The Cure for Imposter Syndrome

I don't know about you, but I stumbled into my career. The younger me had no idea what I really wanted to do. I knew I wanted a corporate career, but that was all I knew. My father was a Police Officer in NY and my mother was a teacher. They pushed me toward college but could not advise me on the corporate world. Looking back, it was a pretty fortunate stumble.

Armed with a fashion merchandising degree, I somehow landed at one of the most prestigious investment banks on Wall Street, JP Morgan. I didn't have much experience, and a recruiter placed me in an administrative role supporting the market research team. As I got to know the business, I had a simple realization: These people make great money. I think I'll stay. My fashion merchandising degree would have to be put to use by simply dressing the part.

That decision turned into a 22-year career on both the buy- and sell-side of investment management and financial services. Along the way, I earned my MBA to deepen my knowledge and keep pace with colleagues who had Ivy League degrees, MBAs, and credentials like the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

By every outward measure, I was successful. But I could never shake the feeling that I wasn't quite enough. Today we call that "imposter syndrome".

When I managed teams of CFA charter holders, I knew I couldn't perform the same depth of financial analysis they could. At the same time, I also knew many of them couldn't do what I brought to the table—lead people, navigate organizational politics, build relationships, and elevate the performance of an entire team. Even knowing that, a small part of me still questioned whether I truly belonged.

Everything changed when I left corporate America and became a career coach. It wasn't that I lacked the ability to become an expert in investment management. I simply wasn't passionate enough about it to ever feel completely confident. Once I found work that genuinely energized me, that nagging sense of inadequacy disappeared.

Today I have the privilege of coaching professionals around the world across countless industries. I've served as a trusted advisor to many accomplished C-suite executives and senior leaders navigating some of the biggest decisions of their careers. Interestingly, I've never once felt like an imposter. I am completely comfortable in this role. I would even be as bold as to say, I really good at this.

That experience taught me something important.

Sometimes imposter syndrome isn't a reflection of your abilities. It's a signal that your strengths, interests, and work aren't fully aligned.

So if you've been battling imposter syndrome for years, ask yourself one question: Is it really self-doubt...or are you simply in the wrong job?