I have spent my entire career reinventing myself. From ERP consultant to chef to business owner, each time I transitioned, I faced the same nagging voice: Who do you think you are?
When I retrained as a chef after Y2K had shattered my career, and people asked me what I had done prior to Leith’s, I felt like a fraud when responding. I had ten years of experience, five of them in consultancy, yet every time I introduced myself as an ERP consultant, something inside me resisted. In hindsight, I was indeed one of the “early adopters” of digital transformation, but at the time I didn’t feel like I was in any way a pioneer. I had worked with and been mentored by so many people who in my eyes were so much more ahead of the curve than me. Years later, when I left the kitchen and returned to business, I felt the same creeping doubt.
I had trained at Leith’s, completed work experience at Le Manoir, held a position at City Rhodes, worked in a hip Borough Market deli, and had my restaurant reviews published by Time Out Dubai—by all definitions, I had earned the title of chef. And yet, when I said it out loud, it felt like a lie.
Even today, when I step onto a stage for a speaking engagement or sit down at the negotiation table, the little voice still appears: Who are you to do this?
But instead of letting it undermine me, I’ve learned to make peace with it.
Why Impostor Syndrome Never Really Goes Away
Impostor Syndrome isn’t reserved for those who are underqualified. In fact, it often appears when we’re pushing ourselves beyond what’s comfortable. It’s a byproduct of ambition, of daring to operate in spaces that challenge us. If anything, it’s a sign we’re exactly where we need to be.
High achievers—executives, entrepreneurs, artists, chefs—are particularly prone to it. We hold ourselves to impossibly high standards. We measure our worth not by what we have achieved, but by what we don’t know yet. And because growth is endless, the feeling of never quite being “enough” never fully disappears.
Learning to Work with It, Not Against It
Over the years, I’ve stopped seeing Impostor Syndrome as an enemy. Instead, I recognize it as a checkpoint. It reminds me to stay humble, to be alert, to remain open to learning. It tells me I care about what I do. That little voice isn’t a signal that I’m out of my depth; it’s proof that I’m growing.
Here’s what helps me navigate it:
- Reframe the Doubt – Instead of seeing self-doubt as a weakness, recognize it as a sign that you’re stepping outside your comfort zone. That’s where real progress happens.
- Look at the Evidence – Your track record matters. When doubt creeps in, remind yourself of what you’ve done, not just what you think you haven’t done.
- Accept That Learning Never Ends – There will always be people who know more, just as there are people who know less. The goal is not to “arrive” but to keep moving.
- Talk About It – Every time I’ve admitted to a peer that I feel like an impostor, they’ve responded with a knowing nod. The most accomplished people I know feel the same way.
The Marvel of Not Knowing
I used to think Impostor Syndrome was a hurdle I had to overcome before I could feel like I had made it. Now, I understand that it’s not an obstacle—it’s a companion. It’s the whisper that keeps me sharp, the nudge that reminds me there’s always more to learn. And within that, there’s something deeply freeing.Because the real joy isn’t in knowing it all. It’s in discovering, adapting, and evolving. The moment we stop feeling like impostors is probably the moment we stop growing. And what a shame that would be.