How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome and Own Your Place at the Table

There are times in our careers when we finally land the role we’ve worked tirelessly for — or when someone in power recognizes our potential and places us in a position of leadership.

We have the skills.

We have the talent.

And yet…

Those same limiting beliefs creep in, whispering:

“You don’t belong here.”

“You only got here by luck.”

“Any day now, they’ll find you out.”

This is imposter syndrome — and it’s especially common among women and minorities.

My First Encounter with Imposter Syndrome

When I first stepped into leadership, I quickly realized I was different from every peer and leader around me.

That difference triggered a spiral of questions:

Why did they choose me?

Am I just a diversity hire?

Did I fool them that badly in my interview?

How long before they realize I’m a fraud?

These thoughts were on repeat every single day.

I wanted to succeed — to prove my worth to everyone who ever doubted me, and more importantly, to myself. But the weight of imposter syndrome was suffocating.

Every meeting felt like a performance.

Every decision felt like a test.

I wasn’t leading from alignment — I was leading from fear.

And that’s the real danger of imposter syndrome: it robs you of your peace, creativity, and authenticity. It forces you to shrink in rooms where you were meant to stand tall.

The Turning Point

I’ll never forget the first time I had to present a quarterly report to senior leaders.

As I walked to the front of the room, my heart was racing, my palms sweating, my mind spiralling. Was my work good enough? Would they take me seriously? Or would they finally “find me out”?

And then… something shifted.

I remembered the hours I’d poured into my work.

I remembered the results I had delivered.

I remembered the respect I had already earned.

I took a deep breath, straightened my shoulders, and delivered my presentation with conviction.

And I crushed it.

That moment taught me something life-changing:

You cannot let imposter syndrome rob you of your power.

The Realization That Changed Everything

As I grew into my role, I started to notice something…

Behind the polished titles and confident voices, every leader in that room was just a person. I saw nerves surface. I heard ideas that were sometimes brilliant — and sometimes not so much. I watched people fumble their words, second-guess themselves, or struggle to make a clear point.

That’s when it clicked:

They weren’t better than me.

They weren’t smarter than me.

They were simply people doing their best — just like me.

For so long, I had put them on a pedestal and shrunk myself in comparison. But the truth was, we were equals. I was chosen for a reason. I belonged there.

How to Dismantle Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome loses its grip when you stop idolizing others and start owning your place in the room. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Name Your Imposter Voice

   Write down the exact thoughts you hear when self-doubt creeps in.

   
   

2. Call Out the Lie

   Challenge each thought with the truth.

   
   

3. Gather the Receipts

   Make a “Confidence File” of your accomplishments.

   
   

4. Visualize the Empowered You

   Picture the version of yourself who knows she belongs.

   
   

5. Anchor Your New Identity

   Use daily affirmations to reinforce your worth.

   
   

6. Take Bold Action Anyway

   Speak up, apply for the role, or take a step forward despite fear.

   
   

You’re Here for a Reason

You are not a mistake. You are not a fluke.

You were chosen for a reason.

Not by luck. Not as a favor. But because you bring something unique to the table.

You don’t need to shrink to make others comfortable.

You don’t need to over-prove your worth.

You simply need to own your brilliance, your potential, and your power.

The Bottom Line

Every powerful woman you admire once questioned herself. She didn’t arrive at greatness without doubt — she just didn’t let it stop her.

Neither should you.

When you honor your worth, you stop performing and start leading from the truth of who you are. You stop dimming your light and start letting it shine unapologetically.

You are enough.

Right now.

As you are.