Imposter syndrome. It’s that nagging inner voice that tells you you’re not really qualified, that you’ve just been lucky, or that one day someone will find out you don’t truly belong. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. So many of us, especially women in tech, experience these thoughts, even when all the evidence points to the opposite.

Officially recognized by the American Psychological Association, imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern where we doubt our own skills and accomplishments, despite having plenty of proof that we’re capable. It’s not just a fleeting worry, it’s a persistent fear of being “found out”, not being good enough or feeling like we are not able to meet expectations. And unfortunately, it’s more common than we think.

What’s tricky is that it doesn’t just affect how we feel. It shapes the decisions we make. We might avoid new opportunities, resist taking risks, or feel the need to be perfect all the time. I did not ask questions, hardly shared my opinion and did not ask for support all out of fear of looking incompetent. It creeps into our careers, our wellbeing, and even our relationships. Confidence takes a hit. We downplay our achievements unknowingly giving up the well-deserved promotion. We feel isolated. Burnout and frustration can be a consequence if imposter syndrome is left untackled.

Understanding imposter syndrome and recognizing that these thoughts are not the truth, not at all justified but a widely spread phenomenon underrepresented groups experience in environments and systems where they are minorities is the first step. It definitely opened up a whole different way for me of relating to these constant feelings of insecurity. I wasn’t alone. And I could do something about it.

When trying to so something about imposter syndrome, most of the time, we try to solve it by thinking our way out. We read, reflect, analyze. We try to convince ourselves that we’re good enough. That we’ve earned it. We repeat affirmations. We “logic” ourselves into feeling better.

Working in tech, we are used to solving problems with the mind, logic and data. We are constantly in our head. So much so that we forget an important part: our body. But understanding alone isn’t the solution.

Imposter syndrome doesn’t only live in our minds. It shows up in our bodies. The tightness in your chest before a meeting. The tension in your jaw when you’re holding back a thought. The way your shoulders curl inward when you feel like you don’t belong. These are more than just habits. They’re physical expressions of fear and self-doubt.

And this is where many of merely intellectual approach falls short. They stay in the realm of intellect, when what we actually need is embodiment. When we start working with the body - not just the mind - we open the door to real, lasting change. Somatic practices, breathwork, even something as simple as standing tall and breathing deeply before a tough conversation can start to shift the nervous system. When the body feels safe, the mind can follow.

Overcoming imposter syndrome isn’t about faking confidence or forcing positivity. It’s about reconnecting with yourself and your body fully. And when we do that, we don’t just survive in our careers. We thrive.

I gave a talk recently about overcoming imposter syndrome. I gave two tangible Calls to Action for dealing with imposter syndrome with the mind and with the body. If you want to try it out, watch the video here (you can forward to min 12 to jump right into the solutions).

NEWS

1) Free confidence boost session

I am doing a virtual confidence boost session.

You can either sign up here or join the Women in Tech Facebook Group (see below) and sign up for the event there.

2) Women in Tech Facebook Group

I created a Women in Tech Facebook Group that you can join for free. The goal is to create a place for exchange and community where we can interact and you can connect with other women in tech, share your experiences, challenges and support each other. I will go live from time to time there sharing about different topics. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts there!

3) YouTube Channel

I started a Women in tech YouTube Channel 🥳. Check it out and subscribe here. So far it contains some of the past webinars I did as well as a recording of a talk on Overcoming Imposter Syndrome. Some of the lives I do in Facebook will also be published on YouTube. And some content will only be published on YouTube - so worth checking it out from to time 🙂.

4) Reduced Sections

I decided to shorten the newsletter and remove some sections focussing more on the core goal I have with this: empowering women in tech by sharing my experiences and learnings.

Studies and stats 🔢 

AI talent across the world is mainly male.

Germany and Sweden have some of the lowest female representations in their AI workforces in the EU, at 20.3% and 22.4% respectively.

Source: Interface (October 2024): AI's Missing Link: The Gender Gap in the Talent Pool

Wellbeing Hack 😁 

The Power of Physical Touch

I recently discovered how much massages not only helps release tension from my muscles but also release stress and come into the now, so being present only with what is. No thought loops.

For some of you this might already be part of your routine. I for some reason thought for a long time I didn’t need massages. Well, I was wrong 😂 

Content recommendations 📚️ 

My favorite pieces of content to learn and grow!

• Overcoming Imposter Syndrome | Me 😆 - Women in Tech YouTube channel

  I gave a talk a the Thryving Women in Tech event about two weeks ago and thought now that I have the content why not create a video for everyone to watch. I share two approaches of tackling imposter syndrome: with the mind AND the body. We often don’t think about using our body to deal with emotions or thoughts. However, I’ve found it to be a very powerful one.
  
  

• Feeling disconnected from your feminine energy? Here’s why | Connie Chapman - Awaken Radio Podcast

  I’ve talked about feminine and masculine energy in this newsletter before and how I definitely got disconnected from my feminine energy while leaning into the masculine too much. It’s still a topic I am learning more about and strengthening my feminine energy is something I am still learning a lot about. Loved this podcast on it.

What do you think is your biggest challenge to succeed in your career? ⛰️ 

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