Kicking Imposter Syndrome to the Curb

This is the year to kick the pesky imposter syndrome to the curb and move forward on your journey towards reaching your full potential. We hope the stories and lessons below will help you overcome self-doubt.

Laura Holveck

In March 2023 I retired from the U.S. Coast Guard after serving as an officer for almost 22 years and completing my education and training at the U. S. Coast Guard Academy. I have a family with a history of military service, and I felt in a way obligated to accept my appointment as the youngest child. During my career I felt successful, promoted, was viewed as someone to “get the job done” and spent the majority of the first half of my career flying CG helicopters. I was lucky enough to earn a funded position to attend graduate school and studied Industrial and Organizational Psychology. This return to school as a wife and young mother after serving for 11 years made my studies very reflective since I had work experience. This schooling evolved who I became as a leader, an officer, and a person. Learning about the theory behind human behavior, especially in the workplace, gave me the “formula” for interactions and made me better. Read more>>

Becca Brazil

As a performer, being on stage and seeing people smile, laugh, and connect with my music fuels my passion. But even in those moments, self-doubt can creep in. To combat imposter syndrome, I focus on working on myself daily. That means being intentional about my mental and physical health, having a solid routine, and finishing what I commit to before jumping to the next thing. When you leave things unfinished, it creates “holes,” and those unresolved commitments can weigh you down. Closing those loops while continuing to move forward helps build confidence and clarity. Building Only 1 Media PR taught me that consistency and clarity are powerful tools. Read more>>

Anna Lee

I don’t think I have or ever will overcome imposter syndrome, I use my work ethic to gain, and pair it with my experience to exist at all. Education has helped me secure my goals and aims, but I doubt I’ll ever overcome feeling outside the norm. Typically, my anxiety outweighs my presence, but I hide this really well, at least I like to think I hide it. Some people who really know me, have made statements or comments about it but it’s not something I manage well. I have put so much into being where I am, and other people acknowledge that I’m where I’m supposed to be in my field. However, to me, I’ve always got to do more and be better to feel like I belong. Feeling like I’m an imposter makes me feel fear daily, but it pushes me to be the best and I think this matters more than moments of uncomfortable points. I’d say that I’ll never be satisfied with being normal anyway, and this suits me. Read more>>

Eli Catania

Honestly, this is something I feel like comes and goes forever. It’s one of those things I’ve learned to embrace, rather than fear. It can be quite humbling, which I believe is a good thing in this industry. No matter how many successful releases I have, contests I win, or how much validation I get from my peers, there’s always that little voice in my head telling me I don’t actually know what I’m doing. The more people I meet and the more experience I gain, however, the more I realize nobody really know what they’re doing in this industry because there aren’t really set “rules” on how to produce and have a successful career. That can sound scary for people who prefer to have guidelines to follow, but I believe it’s freeing. My advice would be to embrace that and make your music for yourself because no matter what you make, if it’s ultimately what you enjoy making, then you will find your community. Read more>>

Tara Lewis

Overcoming imposter syndrome wasn’t easy, especially coming from where I started. Growing up with no mom, in very poor conditions, raising four kids on my own, losing a child to brain cancer, and surviving a decade-long abusive relationship—those experiences left deep scars. When I finally stepped into the roles of a business owner, nonprofit founder, and community leader, I often felt like I didn’t belong, like I wasn’t ‘good enough’ to be in those spaces.

But I realized that my past wasn’t a weight holding me back—it was my strength. Everything I had been through gave me a perspective and a resilience that couldn’t be taught. I started reminding myself that my story, my skills, and my voice mattered. I learned to trust in the value I bring to the table. Read more>>

Mia Mauri

I really didn’t know what imposter syndrome was until I came to university. It was a foreign feeling that haunted me for the majority of my freshman year. The idea of coming to university in New York City, a city where the strive for a successful life and career is constantly “hitting you in the face,” was something that many eighteen-year olds at the time wouldn’t dare to do. People move to NYC when they acquire that Fortune 500 summer internship, and/or complete their undergraduate degree. I felt like I was being thrusted into “real adult-hood” when just three months prior, I was in high school.
A plethora of my imposter syndrome came from the limiting belief that I did not deserve my accolades and my privileged position in life. Coming to a PWI (predominately white institution) in New York City, I knew I was going to be different than my peers. I also knew that I would have to work harder than my peers.  Read more>>

Erika Poling

I don’t think I can say I have “overcome” imposter syndrome. I think I am learning to befriend it. When my sneaky inner imposter shows up it is usually a sign that I have more self-exploration to do. As an art therapist, I am constantly sitting across from someone who is looking to me for support and answers in areas of their lives in which I am no expert in at all! The perspective from which I practice is that every person is the expert of their own experience, so while I have clinical knowledge and training on counseling methods and expertise in art therapy, I do not hold a magic key to unlocking anyone’s healing. Over time and through hundreds of encounters of sitting with others in their vulnerability, I have learned that spiraling and cowering in my imposter syndrome’s grip doesn’t help me become a better therapist. Instead, I remind myself of my humanness and remember that leaning into not having the answers allows me to connect with people more deeply. Read more>>

Laura “Chef Chel” Wharton

Overcoming imposter syndrome as a personal chef was definitely a journey, and I think it’s something a lot of people in any creative field can relate to. At first, I struggled with the feeling that I hadn’t truly earned my place. When I became a personal chef at the age of 23, I was in a position where I was cooking for high-level clients, and that felt like a lot of responsibility. Many of my colleagues were 10-20 years older than me, with decades of experience in the industry. Yet, we were all doing the same work. But over time, I learned that age and experience don’t define your value or the quality of the work you do. I realized that the unique perspective and fresh energy I brought to the table were just as important as the years of experience others had. I focused on my strengths, kept learning from my mistakes.  Read more>>

Grethel Pavon

Imposter syndrome is normal in a creative career like mine. There are many amazing photographers and video creators out there, and it can sometimes be difficult not to feel like an imposter. So starting from there, my strategy is more around trying to be in the present and take one step at a time and keep going with my projects and/or creative ideas I have, because at the end it is an exercise, if you keep working out you will see results, but if you stop because of doubt or what other people say, then you don’t become what you want. Read more>>