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.
Renee Back
I think imposter syndrome is something that never 100% goes away. If we’re always learning and growing, we will always be trying something new and, quite frankly, not doing it as well as others that have practiced it much longer. But there are a few keys to managing the feeling. The first is to not compare yourself to others. Read More>>
Jennifer Samaro
I think I am still working to overcome imposter syndrome haha! Starting a small business can feel very isolating at times. I have had to learn to trust in myself, believe that I am capable and lean on those close to me. My husband and my sons provide me the motivation to pursue my dreams. They remind me daily that I am enough. Read More>>
Nathan Eades
That’s the interesting thing. There are a lot of conditions like this that people think you just ‘get over’. That’s not always the case. It’s something you learn to deal with one piece at a time. I still feel as if I don’t deserve credibility for what I do. However, I see that people enjoy my work. Read More>>
CRYST6L
Honestly, I still struggle with it. In my head I’m so regular but to others I’m an inspiration and it can be such a crazyyyyy feeling. I never thought I would be in this position ever. Sometimes I forget about my own successes until others bring them up and I’m like oh wait…. I’m actually really cool and I’d be inspired too LOL Read More>>
Brandon Close
Early in my career, I struggled with imposter syndrome. When meeting with prospective clients, I often felt out of my depth or like I didn’t quite belong. The turning point came when I participated in a television show centered around startup entrepreneurs. Spending a week with 70 other business owners, I quickly realized that almost all of them were battling the exact same self-doubt. Read More>>
Elizabeth Foley
I was able to overcome imposter syndrome by witnessing the life changing effects my financial coaching has had on my clients. Your inner dialog shifts when you see people you work with not only survive but thrive under your council. Read More>>
Cate Dolphin
Honestly, I’m unsure if imposter syndrome is something that ever goes away completely. Especially working closely with other visual artists, it’s easy to feel like my goals and skills are identical to everyone else I meet. For a while, I really let this mindset dictate my choices. I wouldn’t even consider opportunities because I felt like I wasn’t strong enough yet. Read More>>
Kate Harmon
Listening to the little voice in the back of your mind has it’s use. Sometimes it’s helpful to weigh the options you have in front of you, but as an artist who wants to share music and deep lyrics in my songs it can get in the way of that. Read More>>
Alyssa Kearney
I don’t think you ever fully overcome it. I recently watched a specialist who works with high-profile people talk about this, and he said something that really stuck with me: the people who work hard and genuinely earn their place often feel imposter syndrome the most and the ones who don’t question themselves at all have the least amount of talent- his words! Read More>>
Kasey Wilson
Imposter syndrome has never been something I fully “overcame,” but rather something I’ve learned to work alongside. It shows up most often when I’m pricing my work or comparing myself to other photographers. I hold very high standards for myself, which can make it easy to feel like I’m always chasing a constantly moving bar. Read More>>
Whitney Pannell
Imposter syndrome showed up when my vision started growing beyond what felt comfortable. I started Fearless & Free during a season where I was working through fear and identity myself. What began as a clothing brand slowly evolved into coaching and structured mentorship for women. As that shift happened, I found myself questioning whether I was ready to lead at that level. Read More>>
Jacqui V Morris
I confront my imposter syndrome with more grace as I age due to these key practices; making room for time freedom, clearing my energy, and unwavering belief in the visions I hold over time. Read More>>
Hema Crockett
For years, I sat in boardrooms and leadership meetings secretly wondering when someone would figure out I didn’t belong there. I had the titles, the achievements, the carefully constructed path, and yet I felt like I was watching my life from the outside, performing a version of success I had never actually chosen. Read More>>
Oriauna
As a full time artist who is constantly creating, I often find myself saying, ‘What is this all for?’. Many times in my daily life I am struck with the thought that what I am doing and making does not have value. I am even more often reminded that that is in fact not true. Read More>>
Songbird Quartet
