Irony.
On May 11, 2023, this is the word that permeated my day.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to elevate the stories of women through writing and video. As a child, I dreamed of being a journalist and reporter.
But, when I was in college, a Professor told me that I couldn’t write and for years onwards, I started to embody this limiting belief (which can become a self-fulfilling prophecy). When I started my career, micro-managers added fuel to the fire and I started to become a victim of confirmation bias (noticing every time I made a mistake rather than recognizing the times that I wrote well).
This all contributed to imposter syndrome and at times … crippling self-doubt.
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Fast forward to May 11, 2023.
I was sitting at Harvard University as a member of the Women’s Leadership Board and my article “Choose Courage Over Confidence” was selected for @harvard_business_review print addition (yes the real magazine 😩).
Not only was I sitting at Harvard when it was released but …. the topic of the special issue (that I didn’t know until the release day): “How To Overcome Imposter Syndrome”.
Phew 😮💨 what an ironic and meaningful moment.
“We cannot be what we cannot see”. Research shows that aspiration is directly linked to visibility.
By making my own story visible, I hope to help others pursue their bold aspirations even in the face of fear, self-doubt, and yes … imposter syndrome.
My journey has taught me that it just takes courage (not confidence).
Read on for this month’s roundup.
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One Insight
As shared above, I’m thrilled to be featured in the HBR print edition alongside phenomenal leaders, including Ruchika Tulshyan, Herminia Ibarra, Linda Hill, Dorie Clark, and more. You can purchase a copy of the magazine here: https://store.hbr.org/product/how-to-overcome-impostor-syndrome-hbr-special-issue/SPSU23
One Share
Adam Grant, organizational psychologist and bestselling author, shares amazing insights on Instagram and Twitter. This one is related to the topics of having courage and grappling with imposter syndrome. More on Adam can be found here: https://adamgrant.net/ (I love his newsletter as well!)
One Tool, Technique or Tactic To Try
Flip-The-Script To Overcome Imposter Syndrome
Sources: My article “Choose Courage Over Confidence” and Adam Grant (as mentioned above)
One Question
Ask yourself: How can I be of value to others?
When we focus on generating value for others, we are less likely to feel as if we are an ‘imposter’ and don’t belong. Irrespective of career stage or context (in our teams, organizations, communities), we all have something to contribute. Honing into our unique value drivers can move our focus away from our internal narratives and critiques … and towards an outward focus on our potential impact and contribution. How can you be of value to others?
Let’s go live boldly!
Closing Out Women’s History Month 
