Deepa Mani found a way to befriend her imposter syndrome and it changed everything! She shares her tips on how she stays grounded even when she’s out of her comfort zone and how – with a shift in mindset – imposter syndrome can actually be your ally.
Learning to Sit with the Voice That Says, “You Don’t Belong Here”
Imposter syndrome has followed me through every chapter of my career – from the corporate boardroom to the arts sector, to building my own businesses. What surprised me most wasn’t that it showed up, but when it did.
Not at the beginning.
Not when I was learning.
But when I was succeeding.
The moment I stepped into visible leadership – speaking publicly, mentoring others, making decisions that impacted people, and even when I began receiving recognition and awards – the voice got louder: Who do you think you are?
For a long time, to me this meant something was wrong with me. Now I understand it differently.
Imposter Syndrome Isn’t a Personal Failing – It’s a Signal
Many of us are taught to “overcome” imposter syndrome as if it’s something to be conquered or eliminated. But in my experience, especially as a woman and a person of colour in leadership, imposter syndrome isn’t a weakness – it’s a signal.
It often appears when:
- You’re entering a new room without a familiar blueprint.
- You’re visible in spaces that weren’t designed with you in mind.
- You’re stretching beyond what feels comfortable or expected.
The mistake I made early on was assuming confidence should arrive before action. I waited to feel “ready” before stepping forward – and that hesitation cost me time, opportunities, and energy.
The turning point came when a mentor said something simple but profound:
“Confidence isn’t a prerequisite for leadership. It’s a byproduct of practice.”
The Shift: From Erasing Doubt to Building Capacity
Instead of trying to silence imposter syndrome, I learned to collaborate with it. Here are a few reframes that changed everything for me:
- Separate competence from comfort
Feeling uncomfortable doesn’t mean you’re unqualified. It often means you’re growing. I started asking myself: Is this beyond my capability – or just unfamiliar? - Replace comparison with evidence
In my opinion, imposter syndrome thrives on vague fear. I countered it with facts:
- Projects delivered
- Businesses built
- People impacted
When doubt crept in, I returned to evidence – not emotion.
- Understand that leadership is contextual
There is no single “leader template.” The traits that made me effective in corporate environments were different from those required in creative or community-led spaces. Learning to adapt didn’t mean I was inconsistent – it meant I was responsive.
The Quiet Cost of Ignoring Imposter Syndrome
Unchecked, imposter syndrome doesn’t just affect confidence – it affects decision-making.
I’ve seen it lead to:
- Under-pricing work
- Overworking to “prove” worth
- Avoiding visibility or growth opportunities
- Saying yes when boundaries were needed
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is this: sustainable leadership requires self-trust. Without it, ambition becomes exhausting rather than energising.
Practical Tools That Helped Me Stay Grounded
These are practices I still return to – especially during periods of growth or change:
- Name the voice
When doubt shows up, I acknowledge it without letting it drive. Awareness creates choice. - Anchor to values, not validation
External recognition is fleeting. Values provide stability. When decisions align with values, confidence follows. - Build peer ecosystems, not pedestals
Mentors, peers, and communities like Rare Birds matter because they normalise the journey. Leadership is less lonely when shared. - Redefine “belonging”
I stopped asking, Do I belong here? and started asking, what can I contribute here?
What I Wish I’d Known Earlier
Imposter syndrome doesn’t disappear at the “next level” – it simply changes shape. The goal is not to eradicate it, but to build the inner capacity to keep moving forward alongside it. Over time, I have come to see that the leaders who question themselves often lead with greater empathy, awareness, and integrity.
Leadership, I have learned, is not about waiting for doubt to fade. It’s about learning how to lead with it. Feeling uncertain does not mean you are failing – more often, it is a sign that you’re stretching, evolving, and stepping into spaces that matter.
So, if you are navigating that quiet voice right now, know this: you don’t need to have all the answers to belong here. You just need the courage to keep showing up, the willingness to keep learning, and the self-trust to move forward anyway.
Growth is rarely comfortable – but very often, that feeling is the clearest sign that you are exactly where you need to be.
About the author: Deepa Mani is an award-winning entrepreneur and cultural leader whose work bridges tradition and innovation across the worlds of business and the arts. As the founder of POC Beauty, a skincare and cosmetics brand rooted in representation and ritual, and the Artistic Director of Chandralaya School of Dance, Deepa brings together lived experience, strategic insight, and community-first values. Her work champions inclusive entrepreneurship, multicultural storytelling, and the development of creative ecosystems that reflect and celebrate cultural diversity. She is also a Rare Birds Mentor.
