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.
Dixi Patel
For me, overcoming imposter syndrome has been about learning to slow down and actually see my own journey. When you’re a high achiever, it’s so easy to feel like you’re never doing enough — you’re always chasing the next milestone, the next perfect version of yourself. But what keeps me grounded is intentionally counting my blessings and reminding myself how far I’ve come. Read More>>
Denver McQuaid
Overcoming imposter syndrome is simple in theory but takes mindful work in practice. There are two fundamental ways I’ve found that work best in silencing the inner critic and getting out of your own way. As a Creative entrepreneur with ADHD I relate deeply to that various mental hurdles and bursts of motivation that often leave us feeling stuck in the mud. Read More>>
Michael Sullivan
Oh, man. For some of us, Impostor Syndrome isn’t something one simply ‘overcomes.’ It is a constant, ever-changing nemesis that manifests itself in new and creative ways on every set. There’s not a day of auditioning or rehearsal or on-set acting wherein I feel like I have set a new standard. Read More>>
Erica Diederich
This is such a weird and specific story. But, way back in the day, 2013 I wanna say, I was taking Improv 201 at UCB. I was in my early 20’s at the time, just starting out in the real world and getting my bearing in not only the comedy world, but the business of being an actor. Read More>>
Nikolas Ilic
I don’t know if it’s something you overcome as an artist to be honest. I would say I have gotten better at managing it and accepting those thoughts and feelings rather than fighting them. Read More>>
Rachel Taylor
I’m not sure if imposter syndrome is something that can be 100% overcome. I’ve made strides to conquering it piece by piece over the years, but there always seems to be bits of it that like to linger at the back of my mind. Read More>>
Tiffany Martin
This is such a good question! If I were to answer this in 1 word, I would say THERAPY. To be honest, for as long as I can remember I’ve never been a person to care about what others thought of me. I have always shown up in my own lane and moved to the beat of my own drum. Read More>>
Stephanie Polukoff
I am not sure you ‘overcome’ imposter syndrome. I think it is what makes you do the hard things in life. I often think of the sentiment ‘if your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough’. When Bridge21 started we did not have a blueprint of how to support adults with intellectual-developmental disabilities in supportive housing. Read More>>
Veronica Hohweiler
I wish I could say I overcame imposter syndrome with one big breakthrough moment, but for me it showed up in quieter, more persistent ways. It was walking into rooms where I was the youngest, the only woman, or the newest leader, and feeling like I had to work twice as hard just to justify my seat. Read More>>
Ashlee Nicholas
When imposter syndrome showed up for me, it was during the second month of running the Quit Teaching Club. A ton of new people started joining all at once, and instead of feeling excited, I felt this sudden anxiety. Read More>>
Kyle Rutherford
Short answer is… I haven’t – but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I think people put a lot of pressure on themselves to be perfectly competent and have no doubts in their abilities. Of course, being a perfectionist myself, I also fall into this category. Read More>>
Will Miller
I can’t say I’ve overcome imposter syndrome. I’ve wondered if certain milestones will fix it, like getting a big sale, hitting a certain number of followers, being accepted into an “important” gallery, etc. But I’m not sure it will ever fully disappear. Imposter syndrome feels more like something you learn to manage as you go. Read More>>
Desmond Kakulu
When I became an artist, at first it felt like a calling, like I was given a purpose, a voice. 2 years down the line, I wasn’t earning, I wasn’t getting gigs, everything felt like a joke and I began to question myself. Read More>>
Mary Kate Santulli
Imposter syndrome is one of the hardest challenges to over come! When I received my Reiki Master Teacher attunement, I thought…’this is it! Now I will be divined with all the knowledge and healing wisdom of the Universe!’ Trust me, that is not what happened! Read More>>
Monique Johnson
Over the years, I’ve learned to manage imposter syndrome by grounding myself in the results of my work and the trust placed in me. Stepping into a role where I oversee Downtown Hott Radio and support the operations of more than 50 sister stations came with its own pressure, but I made a conscious decision to lean into preparation, discipline, and clarity. Read More>>
David Brown III
I truthfully don’t know if I ever overcame my imposter syndrome, but I do believe I have managed myself, and emotions very well recently. Feeling like my work, accomplishments and accolades aren’t enough, lingers in my mind all the time. Read More>>
William Pierre
When you operate off of passion, you can sometimes psych yourself out further down the line. At times, it could feel like a simulation when you’re doing something you love because you no longer are doing it just because but rather doing it because it’s a passion. imposter syndrome can possibly set in when you begin to have thoughts that you don’t belong a.k.a. Read More>>
Tarsha Richardson
For a long time, imposter syndrome showed up as a quiet whisper that questioned whether I was “ready,” “qualified,” or “enough” to build something as meaningful as Black Travelers International. But what changed everything for me was realizing that the work I’m doing isn’t about perfection — it’s about purpose. Read More>>
Orianne Rashtian
Honestly… I’m not sure I fully have. I still have moments where I wonder if I posted the right video, or if my business happened by luck or chance. And there are definitely times I catch myself thinking, Do I really deserve this? Am I actually the best at what I do? Read More>>
Stacey Russell
Truthfully, I don’t think you really ever ‘overcome’ imposter syndrome. I think having a healthy amount of delulu is important for everyone, but especially folks in the film industry. You have to believe that you’re going to be that 1% of people that actually makes it. But I think the rest of the 99% has to be gratitude and humility. Read More>>
Jen Enck
That’s an interesting question. I don’t think I have ever overcome imposter syndrome! Some days are harder than others and those are the days that the good old imposter syndrome sneaks in. Read More>>
Viraja Shivhare, Janani Janakiraman, Aanya Ramamswamy N/A
Imposter syndrome showed up a lot when we were starting out, especially around grants. We’d spend weeks putting together applications, only to get the sense that grantors didn’t fully trust us because we were high schoolers. Even when our ideas were strong, we could tell people hesitated, like they weren’t sure young founders could actually follow through. Read More>>
Elizabeth Duhig
When I started attending university, my involvement in The Ground Up Project slowed down substantially due to the physical distance to the community I had built. That distance made me compare my current self with my past self. I lamented that I could not be as active as before, when I could easily organize drives, lead in-person initiatives, and show up everywhere at once. Read More>>
Khristina Butenko
I overcome imposter syndrome by intentionally pushing myself into uncomfortable territory, especially when I’m afraid something might not turn out well. I go after opportunities anyway because the alternative is never knowing what could have happened. Each time things turn out better than expected, navigating new territory becomes more rewarding and strengthens my self trust. Read More>>
Glass Battles
I haven’t. [laughs] I think as an independent artist I’m waiting for someone to point at me and yell something like “there’s the hack!!” and have since the beginning of my career in music. We [independent artists] all probably feel some sliver of that collectively. There’s that perspective of being out to sea and left to only your own devices. Or maybe it’s just me. Read More>>
