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.

Chelsea Tornetto

The confidence I have in myself and my abilities is definitely a result of the support and encouragement of my parents, grandparents and teachers over the years.

Each year, our school district would participate in the Young Author’s Conference, in which each student wrote a book and submitted it to be judged in a contest. It didn’t matter if my book got a white, red, or blue ribbon…my mom and dad were always there to tell me I was an amazing writer! Read More>>

Ibrahim Salami

I got to be confident from being obsessed with trying new stuff and failing repeatedly over time which helped me perfect my craft over time and build confidence in my craft. Read More>>

Lanny Williams

Developing my confidence and self-esteem has been a gradual journey shaped by self-reflection, learning from experiences, and setting small, achievable goals. I started by acknowledging my strengths and recognizing areas where I could improve, as a kid I used to compare myself to other people to see why I was so different. Read More>>

Shonda Moralis

As a perfectionistic teen, I rarely tried anything new unless I felt confident I would succeed. I was deeply fearful of appearing foolish and avoided it at all costs.

Having started dance lessons at age three, I grew up comfortable moving my body on stage. Speaking in front of an audience, however, was another story entirely.

Fast forward to today. I’ve been interviewed on dozens of podcasts, regularly appear on live TV news segments, and keynote at large gatherings. Though nervous at the outset, I have learned to accept and manage the fear, which, gratefully, does lessen over time and with repetition. I’ve practiced reframing the nervousness as excitement, thereby shifting fear to motivation. Read More>>

Birdman 313

My parents taught me to never give up they both would say that is what people who tease or bully you expect you to do. Through my journey of writing which spans some 40+ years I always had doubters. Cousins, my first ex wife, an ex college girlfriend told me I will be the judge if you can write poetry. I have been knocked down many times but I just get back up and write more. I write for me not anybody else. Open mics , book festivals has given me the strength to ignore the ones who doubt me. And I ask God to give me the strength and words to write or speak. Read More>>

Celena Chong

My path to confidence started in an unlikely place – as a journalist covering tech and finance, starting in my teens. I was this soft-spoken intern with dreadful sidebangs who couldn’t even legally drink, making calls to powerful executives and politicians. Even though I could write well, I was not assertive at all. I faced constant skepticism – people hanging up because my voice sounded young, newsroom veterans dismissing me, sources trying to intimidate me. Read More>>

Hannah Jones

As a child, I was the definition of a natural-born IT GIRL. I looked at myself in every mirror I passed, fully embracing my reflection with confidence. My mother called it conceited, but at six years old, I didn’t see anything wrong with loving myself. I would dress up, choreograph dances to Britney Spears songs, and demand my sister be my backup dancer. I was bold, expressive, and unapologetically myself. Read More>>

Lauri Ingram

Confidence and self-esteem weren’t things I was just born with—they were cultivated over time through deep inner work, life experiences, and a willingness to step into the unknown. My journey has been one of unfolding, much like walking a labyrinth.

For years, I followed a corporate path in IT, where I found success but often felt a disconnect from my deeper purpose. It wasn’t until I began my spiritual exploration—through interfaith ministry, energy work, and transformational coaching—that I truly started to understand my worth beyond external achievements. Read More>>

Shinah Chang

When I left my prestigious law career to start a creative business, I wasn’t exactly full of confidence. In fact, I felt like I was starting from zero – no fancy title, no clear path, just this knowing that I HAD to do something braver with my life. And the doubts were loud. Who was I to call myself an artist or start a business? What if I failed? What if all my old law colleagues found out I was trying to sell calligraphy for a living? Read More>>

Lauren Speier

We started Marty’s as a team, and that is what really helped us gain the confidence to take this risk of starting a business. When you have good business partners, it makes everything easier. Our team is made up of our friends and family: we truly are a family business. My husband started the restaurant with me and our good friends. We each have our own unique strengths that we bring to the table for our business. Ryan had culinary experince going to culinary school and working in the kitchen of busy NYC restaurants, including a michelin star restaurant.  Read More>>

Macy Hinds Teer

Getting into the real estate industry at 19 years old was very challenging. I was a 19 year old competing with agents who are much older than me and much more seasoned than me. I had to find a way to get people to pick me and that took some time. I learned very quickly that knowledge is key. I had to really know what I was talking about when it came to the areas I was working, the inventory I was showing, and the listings I was getting. Read More>>

Adena Abik

After various experiences with rejection you have a choice to feel sorry for yourself or keep going.

Each of us face our own unique challenges in life and getting through them is what shapes us into who we are at our core.

Personally, I never felt like I fit in and was never the popular one at school or in the workforce.

