From Self-Doubt to Self-Assurance: Saying Goodbye to Imposter Syndrome

Self-doubt and imposter syndrome have stopped far too many talented folks from going for their goals and reaching their true potential. Our hope is to host conversations that inspire folks to overcome imposter syndrome and help others as well.

Eezzy Hendrix

Sometimes I feel this is still my greatest challenge. I sometimes look at myself outside of myself and wonder where and if I belong where I am at. And it is a struggle, as I am the driving force of almost everything I do. But two amazing things I’ve learned through reading, meditation, experience, and with age is that I need to remove the ego and the universe will take care of everything as soon as I allow it to. Read more>>

Katie Morone

In short, I haven’t. Truthfully, it never goes away entirely but it ebbs and flows. In some periods there is a quiet confidence and others there’s crippling imposter syndrome. I’m part of the Proof to Product community and in one of the coaching sessions someone said something along the lines of “It doesn’t matter if you’re qualified or motivated, just get it done.  Read more>>

Alison Barrows Ronn

First, I would reframe the question to “How do you overcome imposter syndrome?” It’s an ongoing challenge, for sure. Being at midlife, I appreciate having a long perspective. I have seen over and over that my feelings change. Feeling like an imposter can be feeling like feeling angry – that is, it is not a permanent feeling. It will change and almost definitely pass. Read more>>

Larissa Hauck

I hear the term, imposter syndrome, more often these days. I believe it has more to do with how we see ourselves, rather than how others see us. It is interesting how many people feel like we are “faking it”, even if we are engaged in something we enjoy. What does imposter syndrome even mean regarding a craft, hobby, creation, etc.? Read more>>

Christina Lares

I stay overcoming imposter syndrome. Confidence is not a place you arrive at and then you are golden for the rest of your life. It is a constant, ongoing practice. Listening to the stories of other founders and entrepreneurs, especially women of color, has been very motivating. Once I realized I was not the only one dealing with feelings of self-doubt, and even the folks I look up to also had to overcome the fear, I started to feel a little more brave. Read more>>

Aimee Brigham

My introduction to imposter syndrome unfolded during my speech pathology clinical fellowship year. Freshly out of graduate school and having relocated from Louisiana to Washington State, I now had a caseload of 55 students at the local school. Doubt began to creep in. “Can I perform this role?” “Will my students achieve the goals I’ve set?” Then came another bout of imposter syndrome when I became a mother for the first time. Read more>>

Brittany Gingras

I honestly believe that this is something that I am still learning how to navigate and work through. I have chosen to look at what many people call “imposter syndrome”, as a moment of becoming humble. I have dreamt of creating my own studio space to help others become aware of their fullest potential, but to do that for myself always felt a bit awkward and unnatural. In a round about way, it gives me a greater sense of gratitude for where I’m at in this season of life.  Read more>>

Lisa Ledoux

I firmly believe that overcoming imposter syndrome is a challenge, if not an impossibility. It can be managed, certainly, but its presence often lingers, waiting for an opportunity to resurface. Whether it’s the constant need for approval or the weight of high expectations instilled by overbearing parents, imposter syndrome tends to lurk in the shadows, ready to strike at any moment.  Read more>>

Philly Chica

I have overcome imposter syndrome by always looking for an chance and opportunity to make something my own. With so many creative people in this world it can be a challenge;however when you know who you are you’ll be able to see opportunities to put your own unique special touches on anything. you can determine if your going to be a leader or an imposter. Read more>>

Kenzie Carlson

It’s a very fine line – part of me wants to say I have, but I think for every small business owner, it’s an every day battle. Just when I feel like I am doing something amazing and on Cloud Nine – I get on social media and see what everyone else in my industry is doing and it brings it back all over again. Imposter syndrome and comparison are the thieves of joy so I remind myself that I have done so much in such a short amount of time and I do it only the way I can.  Read more>>

Kate Shkytska

I’m trying to focus on the enjoyment and passion I have for photography by staying grounded and appreciative of my journey. Continuously learning and improving my skills. And the best part of it, of course, people ! It’s truly heartwarming to see the positive responses and support for my work.  Read more>>

