We were lucky to catch up with Amy Smathers recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Amy, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
I recently wrote an article about imposter syndrome and I was floored by the overwhelming response I received from women across the country, from friends and former colleagues to new acquaintances.
Merriam Webster defines imposter syndrome as “persistent doubt concerning one’s abilities or accomplishments, accompanied by the fear of being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of one’s ongoing success.”
Studies show that it’s more common among women. A shocking ninety percent of women struggle with imposter syndrome! That number is only growing with the onset of social media as comparison around our personal lives and abilities grows with each scroll.
I know it’s been a big part of my journey.
I first felt imposter syndrome when I started my foreign policy career in Washington D.C. There were so many occasions where I was one of few women in the room, particularly in the national security space. In some meetings I was the only woman at our boardroom tables, surrounded by diplomats, generals, and leaders across the U.S. government.
One memory in particular stands out. I’ll never forget when one morning as a freshly minted young professional I wore a bright pink top to a panel on nuclear security. It was one of my first panels and I was thrilled to meet and learn from so many incredible professionals in the room. Yet as I looked out into a sea of black and gray mens suits as I tried to catch a glimpse of the speakers, I quickly realized I stood out like a sore thumb. I definitively felt like I didn’t fit in and I didn’t belong. Talk about imposter syndrome!
But I’ve learned so much since then.
Years later, I was a graduate student at Georgetown University and joined a small mentorship roundtable with the late Madeleine Albright, one of the most esteemed diplomats in American history. She was the first female to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and in 1997 she served as the first female United States Secretary of State, paving the way for Condoleeza Rice and later Hilary Clinton to serve in the same office.
She shared how in her first days in office, she was immediately scorned because she was a woman. Leaders from traditional Middle Eastern countries even refused to meet with her until the President insisted on it. Can you imagine the implications of the United States not being included in large international meetings? Yet as she grew in the role, she learned to overcome her feeling of imposter syndrome through research, deep preparation, and an extra dose of courage. Later on she also surrounded herself with other women and created cohorts that would support each other and magnify each other’s voices to ensure they were heard in meetings. To Secretary Albright, the impact of their work far outweighed the social discomforts she experienced. She was there for a mission. And, as it turned out, being a woman actually turned out to be a great asset as it allowed her to speak into policy issues in ways that men couldn’t.
Of course, few of us will ever be appointed to a position of such magnitude (though I wouldn’t say no!), but I believe the principle of what she shared holds true for all of us.
As a new entrepreneur, this couldn’t be more true for me today. My organization, The Well Initiative, bridges the gap between two core areas: ministry and humanitarian work. While it might seem like they aren’t too far apart, it’s been a challenge to bring the Church together with global non-profits while coming from a completely different culture in policy-oriented Washington D.C.What drives me, like the late Secretary, is knowing that our work can save thousands of lives and that doing something “new” will always come with its fair share of challenges.
We all have our “pink shirt” moments where we feel out of place or like we don’t belong – and if we haven’t, we most certainly will!
But here’s my encouragement to you.
There will always be those who doubt you.Try anyway.
There will always be people who find ways to question your ability to lead because of your level of education, gender, or something else. Work towards it anyway.
There will always be obstacles, and most often they’re the negative voices in our own head telling us that we are not “enough.” But persist anyway.
Now, I can wear my pink, or whatever color I feel like that day, with pride. It might seem like a small thing, but I’ve learned that being different or set apart doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
In fact, it could be the best thing that ever happens to you and your brand.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’ve spent my career working as a professional with government, non-profit, and ministry organizations in Washington D.C. and abroad, including supporting human rights programs in some of the most hostile and conflict-ridden countries around the world, such as Afghanistan and Pakistan. Through the course of it we hosted amazing world leaders and made such a profound difference. Yet so much of my worldview was also shaped by my faith. I’d go to work during the week, and then on Sunday I’d see my friends at church who wanted to make an impact with their life or through their congregation, but they felt overwhelmed.
I started to see a pattern: so many people want to be world changers, but they don’t know where to start. And on the flip side, there are so many Christian organizations doing amazing work overseas but feel alone in their work and are seeking support and partnerships. I decided it was time to bring these two worlds together – humanitarian work and ministry – and see what was possible.
My organization, The Well Initiative, seeks to address these needs by mobilizing the church to support some of the world’s biggest problems around the globe, with a focus on supporting vulnerable women and girls.
First, we offer education for individuals in the church on what’s happening around the world today and how our generation can be the one to make a difference. For example, what is human trafficking and what do Jesus and the Bible say about our role in stopping it? What does life look like for women living in dangerous circumstances around the world and what do thy need? What’s my part, through prayer or giving my time and resources? While much of my training and education in D.C. included briefing leaders at the highest levels of government, we all can grow in our awareness of what’s happening in the world just the same. It’s only though education that we can go into action.
We also work with leaders in the church to help answer the question “What can I do?” For example, where can they give their donations? What are the best non-profit organizations to partner with? What are other churches and ministries doing, and what are specific ways we can pray for people who are hurting? Unless our approach is informed by people serving on the front lines of a crisis who have deep technical and subject area expertise, it’s possible that we can do more harm than good.
Finally, we convene faith leaders and subject matter experts to create a strategic way forward. Rather than having a million tiny fires everywhere, we can be so much more effective and impactful if we create space for collaboration. My hope is that by coming together we can work across continents, denominations, and organizations and ultimately have a greater impact than we’ve seen before.
While some people may have had poor experiences with church or with Christians – and I get it – I believe that by working together the Church can be one of the greatest blessings and forces for positive change that the world has ever seen.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
As an entrepreneur or founder it’s important to simply keep going every day and surround yourself with a positive community who will keep you accountable to your goals. Invest early on in these three areas: consistency, support and accountability, and make sure you have a clear sense of what you want to do, why, and what your values are as a leader.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I’m always looking to build partnerships with churches and with faith-based non-profits that focus on programs to support women and girls around the world. In the past I’ve connected with non-profits serving women in Kenya, India, and beyond, and they do all kinds of work, from providing leadership and vocational trainings to employing artisans and trafficking survivors.
I am also available to speak on these issues as well!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wellinitiative.org
- Instagram: @wellinitiative
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amylsmathers/
Image Credits
Kelly McMullin Photography
