Perspectives on Developing Confidence

It’s okay to be scared, often that’s a sign that you are pushing yourself towards greatness. However, it’s equally important to build up your confidence and we hope the conversations presented below can help provide some food for thought around how you can level up your confidence and self-esteem.

Claudia Parada

My confidence and self-esteem has really come from the power of a reframe. Myself, like many other people out there, often tend to dwell on things that aren’t working, or things that haven’t got right in my life, for example, unfinished projects. I once was challenged by a former coach to list out all of the accomplishments, big and small, that I had done in my life, and that radically changed the way that I felt about the things that I’ve completed. Read more>>

Katriina Cotten

I developed confidence and self-esteem at a very young age, and I am truly grateful for having nurtured these qualities early in my life. Raised by a single mother, I was fortunate to be exposed to a variety of enriching activities like ballet and acting, which played a pivotal role in shaping my character. These activities helped me come out of my shell, overcome stage fright, and cultivate an open personality and an unwaveringly optimistic outlook. Read more>>

Natalia McDougall

Honestly practicing self love and giving yourself grace. You have to learn how to love yourself.. the good and the bad. Sometimes your differences is what makes you, you! And always keeping a positive mindset is KEY. The mind is so powerful and so are your words. We are all in this world together and if we all loved ourselves we would love each other just a bit more. Read more>>

Anthony Angulo

It was quite the journey filled with challenges and self-discovery. I strengthened my self-esteem and confidence by immersing myself in my passions and pursuing my desired calling to fulfill what brings me joy. As a Performance Trainer, I bring fitness and performance training for everyone to help them reach their goals through exercise. Read more>>

Isha Casagrande

From a young age, I always felt different. Growing up, I wasn’t the popular kid. I was awkward and had my own unique sense of style that set me apart. Shyness often cloaked my true self, making it difficult to connect with others. My journey into adulthood began with a career in health insurance, a path that seemed stable but didn’t ignite my passion. Read more>>

Amun Uddin

I was always the very quiet and shy type, so if someone told me during my freshman year of college that I would be a beauty content creator, I would’ve probably laughed. I wasn’t someone that could have conversations with strangers or even compliment someone I didn’t know that well. and I didn’t know much about anything beauty related. Read more>>

Stefani Garcia

Building my confidence and self-esteem was a journey deeply rooted in self-reflection and personal growth. Through my studies, I delved into Carl Jung’s concept of the shadow self and the idea of living through our ego mind. I realized that the fears and insecurities (feelings of inadequacy, poor confidence, and low self-esteem) are misconceptions that people allow themselves to be defined by. I decided to choose differently. Read more>>

Andrea Sarmiento Sandoval

Developing your confidence and self-esteem is an ongoing process that we should always be mindful of and ensure is strong. Based on my experience, this can be the pillar determining whether you succeed or not in your business or project. Read more>>

Paul Blake

I was not always a confident person, but over the years developed confidence by how to place value on what I do. Whenever I step into a room, I remind myself I am because I have something important to say to the people who ask me to show up. I realize before I can ask people to listen to me I must first feel worthy of being there. Read more>> 

Rochelle Irons

My brother once told me, “The less afraid you are to look like a fool, the more fun you will have in life”. And I suppose what he meant by that, was that our experiences in life are so much more enjoyable when we shift our focus to enjoying the moment instead of worrying about what we look like while doing that. Read more>>

Yinn Oou

I developed my confidence and self-esteem through execution and creating tangible results. I celebrate every small win and learn from my mistakes, continuously improving along my career journey. For me, the key is to be truthful and responsible for every decision I make. As the founder of a demi-fine jewellery brand, this approach has been fundamental to my success. Read more>>

Tela Bryant

Developing my confidence and self-esteem has been a gradual journey marked by numerous trials and tribulations. I’ve encountered various challenges, including storms beyond my control, which often led me to question my beliefs and capabilities, forcing me to confront my deepest insecurities. Read more>>

Salina Lynds

My self esteem was built on lies and wearing masks to pretend I was something I wasn’t for a good chunk of my life, I had built a false ego just to hide that scared little girl. Not until I changed my way of life did I find true self confidence. Read more>>

Kris Byers

It was only recently that my confidence and self-esteem increased dramatically. I invested in two mentors: one for business and another for mindset. They helped me reframe and rewire self-limiting beliefs that I hadn’t realized were holding me back from achieving what I wanted. Read more>>

Gwen Laster

My confidence and self esteem developed from being educated by progressive and forward thinking Black Jazz educators in Detroit public schools and my upbringing in a house hold where my mother played Blues, Jazz and Motown, endlessly on the turntable. These components inspired my interest in becoming a musician with an individual voice and purpose. Read more>>

Sarah Garrard

I learned that in order to obtain self-esteem, you had to do esteem-able acts. I try to be of service to others and do the right thing on a daily basis. When I am doing that, I am no longer consumed with myself, and then I find joy. Read more>>

Robert Szertics

My journey in soccer, which I played for almost 20 years, has been deeply intertwined with the values of discipline, teamwork, and resilience. From a young age, my parents and coaches played pivotal roles in shaping my self-esteem and instilling the confidence needed to lead. Read more>>

