Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is characterized by doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. It disproportionately affects high-achieving people, who don’t believe they’re deserving of recognition and promotions.

Psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes developed the concept, originally termed “imposter phenomenon,” in a 1978 study which focused on high-achieving women. They found that “despite outstanding academic and professional accomplishments, women who experience the imposter phenomenon persist in believing that they are really not bright and have fooled anyone who thinks otherwise.”

Viola Davis, Sheryl Sandberg, Michelle Obama and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor having all confessed to experiencing it.

Join Sarah, Vanessa and Kedren to close out Women’s History Month for an exploration about what Imposter Phenomenon is, who experiences it, the role of organizational culture in perpetuating it, and how to begin to own your accomplishments and realistically integrate your successes into your identity. 

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