Maya Ragazzo

I had a few years after college where I was really struggling with imposter syndrome. Everytime I got hired for a job, it felt slightly above my skillset. Accepting a job that challenges you is actually a great way to learn fast and build an impressive resume, but it does unfortunately come with imposter syndrome.  Read more>>

Hannah Ford

Growing up, I was always considered creative. I dressed in bright colors, drew in the margins of my notebooks, and loved to edit videos for fun. This escalated when I went to college and began my degree in 3D animation. People started to ask me to design things for them and if you needed something done in Photoshop, I was your girl. Even when I became a full-time Elementary school teacher, I would make little doodles for my students. Creativity was my talent. Read more>>

Stephen Kennedy

I like to think that I have overcome this scourge that affects so many artists. However, my relationship with imposter syndrome is more of a truce. I was lucky to learn early on as a photographer that the camera could be used as a shield to protect myself from the distorted thoughts that often made me think that I wasn’t worthy as an artist. Read more>>

Sara Gillis

Imposter syndrome is not something I’d say that I’ve completely defeated — it likes to lurk in the background and show up like a spider skittering across the floor — but it is something I’ve become accustomed to dealing with as a business owner.  One of the most formative statements I learned in my life is, “But what if it all works out?” Read more>>

Azrael Rodriguez

Hearing that a large majority of people, even “successful” ones, experience this really trivialized the whole concept to me. Very few people are as confident or secure as you perceive them to be on the inside. Self-doubt and imposter syndrome are completely self inflicted anxieties. I’m a very pragmatic person so think about it for a second. It really doesn’t make sense to be your own biggest hater. You don’t need to learn to “believe in yourself” to overcome imposter syndrome. Ideally you could but that’s tough so get to it eventually. Read more>>

Sam Panitch

I wish I could say I have. I think the only way to get out of your comfort zone and continue to push yourself is to continually try to find ways to elevate and grow. With that, comes a feeling of new imposter syndrome. As soon as I conquer it, I know I’m too comfortable and I need to push in new ways to elevate to my full potential. Read more>>

Ryan Kynard

I’m actually going to give that to my mentor Mark. I started training with him a couple of years ago. He invited me out to a couple of his shoots and just imparted wisdom into me. One of the things he told me was “One person can’t shoot everyone, so there is always opportunity.” Sure enough a couple of weeks later he had me fill in for him at Der Wolf in Pasadena on a gig. Read more>>

Aaron Gipson

Imposter syndrome has been and still is a major part of my journey. My imposter syndrome often manifests as the thought of “I don’t really know what I’m doing” and feeling like I don’t really have what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur. Knowing that I don’t have a background in business or design and starting a clothing brand from scratch deters my mind from that level of confidence that I need when I walk in a room to speak on my business.  Read more>>

Dr. Melissa Montrope

After completing my doctorate, I think this is when the imposter syndrome kicked in. I could not put my finger on why but I just felt like an imposter. So I decided to get to the root of the problem. As a child, I always felt the pressure to perform well and to succeed due to certain life situations. So even after getting such a high distinction, I still felt like the same person before getting the degree. Read more>>

J.B. Yaskovich

For me its been a slow process of understanding that everyone is very naked under their fur coats. As you do more in the field you work in, you begin to realize that everyone, doesn’t have the same experience but they are all ,for the most part, are working with either the same tools or the same tasks, all with different aesthetics and processes, but all have the same objective. Read more>>

Natalie Gutierrez

As a young Latina, and an up-and-coming Social Worker and mental health professional I often feel like I do not belong in this field that statistically speaking, is predominantly White. Only 7% of mental health professionals in the United States identify as Latinx/ Hispanic. While I am proud of my identities, I always wonder if they are welcome in every professional space I enter. Read more>>

Audrey Ernst

Starting my company at a young age means I was met with a lot of imposter syndrome early on. I started my company just simply as a way to pursue a hobby, but quickly realized that it could be a lot more than that – it could be my career. I was very lucky to have a support system that encouraged me to pursue my dreams, but it was a challenge to get other entrepreneurs and people in this industry to take me seriously. Read more>>