Paty ‘Mariposa’ Hernandez

I am the youngest of three children and was often the quietest. I loved receiving attention and being around others, yet I often refused to speak to others who were older. My oldest brother would often be found in his room reading or playing video games. I felt like an annoying pest anytime I sought him out. Of course, it didn’t help my case that often I was an annoying pest as I would initiate fights as a way to seek attention. Read more>>

Armando Araiza

Repetition with self is in the reps. I developed self-confidence and esteem by doing something consistently while improving along the way. Stacking wins and creating undeniable results for yourself. Read more>>

Vera Marit

Confidence and Self-Esteem: A Personal Perspective In my view, confidence & self-esteem are mindset you can develop by being completely honest with yourself and ready to take action and work hard towards progress. What I mean by that is how often people like to blame everyone else for their failures: parents, government, etc., instead of honest self-analysis: What skill set have I built?  Read more>>

Naomi Peña

Developing my confidence and self-esteem as a queer, first-gen, creative Latina has been a heartbreaking and yet empowering journey. No matter how many obstacles were put in my way, or how many times I was either implicitly or explicitly made to feel less than, or like I had to dim my light or shrink to fit in, I would come back to the knowing that I am inherently worthy.  Read more>>

Karla Puno Garcia

Over time, I realized that my creativity shines the most when I am authentically myself. I stopped trying to be like anyone else, and I leaned into the things that make me uniquely me. I investigated my taste and what I was naturally drawn to as an artist – movement, music, tone, feel … what do I love about life? Once I started creating from a passionate place, I found my voice more confidently and reset my ability to grow in an exciting way. Read more>>

Hope Triplett

Confidence is having a firm belief in yourself and your ability to accomplish whatever you have set out to do. With all the outside factors in the ever-changing world we live in, it is easy to let doubt, fear, and comparison overtake the confidence you once felt. So how do you push away the outside factors and develop self-confidence that will lead you to accomplish your wildest dreams? Read more>>

Rika Lin aka Yoshinojo Fujima

As a Japanese American, my upbringing in Chicago combined with my traditional training provide a distinct vantage point of the cultural differences as I fulfill my role as a dancemaker. As an Asian American woman in the 21st century living in America, the dynamics and state of progression of the conventions of Japanese classical dance in Japan are observed from a completely different perspective.  Read more>>

Amanda Pereira

I have consistently focused on self-improvement because understanding my roots makes it easier to visualize my future path. Having a clear purpose guides me in the right direction, enhancing my self-confidence. Read more>>

Ellie Brelis

I still have a hard time using the word “confident” when referring to myself. In almost any area of my life. To me, confidence can, and sometimes is, confused with being “cocky,” conceited, arrogant, and certain. Read more>>

Aisha Mowrer

I feel like this is something I am always working on developing. I definitely have days where I give myself credit for the hard work that I put into all that I do. When I find myself lacking confidence, I lean into bravery. I challenge myself and more often than not I am pleasantly surprised with the outcome. I try to remember when comparing myself to others that we each bring something special and unique to the table so I should bring it! Read more>>

Jen Dufresne

An athlete all my life, I was consistently driven by the excitement of seeing direct results from the effort that I put in both on the playing field and in the classroom. I love the results but I learned the most in the journey. When I was in high school I was a sprinter on our local track team. To help the team I was asked to pole vault. Read more>>

Kelli Alva

Hello, my name is Kelli Alva. I’m a 22-year-old singer and songwriter born in Maryland, with Ecuadorian and Salvadorian roots. I’ve always been an introvert who has always found solace in my own company, often feeling more comfortable in the quiet corners of my world. However, the past few years have been transformative.  Read more>>

Jenna / Lori Vasquez / Santine

At Poppy Road Digital Strategies, much of what we do revolves around managing the public image of several clients. Our confidence and self-esteem as a company stem from the successes we’ve achieved for our clients. Every victory, whether it’s a successful campaign or a significant boost in a client’s visibility, reaffirms our capabilities and fuels our confidence. Read more>>

Linda Uriarte

I build my confidence by embracing the fact that we have just one life to enjoy. It’s important to focus on our own happiness and live to the fullest without worrying about others’ opinions. Every moment is an opportunity to celebrate life, and it’s all about making the most of it! Read more>>

Ke’sha Dennis

My confidence started to develop in early childhood. I consistently excelled academically and athletically, often being recognized and praised by adults for my natural abilities. At first, I didn’t realize the significance of being among the best; I just wanted to play and have fun like any other kid.  Read more>>

Alexandria Van Dyke

My confidence and self-esteem developed through my village. I was blessed to have strong role models growing up that poured into me from a very young age. Through programs like Girls Inc., my uniqueness and individuality was embraced and nurtured to allow me to be the same for other young girls. Read more>>

Portraits of Resilience

Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our

Perspectives on Staying Creative

We’re beyond fortunate to have built a community of some of the most creative artists,

What do you do for self-care and what impact has it had on your effectiveness?

We asked some of the most productive entrepreneurs and creatives out there to open up