Being unique and embracing your flaws is what sets you apart from the pack. Read More>>

Lauren Cross

Confidence and self esteem can be SO hard to rediscover after taking the journey into motherhood. It’s important to be intentional in reminding yourself that the journey isn’t to “get the old you back” but instead, meet the new you and accept her. Read More>>

Miya Cymone

I come from a big family—four sisters, one brother—and I landed right in the middle. For years, I was the punchline to every joke, the one they teased the most. I built a tough exterior, convincing myself that if I could withstand them, no one else’s words could touch me. But that illusion shattered when I started dating seriously in college. Read More>>

Dj Rico Baby

Even as a paternal orphan at three (3) years old, I didn’t know the difference between being brought up by my mother only and by both my parents in a family home scenario. As part of growing up, I remember when asked if I missed my dad or told if only your dad were around, my answer was always how would I miss something I had no encounter or experience at all? Though it’s a sad state, that didn’t get in the way of carrying on with my life. My mom was not remiss in taking care of me in all aspects, including keeping my dad’s memories alive in our hearts and, most especially, training me in the ways of God and not departing from it when I grow old. Read More>>

Stewart Rosburg

I think it comes down to a mix of a few things. This is almost a nurture vs nature question. So, I think some confidence and self esteem you’re truly born with, but for me, most of my confidence has been learned or earned over time.

By default, I’ve generally been a pretty humble and quiet person (sometimes to a fault) and previously admired that in others and myself. It’s only more recently that I’ve come to see the value in being confident and being able to share that confidence in a non aggressive way that I’m truly inspired by. Especially when it comes to leadership, it seems to be a crucial skill to encourage a team and get that team moving in an aligned way. Read More>>

Iana Sultanova Tashkunas

I absolutely understand the value of each person, and I respect people’s actions. My self-esteem is based on the format: I have good intentions, so I’m doing everything right. If I help people, I’m doing everything right, if my actions bring results and help others – then everything is right, if I make mistakes, then this is part of my path, and only those who do nothing make no mistakes. I’m not afraid of condemnation, because I myself do not condemn Read More>>

Jag Savant

Confidence isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you learn and develop over time. When I was younger, I lacked confidence—speaking in front of a class made me nervous, and I struggled to express my ideas. But I was determined to share my story because I knew it was more important than my fear. Out of 8 billion people on this planet, only I experience the world through my eyes, and that realization made me understand that my voice mattered. Read More>>

Ananya Goswami

As both a Kathak Artist and a Visual Artist, my journey to developing confidence and self-esteem has been shaped by the creative process itself — through movement, rhythm, and paint.

As a Kathak Artist

In Kathak, confidence came through practice (riyaz) and performing. Repeating the same movements, mastering the taal, and immersing myself in storytelling gradually gave me a sense of command over my body and expression. Each time I stepped on stage, I learned to channel my nervousness into abhinaya (expressive storytelling) — transforming vulnerability into connection with the audience. Read More>>

Jennifer Lassley Knight

I developed my confidence as I learned. I set out to do something totally different than I had ever done before. I had no idea how to be a food manufacturer—I was used to sitting behind a desk writing and researching. But I also had enriching life experiences that challenged my comfort zone, like performing on stage, studying abroad, and learning how to cook. What kept me confident in building my business was knowing I could figure it out, just like I had figured out everything else. Read More>>

Molly Cameron

It’s been a long road and this is something I’m still working on. I was very into performing theater from when I was a little kid all the way through college, which you would think would mean I’m a confident person by nature. Nope! I have always loved being onstage, but I think part of the joy of acting was getting to be a different person and hiding my real self behind a character. When I was offstage, I was constantly comparing myself to others and never thought I could be as talented as the superstars I looked up to. Read More>>

Kristin Birdwell

Growing up a podunk, bullied tomboy with home haircuts, buck teeth, and capitalized and lowercase T traumas, I longed for love and acceptance.

Since my days roaming those small-town pastures, I’ve accomplished a lot—produced a short film, written a best-selling memoir, created a podcast, traveled the world, earned six figures, and more.

But if I’m being radically honest? Pieces of my creations came from a place of not feeling worthy or good enough. Read More>>

Jessica Redish

I developed my confidence by doing. If I continually create or act on a vision I have, I know I can achieve my goals. Completion is a part of the artistic act; when I finish a project there is a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction I wish for everyone reading this article! Read More>>

Knaqui Germain

In this life with many obstacles and disadvantages only two outcomes can happen to you. Either you succumb to despair or you fight for hope. My confidence and self esteem comes from GOD. If I didn’t have a strong spiritual connection then I wouldn’t be able to be confident on my own. I believe despite life feeling like a prison (because it certainly does regardless of success); there is still a special quality about who we are. I believe that we are amazing beings with unlimited possibilities. This optimism allows me to do my best no matter how long it takes to achieve whatever goal I conjure up! My confidence and self esteem are a direct result of my belief. Read More>>

Kayci Chisholm

My confidence and self-esteem grew through my journey as a designer, where I learned to embrace my creativity and trust my vision. Fashion has always been my form of self-expression, and with each collection, I’ve stepped further into my power. Seeing my designs come to life and empowering others through my work has reinforced my belief in myself. Confidence isn’t about being perfect—it’s about owning who you are and expressing it unapologetically. Read More>>

Takeshi Yonezawa

Building confidence —not overconfidence—is incredibly important, but doing so takes time. In my opinion, confidence comes from accumulating experiences, personal growth, and, most importantly, gaining a deeper understanding of oneself.

