Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and insights from phenomenal artists, creatives and entrepreneurs who’ve successfully managed to overcome imposter syndrome.
Romi Marie
I had to learn to love me over the past few years. To really love me. To understand what I’m capable of and believe in myself. It’s a daily practice of mediation, prayer and fitness. Read more>>
Meliza Mokrani
Imposter syndrome is something I never understood before becoming an entrepreneur. I simply couldn’t relate to people speaking about it. But now I understand it. I had a difficult time naming the sense of insecurity, doubt, self-judgment, and anxiety I felt. It was uncomfortable and challenging to be with. Once I realized what it was, I was able to transmute it into something positive. Whenever I experience imposter syndrome, I allow my feelings to flow as opposed to suppressing them. Read more>>
Meghan Warren
Overcoming imposter syndrome took time and practice. You have to start by reminding yourself that everyone, no matter how experienced, had to start somewhere, and then you focus on progress rather than perfection. Receiving positive feedback from clients boosted my confidence, and I learned to accept compliments without second-guessing myself. Surrounding myself with supportive co workers and mentors helped me realize that growth is a constant journey, not a destination. Read more>>
Chancey Gunnell
I’ve got the mile-long resume with the degrees, the job, joined an illustrious sorority, and even have a couple side hustles at 24 years old. You’d think I’d be immune to imposter syndrome, right? Wrong. Turns out, even the most accomplished people can feel like frauds. Growing up in a small town in North Carolina, yes, it is exactly the image that just popped into your head, I was often the only Black girl or person in my class. Life was simple, but it wasn’t without its challenges. My grandparents raised me with love and instilled in me a strong work ethic. While we didn’t have many material possessions, we were rich in love and support. Read more>>
Nyah Melvin
Honestly, I’m still navigating and learning how to overcome imposter syndrome. As a young Black woman in my twenties, it’s so easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to others or feeling like you’re falling behind. With my background in psychology, I’ve come to understand that feelings of self-doubt and insecurity are more common than we think, especially when stepping into new challenges or pursuing growth. Read more>>
Lauren Clinton Clark
I don’t know that I will ever fully overcome imposter syndrome, but I’ve learned to accept it and work with it instead of against it. I’ve reached a point where I find the fear validating. If I’m afraid, it means I’m progressing, even though I’m probably shaking at the same time (currently accepting advice on how to stop shaking when I’m nervous!). Often, the imposter syndrome is a delayed anxiety though. I have no self-control when I get excited about a new script, a new film, or any new project. I can see my visions so clearly at the start, and I’m like, “I love this idea, I have to create it.” Read more>>
Keshyra Williams
Imposter syndrome can really sneak up on you, especially as a Black, first-generation college student and entrepreneur. I remember walking into rooms where I was one of the few people who looked like me, feeling like I didn’t quite belong. To tackle those feelings, I leaned into my unique journey. As someone who’s paving my own path, I’ve realized that my perspective as a first-gen student adds real value. I sought out mentors who understood my experiences—people who had faced similar challenges. Hearing their stories of self-doubt made me feel less alone and more empowered. Read more>>
J. Robert Parker, C.ht
I love this question! It is something that I struggled with a lot; what I came to realize has completely changed the way I look at the world. I’ve come to realize what I believe to be a core fact about society, civilization and humanity: we all think we’re imposters. Each and every one of us, now and throughout history, hopes and prays that the person next to us keeps up their end so no one looks at us and figures out we’re a fraud. And that other person? They are thinking the same thing about you. Read more>>
Leon Parker
Imposter syndrome can truly affect work production and progress if you allow the thoughts in your head to feel as if they are real. I overcome by first reminding myself that I truly love what I do and I’ve been creating for most of my life. Therefore, I have the right to be in this space. Another big contributing factor is going over the list of clients and collectors who sought after my work. Meaning, they found me and wanted my services. Read more>>
Khalid Mashrah
I overcame imposter syndrome when I dedicated all my effort to creating meaningful work backed by analytics. I spent about a year developing a strategy for one company, working directly with them to prove that what I have to offer can deliver results. We managed to double their audience size and gave them their biggest Black Friday ever, creating around 450 pieces of content in just that one year. By applying myself and doing my very best work, I demonstrated that tangible results can be achieved. Read more>>
