Here's how I overcame imposter syndrome as a woman in tech

Overcoming imposter syndrome takes time and patience, but it's also a very gradual process. It can be hard to spot the progress you're making when you're immersed in such a self-critical mindset, but if you keep at it, you will make progress.

I used to suffer from imposter syndrome and I know that it's one of the most common problems for women in STEM. But, just because it's common doesn't mean it has to be permanent. My road to overcoming imposter syndrome started in a way that was very similar to many other women who have shared their stories with me: by recognizing the problem and taking action.

Here are the 4 ways I helped myself overcome imposter syndrome and I hope they can help you too:

1: I stopped pretending to be an expert:

I used to think that if I wanted to be taken seriously, then I had to act like an expert. But after a while, I realized that this was actually imposter syndrome at work. If you want to stop feeling like a fraud: -Don’t try to act like an expert. People don't expect you to know everything. -Just be yourself. Your authentic self is the real expert, after all. Instead, focus on learning and improving, and be brave to share your knowledge with others.

2: I changed the way I looked at failure:

I used to see failure as a personal flaw, so I wasn't able to learn from it. But when I changed my perspective on failure and started seeing it as an opportunity for growth, things got better. If you want to stop feeling like a fraud: -Stop beating yourself up for failing. It happens! And if you don’t learn from your mistakes, then they’ll keep happening over and over again.

3: I stopped comparing myself to other people:

It’s easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to others, especially if they seem more successful than you are. But it’s important to remember that every person has their own journey and experiences. There’s no need to compare yourself against them or feel like a fraud because of it.

4: I learned to celebrate my victories:

I started to celebrate the small wins. Even if it was just a little success, I’d celebrate it by going out with friends or buying myself a treat. It made me feel good about what I had achieved and gave me motivation to do even better next time.

In the end, it is still important to remember that imposter syndrome is a normal problem—even among high-performing women in STEM. And if you've been able to succeed without letting imposter syndrome hamper your performance, consider yourself lucky: many highly capable women are held back by impostor syndrome. But don't let this stop you from striving for excellence; just be aware of these four steps and work on doing better at each one. And never forget why you're doing what you're doing in the first place.

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BIO: Charlotte Fuller, a leading female figure in STEM is a world traveler and an expert in helping companies adopt the latest industrial digital technologies. She earned her Master’s in International Business and has more than a decade of experience working with real-world organisations. Through her keynote presentations and workshops, she now supports organisations in building confident, high-performing female STEM talent through her Signature Corporate Workshops.

Before taking on consulting privately, She worked with leading providers of digital transformation services during her time with Microsoft / Accenture. She has worked with many industry-leading companies to leverage technology & create operational efficiencies, drive more revenue, and build the teams required to meet the exact needs of their customer.