We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Stephanie Chu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Stephanie, 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.
To me, overcoming imposter syndrome isn’t about getting rid of it entirely. Rather, it’s about how I choose to interpret my fears and persistently move towards my goals and commitments anyway. My journey with imposter syndrome started with a significant lack of confidence, especially as I considered changing careers.
Now I’ve come to realize that imposter syndrome and the fear of not being good enough are recurring emotions—fear is, after all, a fundamental part of the human experience. The pivotal change for me was learning to transform this fear into something empowering. For instance, whenever the question “What if I’m not good enough?” arises, I reframe it to “Feeling fear means I’m moving in the right direction!”
Celebrating successes, regardless of scale, and acknowledging your own worth are crucial steps. It’s about crafting your own narrative from your experiences, rather than being passively shaped by them.
This approach has significantly improved my self-confidence. Engaging in action reinforces the belief in my capabilities, showing me that I can achieve great things despite the presence of fear. It’s not about controlling every aspect of life but about controlling how you interpret and respond to life’s challenges in a way that empowers you.
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?
Drawing on 14 years of experience in corporate America, I’ve gained deep insights into professional highs and lows, overcoming personal hurdles, and executing a significant career pivot to find my passion.
Now, as a coach, I’m dedicated to empowering women to achieve joy and fulfillment in their careers, tackling challenges like self-advocacy and imposter syndrome head-on.
My program goes beyond traditional resume and LinkedIn polishing, focusing on enhancing self-worth, confidence, and clarity to fundamentally boost professional appeal from the inside out. With experience in creating opportunities for myself, I’m excited to share strategies that can truly make a difference.
This is where my DREAM Career Framework comes into play. It’s a comprehensive strategy I’ve developed to guide women through:
– Discovering your career sweet spot
– Reframing your fears
– Elevating your strategy
– Articulating your brand
– Magnifying your network
For those interested in finding more joy and passion in their career, I will be hosting a DREAM Career Masterclass. This masterclass breaks down barriers to boost your confidence and provide clear guidance on finding greater joy in your career. For more details and to stay updated on the next masterclass, sign up at www.stephaniechu.com.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Reflecting on my journey, three important principles come to mind that truly shaped my path:
- Crafting Your Narrative: Life is unpredictable, and while we can’t always control events life brings us, we can control how we interpret these events. I learned to turn my experiences into empowering narratives rather than limiting ones. This mindset shift allows you to view challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, rather than as obstacles.
- Believe it’s Possible: It might sound cliché, but believing something is possible is the first step. Early on, I realized the necessity of keeping an open mind about what’s possible. Our brains are wired to perceive difficulty as a threat, discouraging us from taking risks to avoid failure. Believing in the feasibility of your goals is the first step; it propels you to take action, learn from the inevitable setbacks, and persist.
- Nurturing Genuine Relationships: The adage “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together” resonates deeply with me. Independence is valuable, but so is the recognition that we thrive through collaboration. Building a network of supportive, mutually beneficial relationships has been instrumental. Whether it was finding a mentor who encouraged me to take the leap into a new career or collaborating with peers, these relationships have not only propelled me towards my goals but have also made the journey richer and more fulfilling.
How would you describe your ideal client?
The ideal client for my coaching services is a mid-career woman who feels her professional growth has stagnated and she’s feeling a lack of joy or fulfillment in her career.
She believes that there’s more out there for her yet struggles with finding the clarity and confidence to make her next move. She’s in search of more than just fulfillment and joy in her career; she’s looking for a supportive community and actionable guidance to help her navigate the path ahead.
The women I am most eager to work with are those who are not only searching for direction but are also ready to take deliberate steps towards finding more joy and fulfillment in their careers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stephaniechu.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephchu123/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniechu123/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chu.steph/
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Photo credit: David Atchison
