Many of us feel hesitant, perhaps even fearful about stepping into challenging roles and claiming credit that we truly deserve. Whether we are at a business meeting, a team retrospective, a conference, or working solo from our home office, it’s normal to fear speaking up and challenging ideas, or admitting we need help. It's common to worry that we will be “found out” as someone who really doesn’t belong, isn’t smart/experienced enough, or who doesn’t deserve to be where we are. Add AI to the mix and we start to think, "can I just be replaced by AI now too?".

If you’re wondering if this talk is for you, consider the following questions:

• Do you feel like no matter how much you study or prepare for a new challenge, that you’ll just never be ready for it?
• Do you panic at the idea of asking for help because people will think you have no idea what you’re doing?
• Do you find yourself comparing yourselves to peers, friends, or maybe strangers and feeling that you just never seem to stack up?

If you answered yes to any (or maybe all) of these questions, you might be experiencing Imposter Syndrome. You may even recognize some of these behaviors in loved ones, coworkers, and friends. Many of us experience Imposter Syndrome, but when does this anxiety become unhealthy? Is Imposter syndrome something we need to cure, and can we even cure it?

In this session, I’ll share some of my own adventures in embracing my fears, learning to trust myself and others, getting comfortable with asking for help, and developing resilience. We'll even discuss the role that AI is playing in how secure (or not) we feel in our daily lives. I’ll also talk about the unexpected and very positive outcomes that followed taking the leap to embrace my “phoniness”.