3. You Belong in the Room: Rethinking Imposter Syndrome

“Feeling like an imposter doesn’t mean you’re not qualified. It often means you’re growing.”Do you ever walk into a meeting and wonder if everyone can tell you don’t quite believe you belong there? You are not alone. According to a recent Tech Workplace Survey Report, a staggering 89% of women in tech report experiencing imposter syndrome at work. Even with a stellar resume and a calendar full of people asking for your help, it is easy to feel like a fraud who is about to be "found out".In this episode of Women Who Ship, host Sarah Williams digs into why imposter syndrome is so common in the tech industry. She breaks down how socialization and a lack of representation feed our self-doubt, and why hitting the "valley of despair" in the Dunning-Kruger effect is actually a sign that you are stretching into new territory.You don't have to wait for your brain to magically stop doubting you to start leading boldly. Instead, learn two practical tools to intentionally build your self-trust.Your Next Steps:Download the Playbook: Ready to put these tools into practice? Download the free Imposter Syndrome Playbook at coachsarahwilliams.com/imposter to help you build your Personal Milestones List and map out your 10% better thoughts.Take Action: Create a Personal Milestones List. Write down the things you are genuinely proud of (both professional and personal), and pause to remind yourself: you did that.Shift 10%: The next time self-doubt creeps in, don't try to change your thinking 100%. Instead, find a thought that feels just 10% more believable and 10% better in your body.Subscribe: Hit subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode.Resources Mentioned in this Episode:2025 Tech Workplace Survey ReportSpringfield Women in TechHabitat Communication & CultureTheme Music: The Success by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/