We were lucky to catch up with Robert Mason recently and have shared our conversation below.
Robert, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome has been something I’ve wrestled with across different areas of my life: school, acting, and modeling, it’s still something I work through today. I’ve been told all kinds of compliments, people would say I was smart in school, that I’m a handsome young man who should try modeling, and that I’m talented in acting and should pursue it more, but there was always a part of me that felt like I wasn’t really all that. It often felt like everyone else could see something in me that I just couldn’t see in myself, and that’s what made imposter syndrome so challenging.
While dealing with these feelings, I sometimes practiced “faking it until I made it,” walking around with the confidence that everyone else seems to see in me until I start feeling comfortable in my own skin. It’s helped me slowly recognize my own talents and gifts. On top of that, dealing with depression, anxiety, and grief over the past five years led me to isolate myself a lot. I realized that by stepping out into social spaces and meeting new people not just being around friends and family who I felt had to ‘lie to me’ to make me happy, I could hear encouragement and validation from others who genuinely saw my abilities.
I think one can say they’ve overcome imposter syndrome when they stop constantly looking for validation from others. For me, it’s an ongoing journey. I’m starting to put myself in more spaces that challenge me and slowly recognize my own talents. One thing that held me back, especially with acting, was comparing myself to my favorite actors like Denzel Washington or Will Smith. I would think, if I’m not immediately on that level, why even try? Over time, I realized that was a trap. I needed to focus on taking steps, learning from successes and failures, and trusting the process rather than expecting perfection right away. Just like I got better at basketball through practice, I can improve at acting and modeling through effort and experience. Now, I focus less on being “the best” immediately and more on trying, learning, and growing; allowing myself to take the opportunities that come my way without being paralyzed by fear of criticism.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Professionally, I work as a mental health clinician, a role I love because it allows me to help others navigate struggles, I’ve faced myself. It’s incredibly rewarding to provide guidance and tools that empower younger generations to grow, giving them the opportunity to create a more understanding and accepting world. This same philosophy drives my brand, Kulture Kollective, a mental health-focused clothing line with the motto, “From Stigma to Style.” The goal is to transform the negative connotations around mental illness into something people can wear with pride, encouraging open conversations and helping others feel comfortable seeking support.
Through Kulture Kollective, I’ve shared my personal mental health journey in articles and on social media, offering tips on self-care and creating space for others to share their experiences. I aim to eventually expand this into a supportive community, where people can openly discuss mental health without fear of judgment.
On the creative side, I’m currently working on two films, and I’ve assisted friends with modeling photo shoots and production work. While my acting and modeling journey is still evolving, I love contributing to creative projects and helping others bring their visions to life. Supporting others inspires me to continue developing my own craft, while staying true to the message of growth, resilience, and authenticity that drives all aspects of my work.
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?
The three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are resilience, perseverance, and consistency. Resilience and perseverance have helped me navigate challenges and setbacks—life often throws things at us that we can’t control, and it’s easy to focus on how many times we’ve been knocked down rather than how many times we get back up. Consistency has been equally important; I’ve seen firsthand how the effort I put in and maintaining regular practice or action leads to growth and success. When I break that consistency, the negative outcomes I feared tend to show up, reinforcing the value of staying disciplined and committed.
My advice for anyone early in their journey is simple: just keep working and keep trying. If something doesn’t work, find another way. You’ll hear “no” more than any other word in your life, and that’s okay, it’s part of the process. Success is possible, but it doesn’t happen overnight. What we often call “overnight success” is really someone putting in consistent work, often alone, over a long period, and then finally getting recognition for the effort they’ve been putting in behind the scenes. The key is to keep showing up, learning from failures, and trusting the process, even when progress feels slow.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
Over the past 12 months, my biggest area of growth has been building confidence, truly understanding the value of consistency, and letting go of self-doubt. I used to hesitate because I felt like I wasn’t ready or qualified enough, but I came across a quote from Kevin Hart that really stuck with me: “There’s people a lot less qualified doing what you love just because they tried.” That shifted my perspective. It reminded me that trying is what separates dreams from reality. Once I stepped out of my comfort zone and put myself out there, whether through my work as a clinician, my clothing brand, or even acting. I realized how much growth comes from simply staying consistent and believing in yourself. For me, that’s been the biggest transformation this year: replacing hesitation with action and doubt with discipline.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thekulturekollective.com/
- Instagram: @thekulturekollective_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BcgW53etn/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Image Credits
Ayodele Olawaiye LLC.
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