We overcame imposter syndrome through practice. Not just the practice of the instrument, but the practice of business – actually doing the work and becoming an established quartet. Once we started getting gigs and working out the procedures of handling business, we got more comfortable with being a professional performance group. Read More>>
george goodwin
I had to realize that if you’re doing something that makes you feel a little uncomfortable, it usually means you’re growing. That tension is part of maturity, and part of pushing yourself toward something better. For me, I never felt like the “smart” one. But I was blessed with great parents who always pushed me. Read More>>
Mingyan Sally Yu
This is such a good question and thank you for asking. When it comes to becoming a conductor, there is no doubt that many of us have experienced or are still experiencing some dose of imposter syndrome, along our career paths. I am certain that I can speak for myself and many colleagues because of many long and sincere conservations. Read More>>
Amber Wallace
This is such a great question. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve fully overcome my imposter syndrome… and I’m not sure I ever completely will. I often feel self-conscious about being a self-taught chef without formal professional kitchen experience, and that can be intimidating in this industry. That said, I remind myself that some of my favorite cooks (Martha Stewart! Read More>>
Yago Mann
Honestly, I don’t think you ever “fully” overcome it—you just get better at working with it. For me, imposter syndrome tends to fade at one level as I improve, but then it shows up again when I step into a new level of growth. I’ve learned to expect it as part of the process. Read More>>
Nadya Vysotskaya
Imposter syndrome definitely showed up for me early in my photography career, especially in wedding photography, where the stakes are high and there are no second chances. What helped me overcome it was shifting my focus from comparison to service. Instead of measuring myself against other photographers, I started concentrating on how I could best serve my couples and families. Read More>>
Amaria Vail
For much of my life, imposter syndrome didn’t feel like a mindset. I felt like my truth. Growing up, I often felt misunderstood and underestimated, which quietly shaped how I saw myself. So when I began stepping into creative spaces like modeling and acting, I carried a lingering fear that I didn’t truly belong that eventually someone would realize I was out of place. Read More>>
Alisa Luera
I don’t think I’ve completely overcome imposter syndrome—but I don’t know if that’s the goal. Instead, I’ve learned how to grow alongside it. In our field, it’s almost impossible to avoid. We’re constantly in rooms with extraordinary musicians—sometimes literally sitting stand partner to people we admire. It’s easy to look around and think everyone else moves with more ease, more certainty, more confidence. Read More>>
Westley Smith
My mother had a saying: Keep your nose in your own yard. I live by this. I don’t worry about what others are doing. Comparing yourself to someone else is a huge waste of time and energy. Everybody’s journey is different. This is my life, my journey, no one else’s. Read More>
Alicia Divico
I come from a small town in WV, and moved to FL around age 18. I was very naive and sheltered, and had no idea how to navigate ‘the real world’. When I obtained my first job in the field, I think I was about 21, and I remember saying my age in a group, because everyone was sharing their ages. Read More>>
Allyce Kozlowski
I don’t know that I will ever fully ‘overcome’ imposter syndrome, I think it’s something I ‘m always working through. Every new step in my business seems to bring a new layer of it, but I have learned that waiting until I feel completely confident probably means I would never move forward. Read More>>
Alexandra Koeneke
I wish I had a polished, easy answer for how I overcame imposter syndrome as a business owner, but the short simple answer is – I just made myself do the things anyway and acted confident. Even if I wasn’t. My background and schooling was in education – not accounting and business. So every new step felt like something new and scary. Read More>>
Austin Spitzenberger
I didn’t. Nobody fully overcomes imposter syndrome. It just gets easier to manage. Every time you step into a bigger room or take on something new, there is going to be some level of doubt. That is normal. For me, it gets quieter because of my consistency and my willingness to do hard things daily. I embrace daily suffering. Read More>>
Andrea Hidalgo
