PowerUp Workshop Series

The WomenLift Health PowerUp Workshops are a series of leadership workshops that are free and open to mid-career women working in global health. The workshops are hosted virtually by our regional hubs in East Africa, North America, and South Asia and focus on developing leadership skills and fostering meaningful connections between women leaders in health. The topics rotate with each event. We encourage women leaders in health around the world to join us, and use these workshops as an opportunity to learn, engage with other women leaders, and build community.

Rethinking Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome was first identified in 1978 by two psychologists, Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes. In a study of female academics, they found that many women felt that they weren't deserving of their accomplishments. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), imposter syndrome is "a psychological pattern in which people doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent, often internalized fear of being exposed as a 'fraud'." As a result, they engage in self-sabotage, overworking and depression.

In 2021, WomenLift Health developed a discovery report that surveyed the experiences of women leaders in East Africa, North America, and South Asia. Our report found that 41.7% of East African women classified “lack of confidence” as a top barrier to advancing into leadership positions. According to an article in Fast Company “Imposter syndrome is a common experience among all women but has had a lasting impact amongst Black women that often hinders their ability to openly vocalize achievements and regularly share their successes”. As evidenced in our Discovery report, women and women of color often wait for others to see their potential, while their male counterparts apply a “go for it” attitude regardless of qualifications. While building confidence often occurs over time, identifying ways to mitigate self-doubt remains an ongoing challenge. Further A KPMG study finds, “75% of female executives across industries have experienced imposter syndrome in their careers, which is a feeling of inadequacy and self-doubt that makes them continuously doubt if they are qualified enough for the job”. “For women, biases and stereotypes in the workplace can foster and exacerbate those feelings of not belonging.”

Recent publications also argue that imposter syndrome is not an innate feeling that women are born with but in fact it is the result of facing repeated exclusion and systemic bias. While we must collectively hold the system accountable, those of us who experience imposter syndrome also need strategies to counter it. We believe in the expertise, talent, and capacity of women leaders and we look forward to advancing your leadership and learning from your experience!

This Workshop

This interactive session will help you define and address imposter syndrome and work with others to identify potential gaps to improve your confidence.

In this two-hour workshop, you will:

· Recognize imposter syndrome and look for ways to overcome it.

· Focus on learning from specific experiences that are highly relevant.

· Identify experiences that will prepare you to lead more effectively within the context of your job, role, and organization

PowerUp Workshop: Rethinking Imposter Syndrome