Marie-Soleil Chabot

The imposter syndrome is a common affliction amongst artists. It shows up mostly in early career, but sometimes, it can linger on way longer that we would expect. In my case, it persisted due to having to work with people who did not always find the right language to correctly orient my work in a clear and efficient manner.  Read more>>

Melissa Lagowski

I believe that overcoming imposter syndrome is an ongoing battle. Even after 20 years in business and growing to almost 20 employees, there are times that I question my worth, my skill and my abilities. What I learned over time is that it is critical to surround yourself with people who believe in you and help put positive thoughts in your head. Read more>>

Anthony Brenny

While I don’t buy into it like I used to I still do struggle with it sometimes, I find it’s a slippery problem that will move around to different aspects of your career off and on. For me, it often pops up when I’m around artists who I see as further along in their careers or more knowledgeable or successful. Read more>>

Sinclaire Dickinson

Oh, good question, and I’d be curious to chat with those who report they’ve really overcome imposter syndrome. I speak to so many people who experience this sensation, no matter how accomplished and acclaimed. Even though I’m answering this question, let me be clear that I feel like an imposter in plenty of areas in my life: as a yoga instructor, as a marketing professional, and as a course and workshop designer and facilitator. Read more>>

Libby Bunten

As someone who tried doing it everyone else’s way for a VERY long time, this is what I’ve realized about imposter syndrome: I only feel like a fraud if I’m trying to be something other than what and who I am. The problem for myself and the thousands of other women I’ve spoken to at this point is we are taught to do exactly this in order to survive in this hyper-Patriarchalized culture. How you ask? Read more>>

Lindsey Dinneen

I love talking about this because it’s a topic that most of us can relate to at some point in our lives. I’m often astounded to learn that people I consider to be highly successful, highly educated, and highly competent also struggle with imposter syndrome from time to time.  Read more>>

Katie Shesko

If I’m honest, I don’t think imposter syndrome is ever truly overcame. I think imposter syndrome is born of wanting to excel at what we’re passionate about and have that external validation that we are good at our craft and deserve to have a seat at the proverbial table.  Read more>>

Alexandra Ingram

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome is still a belief to debunk on a daily basis for myself. I don’t think you ever truly overcome it, but it’s something that challenges your response to it. I struggled with confidence as a young child, teen, and young adult. Read more>>

Jess & Vanessa

When first starting out we were questioning how can we be different than every other bachelorette planning company out there? Why did we think we had anything different to add? We took a step back and analyzed from past events in our lives and realized that helping others have a great event, no matter the budget, was something we had a lot of experience with.  Read more>>

Penny Fournier

I don’t know if I’ve overcome it at all but rather I embraced it. I kind of use my imposter syndrome to stay true to myself. For a long period of time I was trying to make art that I thought would be popular but wasn’t really what I liked. And it was mildly successful but really didn’t fulfill me. Read more>>

Christiana Wheeler

In the beginning stages of showcasing my work to the public I felt like an imposter just because I didn’t feel “good enough” to have people buy tickets, I felt that I needed more experience and to be “better” before asking people of that. After I got feedback from my audience I realized that my work was worthy, and that it didn’t need to be any specific thing in order to be worthy of peoples time/money.  Read more>>

Rebecca Bernstein

I think this is an ongoing battle for many of us in the theatrical world, and as someone who simply found herself falling into an artistic director position, rather than having a ream of doing so, this was especially difficult to overcome in the early days of Zoom Shakespeare Productions. And yet, sitting on the other side of the table at the Alliance Auditions for the first time in 2022, I remember looking around and realizing that the Houston theater community should have a place for everyone at the table. Read more>>

Lexy Panterra

Well, I feel like I haven’t figured that out really. No matter how much more talented I get or how much better I get at what I’m good at even if I learn new things. I feel like the syndrome stays sometimes. I think all of us just have a little bit of. We don’t deserve this if it’s too good but it’s something I wanna work on because I know that the opposite of that is manifestation.!! Read more>>

Melvin Henley

I actually still suffer from this syndrome. No matter the accomplishments, accolades or affirmations. However, I’ve learned to use it as a metric. It allows me to gauge my understanding and commitment. I remember to keep showing up for myself. I also remember what a good friend told me: All you can do, is all you can do, but all you can do IS enough! Read more>>