The more experience I gain and the more conversations I have and books I read on the subject, the more I realize that we all experience imposter syndrome in one way or another. A long time ago, I decided to see it as a strength rather than a flaw. To me, it reflects high expectations and a deep commitment to excellence. Read More>>
Urmi Hossain 
Back in the days, I used to hear the term imposter syndrome in books, webinars, and workshops. I never paid much attention to it until I started to truly reflect and realize that I was experiencing it myself. The more aware I became, the more I noticed the signs: self-doubt, feeling not good enough, and sometimes questioning whether I deserved to be in certain spaces. Read More>>
A. Tymara Byers
Honestly, imposter syndrome never fully disappears– it just learns to ride in the passenger seat. I’ve learned that feeling out of place usually means I’m stretching into something new, not that I don’t belong. Early in my career, I’d walk into rooms feeling like I had to addition for a role I’d already earned. Read More>>
Mary Giglio
Imposter syndrome has been a constant companion throughout my career, especially stepping into more of a leadership role as the Operations & Grants Manager at Global Camps Africa. Working in the nonprofit space, where the stakes are high and the needs are urgent, it’s easy to question whether you’re doing enough or whether someone else could do it better. Read More>>
Adam Grant
I did not overcome imposter syndrome by pretending it was not there. I overcame it by refusing to carry it alone. Early on, when I started stepping into public-facing leadership, I would walk into certain rooms and feel like I had to prove I belonged there. Read More>>
Andria Stubbs
I overcome imposter syndrome by knowing I am taking a stand for those who may not be able to stand on their own. The world of finance is notoriously manipulative and sneaky, from Bernie Madoff to Sam Bankman-Fried. I have even fallen victim to a past employer I trusted who misused retirement funds that were withheld from my paycheck and not deposited into their account. Read More>>
Andy Statler
There are plenty of musicians in D.C. who are objectively more technically advanced than I am. They can play faster tempos, navigate more complex harmony, and spin out dazzling phrases. Early on, when I started taking jazz piano seriously, I’d watch them and feel deflated. Instead of enjoying their music, I’d measure myself against it — and come up short. Read More>>
D. G. Woods
The short answer is: I didn’t. You don’t overcome it; you just live with it. It stays there, banging you on the head and whispering that you’re terrible or that you can’t compete. I used to think external success would fix it. If I sold enough books, if I hit this milestone or that one… Read More>>
Addy Ande
I recently led my first teacher professional development classes, which my younger self would’ve been completely shocked by. You see, growing up, I’ve always considered myself to be what we call an omnivert- I’m “social” with my friends, but speaking in front of an audience—I’d rather jump out of an airplane and overcome my fear of heights first. Read More>>
Michele Krauss
I wouldn’t say I’ve fully overcome imposter syndrome. It’s something that sneaks into my life time after time as I continually push myself to learn more, take on new challenges, and outdo myself. Read More>>
Sarah Jordan
In February 2024, I received a bass guitar as an early anniversary gift from my husband, Chad, the other half of The Loverfaces alternative rock duo. I fixated on learning “Where is My Mind” from YouTube, like the devil was breathing down my neck. Read More>>
Aimee Perry
I used to believe I had to feel “good enough” before I was allowed to be seen. That’s the playbook of perfectionism and ego though, and that will choke progress faster than almost anything. They make you wait. And wait. And wait. And then when you’re finally allowed to take a step, they show up to critique it to death. Read More>>
Rebecca Parks Fernandez
Imposter syndrome is such a funny thing. If we all have it, why haven’t we figured out how to solve it?? For me, the most effective way to overcome imposter syndrome is by repetition. The more you do ‘the thing’ the less scary it becomes. Read More>>
Kelli Hulst
I think that overcoming imposter syndrome isn’t something that happens overnight or right away. I believe it’s a journey of sorts. I didn’t wake up one morning and say, “It’s gone!”. Overcoming imposter syndrome takes work over time. Read More>>
Ana Espino Avila
Imposter syndrome was something I struggled with deeply, especially at the beginning of my journey. New country, new language, starting from zero, and entering an industry where I constantly compared myself to others made me doubt my worth and my abilities. What helped me overcome it was shifting my focus from perfection to purpose. Read More>>
