebrations to complex international logistics. Read More>>
Marcie Cheung
Oh my gosh, the imposter syndrome was real when I started. I remember sitting there thinking, ‘Who am I to tell people how to visit Hawaii?’ Like, yes, I’d been dozens of times. Yes, I had this deep connection through hula and years of experience. But I kept comparing myself to these huge travel bloggers and convinced myself my voice was just… noise. Read More>>
Yeni Tahuilan
When the imposter syndrome shows up in my life, I apply the techniques I’ve mastered to avoid staying stuck in that mindset. Some days, the feeling is more intense than others—but when that happens, I shift into “student mode,” reconnect with the Higher Self, and remind myself that I am deeply passionate about serving others. Read More>>
Keisha Bissram
I grew up in a culture that taught me how to survive, not thrive; to stay small, unseen, and unheard in order to exist safely in the world. As a brown, Indo-Caribbean woman raised in the U.S., that survival mindset was passed down generationally. Read More>>
Adriana Allegri
Imposter syndrome is a big issue for writers, and I used to think that once I became a published author, I’d overcome that particular insecurity. To a certain extent, that has been true — having a well-received debut novel helped, and it’s a joy to hear from readers who loved The Sunflower House. Read More>>
Elle Schwab
Honestly? I haven’t overcome it. It’s still there. Every time I post on social media, or present my ideas to my clients, that little voice shows up. But I’ve learned to play through it. As an entrepreneur, you have to have enough confidence to show your value even when that doubt creeps in. Read More>>
Rochelle Knight
I’ve learnt that courage is not the absence of fear, but learning to act in spite of it. So, I wouldn’t say that I’ve 100% overcome imposter syndrome but I’ve mastered breaking barriers by telling myself that I wouldn’t have been presented with the opportunities I’ve been given if I didn’t deserve them. Read More>>
Lexie Cornish
To be totally transparent, I don’t think imposter syndrome ever completely goes away. It’s more about learning to face it with confidence and reminding yourself why you do what you do. I still have moments where imposter syndrome creeps in, but I’ve learned to push back by reflecting on times I succeeded and knew I was doing something right. Read More>>
Elyse Clark
I’ve suffered from imposter syndrome for as long as I can remember—and honestly, I think it’ll always be a part of me. Over time, I’ve learned not to let it hold me back. My best advice is to just go for it—take that first step, even if it’s small, and trust that you’ll figure things out along the way. Read More>>
Karen Aroh
At Maya, we try our best to keep our focus on our mission, which is serving and empowering the refugee and international women in our local community and staying true to our brand. While we do focus heavily on our designs and branding, the why behind what we do remains central. Read More>>