I believe that leveraging strengths and building upon small successes helped naturally develop my confidence and self-esteem. I found that accepting my weaknesses as they are made things much easier. Additionally, having a supportive family, friends, and mentors plays a crucial role in my journey. Read More>>

Stephanie Grace

It’s a bit of running joke that I was a feral child. It was hard to keep shoes and clothes on me. I loved to run wild through woods and just be gone on my own for hours. You develop a strong sense of self, how to do things, how to get out of situations you got yourself into when you’re the only one out there and you are the only one you can rely on. Read More>>

Tiffany Kerr

I am a believer that it isn’t just one experience that gives us confidence. Life gives us many situations that can build a more positive perspective of oneself. Confidence is a trust and love that I developed for myself when I had to move from California to New Jersey to start a family with my husband nearly twenty years ago. I thought I was confident before then, but after making one of the biggest decisions of my life, especially a decision I thought I would never have to make, I found out how much I had to trust myself and every decision afterwards that I had to make for myself and family.  Read More>>

Jhoe Sey

Through constant learning, receiving feedback from people, and staying true to my passion for storytelling have strengthened my belief in myself. I developed my confidence and self-esteem through years of experience in photography, overcoming challenges in the field, and seeing the impact of my work. Read More>>

Jalin Warren

I developed my confidence and self-esteem from doing the things that scared me and doing things to show myself love and self-respect.

The thing about confidence is you can only fake it for so long. True confidence comes from actually looking your fears in the face and taking them head on. And it also comes from repetition. Doing whats hard over and over again will give you a deep rooted confidence ingrained deep into your psyche. Read More>>

Susan Husa

My confidence and self-esteem were developed from experiencing vulnerability. Being not so fond of experiences showed me what to be aware of. This awareness inspired me to learn how to manage myself in circumstances. Speaking up did not always create favorable outcomes. Something was missing. Read More>>

Binx Basilisk

As a content creator we are constantly under scrutiny from the public, many things we say can be taken out of context and used to paint a picture which is far from truth. At times we receive unsavory comments from chatters which address our appearance or where we’re from.

This is a small price to pay for the amount of inspiration we can bring to our community and fellow creatives. Read More>>

Grace Mcglynn

I mean the boring answer is that I did a lot of theater as a kid, I think performing is just really fun and i still do this day! I think it helped a lot with being comfortable talking to people. However, I think it helped me with the idea of faking it till i make it. Even if i was in a bad mood, Pushing pass that to talk to people, and entertain friends would always make me feel better. Read More>>

Ashley Havelka

If you had met me 8 years ago, I’d be deep in an emotionally, verbally, sexually, and physically abusive relationship. I was void of any self-esteem and confidence. I had no sense of self-worth, or hope. I thought my life was set in stone, that I had to marry this man who just slithered into my life, suddenly became my boyfriend, started living in my apartment, using my car, and generally took advantage of every aspect of my life.  Read More>>

Jason Leehr

At 17, the first person to teach me rejection was my mother. Unfortunately her dedication to her religion convinced her that her son’s identity as a gay person was worthy of disownment. After being homeless and finishing beauty school I started my journey to ultimately opening my own hair salon. 13 years later another unfortunate event offered yet another opportunity for growth and perseverance, Covid 19. Read More>>

Nolan Holloway

As a teenager I was an introvert. My Dad was very strict so I didn’t want to stand out. Going away to college brought me out of my shell. The freedom of living on campus allowed me to make decisions that I owed. Being a good student made me popular on campus. Fast forward many years, my confidence has opened certain opportunities. But my gift of writing poetry came in my fifties. Read More>>

Rosie Graves

Honestly, experimenting with photos of myself went a long way in building my self esteem. Long before I decided to pursue freelance modeling, I played around with different angles, expressions, settings, lighting, filters, outfits, etc. I started to come up with different themes and personas to try out for my photos. I really came to see it as an artform, an expression of creativity. When you include yourself in your own art, it tends to have a positive effect on your self image. After all, here you are creating something you intend to be deemed beautiful in the end, by others sometimes but most importantly by yourself.  Read More>>

Juliana Folk

I wasn’t always confident. Growing up, I constantly compared myself to others, especially as a performer and actor—it’s almost impossible not to in an industry built on comparison. But at the same time, I was raised to be bold, unique, and to go after my dreams without limits. That mindset taught me to take risks and be fearless. Read More>>

Quentin Hill

We feel it is easiest to make decisions when the customer is front of mind at all times. When we purchased iliac three years ago, we spent everyday, all day on the phone with customers in an attempt to understand why they loved iliac and why the brand had faltered.

Everyone said exactly the same thing: I love the quality, I hate the wait time and lack of service. Read More>>