Olivia Bennett
By doing the very thing that I felt I didn’t belong in, again and again and again. Through the difficult times, the unmotivated times, the times where you feel you can’t battle yourself or your circumstances – you keep going. It’s the only way. Do the very thing that makes you feel like you don’t belong enough, and soon the thoughts of imposter syndrome get quieter and easier to manage. Read more>>
Fredo Gillis
Truthfully, I haven’t fully overcome my imposter syndrome—but every day, I take a step closer to becoming the person I’ve always envisioned. The phrase “fake it ‘til you make it” rings especially true for me. When I first started creating art, I had no idea what I was doing. It was just me and my canvas, figuring it out as I went. With every piece I complete, my skills and technique evolve, fueling my passion to keep creating. I constantly push my boundaries, challenging myself to grow as an artist. Read more>>
Maria Rendon
I hadn’t driven a car in over a decade when I moved to Boulder, Colorado, and the idea of driving again really scared me. I hadn’t driven since 2009, relying on taxis and rideshares in Bogotá, Colombia, where the traffic was intense. But moving to Boulder almost 3 years ago forced me to face that fear. Of course, imposter syndrome crept in—questions like, “Am I too old for this?” or “Have I forgotten how to drive?” came up, even though I still had a valid license! Read more>>
Amanda Wyman
This is something that is an ongoing practice for me and something that rears it’s ugly head quite often still in my day-to-day life. My best trick to silence that critical voice is to remind myself of all the things that DO make me a qualified professional in my business. I’ve taken courses, I’ve invested time, money, and energy into learning my craft, I’m open to constructive criticism and I recieve it well, and I always strive to learn more and be better. So while I know there’s always room for improvement, I also remind myself that I do, in fact, know what I’m talking about pretty darn well. Read more>>
Scott Saslow
I’d be lying if I said I completely overcame imposter syndrome but what helps is simply doing the work, and the more work you do, the more work you get. Sooner or later, you realize, “Hey, I might be pretty good at this” and the imposter syndrome, if it doesn’t completely go away, at the very least recedes into the distance. Read more>>
Regina Lingling Zhang
I first noticed it when I realized that I was avoiding networking, which is such an essential part of the film industry. The thought of putting myself out there and engaging with others filled me with fear because I worried that once I started talking, people would see right through me and think I was just bluffing. Despite knowing how crucial it was to build connections, the fear of being “found out” kept holding me back. Read more>>
Madeline Buechter
When I first opened my restaurant, I had major imposter syndrome. Not for the restaurant work of it all, but for being able to run my own bar. I hadn’t been behind a bar in years. And even in the time I was behind a bar, I was only a fill in person. I had never run my own bar, I had never created my own menu, I had never worked with distributors. All I knew was that I loved glassware, I loved hospitality, and I had a good palate. But otherwise, I knew nothing. Read more>>
Lindsey Holmes
To be honest, I have never fully overcome imposter syndrome–self-doubt, intrusive thoughts, or feelings of being “unworthy” still creep in once in a while. However, I’ve found that the best way to fight that off is by constantly competing with myself instead of trying to compare myself to others. Prior to being a hairstylist, I taught middle school language arts. I earned my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and put all of myself into being a good teacher. Those years taught me a great deal, but ultimately I realized that career path was not right for me. I switched careers at age 27, and pursued my new career as a hairstylist aggressively. Read more>>
Chris Mason
Throughout my journey, there were always times were I felt people mainly complimented my work because they were being very nice, and not because of my inherent ability to deliver or perform the way that was expected of me. This extended not only to my art career, but my professional career as a 3d games artist as well. Time after time, I felt as though the remarks/opportunities I would get were not deserved or earned, but instead, handed over to me on a silver platter. It took constant reminders from myself, a few of my mentors, parents, and even close friends, for me to understand that I am exactly where I need to be and that I have consistently put in the work to get there. Read more>>
Shani Sibrian-boyes
Imposter syndrome is tough and it is something I have struggled with for sooo long. I have luckily received such amazing feedback from my followers and friends which inspire me to continue working on my art, even when I am not feeling confident on the finished work. What I have recently discovered is that I can overcome imposter syndrome and self-doubt by continuing to practice techniques I am not comfortable with, re-doing the same design so I can redeem myself, and creating work that I can confidently make without hesitation. By following these steps, I am able to create art that I am happy with and have confidence in. Read more>>
