Keynote Details
Imposter Syndrome Isn’t a Mindset Problem: Why High-Achieving People Feel Like Frauds — and What That Feeling Is Actually Protecting
Overview
Imposter syndrome is usually framed as irrational self-doubt.
But for many people — especially those navigating biased systems, first-time visibility, or chronic misrecognition — that explanation doesn’t hold.
What if imposter syndrome isn’t insecurity at all?
High performers who still feel like they don’t belong
“Just be confident” advice that doesn’t work
Burnout from constantly proving legitimacy
What This Keynote Addresses
What Audiences Learn
Participants leave with:
A new understanding of imposter syndrome as anticipatory grief
Language to separate self-doubt from accurate pattern recognition
Who This Is For
Organizations supporting high-achieving talent
HR, DEI, and people leaders navigating burnout and attrition
Universities and professional programs
Core Frameworks Introduced
Imposter syndrome as survival intelligence, not insecurity
The difference between visibility and safety
Why mindset culture fails the body
Additional Information
Optional Extension
This keynote can be paired with a workshop or toolkit that includes:
Guided somatic practices