Welcome back to Leadership Unpacked. I'm Hannah Hally, and today we're diving into a topic that almost everyone has experienced at some point: imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is the feeling that you're somehow faking it or don't truly deserve your achievements, even when there's plenty of evidence that says otherwise. It’s especially common among high achievers, and yes, even the most successful people you can think of deal with it. In this episode, we're going to break down strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome with insights from The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman. This book explores the science of confidence, the social pressures that shape it, and practical ways to embrace and build self-assurance. We'll also look at real-life examples from leaders like Sheryl Sandberg and Michelle Obama, as well as a small business owner who turned her self-doubt into motivation. By the end of this episode, you'll have actionable tools to overcome self-doubt, own your accomplishments, and step confidently into your potential.

To start, let's break down imposter syndrome—what it is, why so many people experience it, and how it can impact our confidence and performance. Imposter syndrome is essentially a feeling of self-doubt or inadequacy despite clear evidence of success. People experiencing it often feel like they're just faking it, worried that one day they'll be exposed as not good enough or not qualified. It's a persistent sense that somehow they don’t truly deserve their achievements. The term “imposter syndrome” was first coined in the 1970s by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, who found that many high-achieving women felt this way. Over time, researchers discovered that imposter syndrome affects people across all demographics, genders and professions. In fact, studies show that around 70% of people experience it at some point. Part of this stems from how society teaches us to downplay our strengths and focus on weaknesses.

Even highly successful people deal with imposter syndrome. Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Facebook, has been open about her struggle with self-doubt even as one of the most powerful women in tech. She often walked into boardrooms feeling like she didn’t quite belong or that someone would eventually realise she wasn’t the “real deal.” Her story reminds us that imposter syndrome isn’t a sign of inadequacy; it’s simply a feeling—and one that can be managed. Sandberg shows that recognising these feelings as normal is a powerful first step. Another well-known example is Michelle Obama. In Becoming, she writes about feeling like she didn’t belong in certain academic or professional spaces. Despite numerous achievements, she felt she constantly had to prove herself. Instead of letting this define her, she refocused on her accomplishments, reminding herself of the hard work and talent that brought her there.

The Confidence Code points to social conditioning and comparison as major contributors. From a young age, many of us are taught not to brag or to stay humble, which makes it hard to fully accept our successes. And in today’s hyper-connected world, we're constantly exposed to others’ highlight reels, easily falling into the comparison trap. We see others advancing and think, “Why don’t I feel as accomplished?” But what we forget is that social media rarely shows the full story.

Perfectionism is another factor. Many people with imposter syndrome set unrealistically high standards for themselves, which fuels feelings of inadequacy when they don’t meet them. Achieve something significant? Instead of celebrating, perfectionists focus on the one thing that could have been better. Even icons like Maya Angelou admitted to feeling like a fraud at times. Her story shows that we can create meaningful work even while experiencing self-doubt.

Reframing negative self-talk is one of the most effective strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome. Instead of feeding the cycle of self-doubt, we can challenge it by acknowledging our achievements. Confidence is built by recognising our strengths and giving ourselves credit where it's due. Michelle Obama demonstrates how focusing on accomplishments instead of doubts builds resilience. A practical tool is keeping a “win journal”—a simple list of daily or weekly wins to remind yourself of your progress.

Another helpful example is Tina Fey, who has spoken openly about her self-doubt. Despite her success, she chooses to push through by focusing on her work and positive feedback. Her story reminds us that sometimes the best way to quiet self-doubt is to take action anyway.

Celebrating successes, big and small, reinforces a positive self-image. In a small tech startup, weekly “win sessions” helped a team member overcome her imposter syndrome by recognising her valuable contributions. Small wins build momentum, forming a growing “bank” of confidence.

Failure is another key area that fuels imposter syndrome. People often see failure as proof they’re not good enough. But The Confidence Code emphasises that failure is essential to building confidence. When we view failure as feedback rather than identity, we develop resilience. Sarah Blakely, founder of Spanx, famously grew up being asked, “What did you fail at today?” This helped her see failure as learning—not something to fear. Steve Jobs' journey also illustrates failing forward: being fired from Apple led to new ventures, ultimately strengthening his leadership and fuelling Apple’s massive comeback.

Small businesses also learn from failure. A bakery that launched an unpopular menu used customer feedback to refine its offerings, eventually improving sales and resilience. By seeing feedback as data rather than criticism, they could adapt and grow.

Michael Jordan famously said he missed thousands of shots, lost hundreds of games, and failed repeatedly—and that’s why he succeeded. His perspective shows that mastery comes from persistence, not perfection. Keeping a “learning journal” turns every setback into insight.

Another powerful strategy is building confidence through action. Confidence isn't found; it's created through repeated small steps outside our comfort zone. Reshma Saujani’s decision to run for office—despite losing—led her to found Girls Who Code. The initial risk helped her build confidence, proving that action breeds self-belief.

Indra Nooyi built her confidence by proactively taking on challenging roles early in her career. By stretching her capabilities, she developed resilience and self-assurance that later defined her leadership at PepsiCo.

A freelance designer grew her confidence by saying yes to slightly uncomfortable projects. Over time, positive results rewired her self-perception. Similarly, a small business owner expanded offerings gradually, building confidence through each small success.

Confidence grows through consistent action. Like training a muscle, each step makes us stronger. Each “rep” builds evidence we can rely on during moments of doubt.

As we wrap up, overcoming imposter syndrome requires reframing our thoughts, embracing failure and taking consistent action.

Leaders like Sheryl Sandberg, Michelle Obama, Sarah Blakely, Steve Jobs, Reshma Saujani and Indra Nooyi all show that self-doubt is normal—but manageable. Confidence is built through action, reflection and acknowledging our strengths. Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will. Each step you take toward challenging self-doubt brings you closer to your most capable self. Confidence is built in the journey, not the destination. Thanks for joining me. The next and final episode of this series will explore sustaining long-term leadership. Until next time, keep embracing growth and taking steps forward.