Brian Stanton
The imposter haunts me consistently, so it would be dishonest of me to say I have completely overcome this syndrome. There is, however, a continuous conversation I maintain with the imposter part inside me because I am honestly and complicatedly both grateful and regretful for this syndrome as it has helped and hurt me. As an adopted person, I literally became an imposter immediately after birth. Instead of going into my mother’s arms and family and tribe and community, I was pulled away and placed with a different mother and family and tribe and community. Read more>>
Anson Adams-crow
When I started with my band, Thursday Marks Fall, we were all around the same age and we were all friends. I realized pretty quickly though just how behind I was music-wise. Particularly our lead and rhythm guitarists are phenomenal musicians. I felt out of place in a room full of such great artists. Initially, I wanted to give up. But I had to decide whether that doubt was stronger than my love for playing music with those people. At the end of the day, I was my own worst enemy, and now I close that gap a little bit every day by working just that little bit harder. Read more>>
Ashley Payne
The key was stepping back to realize how blessed I am and how far I’ve come. I firmly believe that nothing is by coincidence, but it’s by your life’s lessons and purposes. Hard work and consistency come from wanting something grand out of life, to be fulfilled. However, if you have a poor self-concept, that is a disservice to yourself. I would always take pride in being smart, I always excelled but I didn’t recognize my own light. Read more>>
Courtney Knockel
Imposter Syndrome is something that has held me back in my career for a long time. It wasn’t until fairly recently that I was able to put it behind me. As an artist, I often compared my work to others, especially in school. I never felt I was good enough and often struggled with perfectionism in my work. If things weren’t coming out perfect, I would tend to look on the piece in a negative light, I didn’t receive praise or compliments well from others, often doubting myself and my abilities. Read more>>
Riley Anderson
I can’t pinpoint the exact moment. I got to a point in my career where I realized that I was working just as hard if not harder than my peers and that I deserved to be where I was.. Read more>>
Melissa Sewer
I overcame imposter syndrome by recognizing my achievements, reframing self-doubt, and embracing the idea that growth and learning are essential to success. By focusing on the value and impact I provide, rather than chasing perfection, I gradually built my confidence. Read more>>
Milta Ortiz
I’m a dark presenting immigrant. Imposter syndrome is real. I’m the first in my family and my family’s circle of immigrant families to accomplish the things I have set out to do. I’m the only professional artist, the only one with an advanced degree, an MFA at that. It’s a privilege to be an artist. I didn’t grow up knowing anyone who made a living out of writing, performing, or running a theatre. It wasn’t something that seemed possible as I experienced my parents grappling with a new culture, a new language, a new way of being. Read more>>
Tatiana Quintana
Overcoming impostor syndrome wasn’t an overnight process for me. It came with learning to enjoy every win, big or small and appreciating the entire journey.
As I built my brand, I realized that it’s not just about reaching a specific goal or milestone; it’s about valuing each step of the process. Whether it was collaborating with talented Colombian artisans, developing new materials, or expanding into international markets, I began to see every achievement as a reflection of the hard work and passion behind it. Celebrating those wins helped me build confidence and quiet the self-doubt. Read more>>
Pretty Ri$ki
I know I am bringing something fresh into the music world. It’s not often you meet a Bengali, woman rapper. I remind myself that many artists and creators may feel the same way at times. Even though there may be a lot of people who are doing music or something creative, I know that people have not seen ME and what I can bring to the table. Read more>>
Alix Jean-francois
I don’t believe I’ve ever had imposter syndrome. My abilities come from looking at life in a realistic view from multiple angles. Imposter syndrome is when one does not believe their success is legitimately achieved as a result of their efforts and skills. Reality, when I can’t achieve a task, it’s usually because I haven’t learned it or concentrated on achieving it. If I’m asked about something I don’t know, I state, I don’t know. People believe an expert should know all the answers and that’s just not true. No one knows the answers to everything and if they say they do, they are either fabricating, or their ego is way too big for reality. Read more>>
