Meet Jordyn Gualdani

We recently connected with Jordyn Gualdani and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jordyn, 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.

This might be a little controversial, but I don’t think you ever really overcome Imposter Syndrome. Coping with the emotions behind it in healthy ways is important, but Imposter Syndrome is ultimately a sign that you are stepping outside your comfort zone. This can trigger anxiety, fear, decision paralysis, and self-doubt which gets packaged together and labeled “Imposter Syndrome”. I’m here to tell you that it can actually be a good sign!

I grew up taking myself way too seriously and I’ll be the first to admit that. If I got anything below a 95% on an assignment, I would emotionally beat myself up over it for days or until I “fixed the problem”. I was a perfectionist who tied my worth to my ability to excel in the tasks at hand. While I loved art, I just couldn’t figure it out. All I saw in every project were my flaws and it got to the point where I couldn’t look at my own work once I completed it. It was never “good enough”.

After I quit AP Art in high school, I stopped drawing and painting completely. Photography is something I never fully abandoned, but I definitely took an extended break. Life went on, though. A couple years later I decided to visited some of my high school teachers and when I stopped by the art room, I noticed one of my paintings hanging on the wall. My former art teacher told me about how she pulled it out of the trash can next to my desk and put it up in her office. If I’m being honest, I almost didn’t recognize it as my work. I remember painting it, and that was the painting I completed, but it was actually a decent watercolor painting!

This made me realize that when all I can see are flaws, someone else might see a decent piece of art.

When I started to work in entertainment, those same feelings came bubbling up. Only this time I became hyper aware and fixated on the fact that I basically fell into my new career. I didn’t have any official training, no mentorship, no degree, nothing. Others had all those things and more! I felt like I couldn’t measure up and didn’t deserve the opportunities presented to me.

I finally got to a point where it’s not a negative thing for me anymore. Once I worked through the emotions behind the Imposter Syndrome, the fear, the worries I manufactured, I viewed things a bit differently. Now I look at Imposter Syndrome as a sign of growth. It tends to creep up most when I’m trying something new or when certain opportunities are presented to me. Instead of believing these worries and fears, I acknowledge them and work through it. They’re usually a bunch of “what if…”s about the future or a specific situation. The thing is that those are not facts nor are they necessarily based on a realistic view of the situation since they come from my own fear. In a way it motivates me because it’s better to find out what will happen than always wonder about it. ultimately, these feelings remind of how far I have come and all that I have to look forward to.

Breaking out of our comfort zones and trying something new can be intimidating or maybe a little scary. Try not to compare yourself to others, though. I know it can be hard not to especially when social media has everyone showcasing their best, but everyone makes mistakes and no one is perfect. We all have a different journey and there’s beauty in that!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I do a bit of everything as most of us do in media and entertainment. My favorite titles to date have been Script Supervisor, Director, Cinematographer, Photographer, Journalist.

With the current state of things in the entertainment industry, I chose to pivot and concentrate on documentary projects and journalism. My goal is to help uplift underrepresented narratives while sharing the stories and truths about those who are seen as different.

We love flowers because they are different, yet many of us don’t extend the same understanding of beauty to other people, beliefs, and cultures. I hope this changes and more people tap into that childhood wonder and curiosity they once had.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Curiosity, empathy, and being stubborn.

My advice is to always be curious and willing to challenge your own beliefs.
Have empathy for others even if you do not understand them, their background, their beliefs. They are still people.
Be stubborn, but be smart about it. Sometimes a closed door means you gotta go through the window. Think outside the box and find those loopholes. When life gets you down, feel what you need to feel, but then it’s time to get back up and get back at it.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

Besides the cost of equipment like lenses, lighting, etc…, being a disabled professional can be challenging. It’s not my disability that gets in the way, but people who assume my abilities and don’t give me a chance.

The way I hope to change this is by allowing my work to speak for itself.

Working in media and entertainment has been the most accessible form of employment for me and I truly love what I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://birbonawire.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordyn_gualdani/

Image Credits

Since these are editorial images I’m including captions.

Photo of me: Photographer is Emily April Allen

1st Image: Tennessee Representatives Rusty Grills and Chris Todd shell corn in a competition held at the Tennessee State Capitol for Agriculture Day on the Hill, March 18, 2025.

2nd Image: An activist protests Tennessee Senate Bill 472 which passed in the Tennessee Senate Education Committee, March 12, 2025, Nashville, TN.

3rd: A student’s sign reads: “Am I Next?” as community members gather in the Tennessee State Capitol to demand action after the Rally For Antioch, January 27, 2025.

4th: A still frame of Morticia Monroe from a documentary called Drag: The Most Targeted Art Form.

5th: Model: Jules SJ Smith