There’s this idea that once you climb the ranks—get that promotion, lead a team, take on more responsibility—you’ll finally feel like you’ve made it. Like the self-doubt will evaporate and you’ll suddenly wake up with unshakable confidence and a TED Talk-worthy presence.

Yeah… not quite.

If anything, my imposter syndrome got louder when I stepped into leadership.

I still have days where I feel like I’m one misstep away from someone “finding me out.” I still catch myself wondering, why would they trust me with this? I’ve never done it before. And while I’ve learned to navigate those feelings, they never truly disappeared—they just evolved.

That Little Voice on My Shoulder

I’ve carried imposter syndrome with me from the very start of my career. Back then, it felt like a constant whisper: you’re not good enough, you’ll never figure this out, why would they ask you to do this?

And honestly? It wasn’t just in my head.

As a woman in a male-dominated industry, I was often overlooked for opportunities or dismissed outright. Even before tech, I had people who didn’t believe in me. I still remember a friend’s mom who never said it outright, but her comments always carried this between-the-lines message: that I probably wouldn’t go far, that I wasn’t as smart or capable as her child.

Spoiler alert: I didn’t.

Today, I’m successful in my career, I’ve bought my own home, drive my own car, and am surrounded by family and friends who genuinely care about me. But those early voices stuck with me—and they laid the foundation for the imposter narrative I had to unlearn.

The Promotion Myth

When I got promoted to senior dev, I thought maybe the doubt would quiet down. I was finally getting tasks that were outside my comfort zone—and actually nailing them. That was a turning point for me. It was the first time I stopped to say, wait… I’m actually good at this.

But then I moved into leadership.

And a new kind of imposter syndrome showed up.

Suddenly, I wasn’t just responsible for code—I was responsible for people. For morale. For process. For hard conversations. And that same little voice came back with new lines:

How can you lead people? What if you say the wrong thing? What if they find out you don’t have all the answers?

The Truth About Leadership

Here’s what I’ve learned: leadership doesn’t require perfection.

You don’t have to have all the answers.

You are allowed to say, “I don’t know, but I’ll get back to you.” You’re allowed to make mistakes, own them, and grow. In fact, modeling that kind of humility and self-compassion is part of what makes someone a great leader.

These days, when imposter syndrome shows up, I try not to let it consume me. I don’t shove it down either. I acknowledge it, I put it in a little mental box, and I focus on the task in front of me. Usually, by the time I’m done, I’ve proven it wrong.

My Toolkit

Breathing and pausing when self-doubt creeps in
Talking to myself like I’d talk to someone on my team—with kindness and belief
Taking pride in the small wins to build momentum
Leaning into my strengths, but knowing when to ask for help

I remind myself that being an introvert doesn’t make me less of a leader. That asking questions doesn’t make me less competent. And that courage isn’t about never feeling doubt—it’s about doing it anyway.

If You’re a Leader Struggling With Doubt

Here’s what I want you to know:
You don’t have to be 100% confident before stepping up. You just need to feel ready enough. You’ll never feel fully prepared for every challenge, and that’s okay.

New challenges will always find a way to shake your confidence—but that doesn’t mean you don’t belong in the room.

In fact, the leaders I admire most are the ones who do the work while still feeling a little scared.

Keep Going

Imposter syndrome didn’t go away when I got promoted. But I learned to stop letting it drive the bus.

And if that voice ever gets too loud, I remind myself: I’ve made it this far not because I faked my way here, but because I’ve worked hard, learned fast, and shown up—even when I was scared.

That’s not impostor energy.
That’s leadership.

Imposter Syndrome Didn’t Go Away When I Got Promoted