When I was about 9, I jumped through a glass door.
Yes. Glass. And yes – on purpose.
Why? I wanted to see if it was possible.
A few years before that, I’d jumped down an entire flight of stairs (also on purpose), just to see if I’d make it.
I broke and twisted bones. I got stitched up in more places than I care to remember, including a few unmentionable ones.
My mum always said I’d have been a hell of a lot less trouble had I been a boy.
But here’s the thing: even with that kind of reckless confidence as a kid, I still get hit by imposter syndrome today.
A few weeks ago, I went looking for an old Thread I’d written – one I was sure had 40K views. I kept scrolling through Metricool and Blacktwist, and it just wouldn’t show up.
I thought I’d finally lost my marbles.
Then I realised I was looking in the wrong column. Not thousands… millions. I had passed the 400K and 4M views mark.
I laughed at my own stupidity.
Then I smiled.
Ten months ago, I didn’t even know Threads existed. I had never written online.
Ten months ago I nearly pooped my pants trying to show up online.
I assumed I was old, out of touch and had nothing to say.
That no one would listen.
But I wanted to see what it was like, so I started anyway.
My 9 year old self would have been proud AF.
Why did I assume I would fail to start with?
Because imposter syndrome doesn’t care how much you’ve done.
It shows up anyway.
Quote of the Week
“I have written 11 books, but each time I think, ‘Uh-oh, they’re going to find out I’ve run a game on everybody.’”
Maya Angelou
The Numbers
This Isn’t Just You. Here’s what the data says:
✔️ 75% of female executives in the U.S. report feeling like impostors at some point in their careers. (KPMG)
✔️ 54% of women in the UK say they’ve experienced imposter syndrome, versus 38% of men. (2023 survey)
✔️ In India, 60% of female founders report imposter syndrome, with 40% citing lack of role models as a key factor. (Kalaari Capital 2024)
✔️ 41% of female entrepreneurs report imposter feelings, compared to 28% of male entrepreneurs.
✔️ Younger women experience imposter syndrome more frequently – but for women over 40, it often returns during major transitions, like starting a business.
Imposter Syndrome Hits Hardest at the Edge of Reinvention
One of the most common messages I get from my community is this:
“I have all the confidence in the world with my employer’s clients…
But when it comes to starting my own thing? I freeze.”
These are brilliant, experienced women. They’re in their 40s and 50s with incredible CVs.
But when they consider leaving their 9–5 to build a business, the old voice creeps in:
- “What if I fail publicly?”
- “Who am I to do this?”
- “I’m too late / too inexperienced / not cut out for it.”
Pure conditioning.
Why Does It Get Worse at 40+?
Change makes us feel like beginners again.
Imposter syndrome is most intense during career transitions – when we go from “I know what I’m doing” to “What if I screw this up?”
Women over 40 often have the skills, but not the self-permission to claim the next chapter. We doubt our value even when it’s obvious to everyone else.
Meanwhile, many men are socialized to overestimate their abilities (“I’ll figure it out”), while women wait until we feel 110% qualified to apply.
Add to this the pressure of being a parent, a partner, a perfectionist—and you’ve got the perfect storm for the inner critic to run the show.
This is structural.
The Motherf*cking Hormones
Sorry – I had to mention the elephant in the room.
Just when you’re ready to reinvent yourself, build a business, or take a risk… perimenopause kicks you in the ass, and we get imposter syndrome on steroids.
You’re not crazy, this is real:
- Estrogen and progesterone fluctuations during perimenopause affect brain chemistry – especially serotonin and dopamine, two neurotransmitters directly tied to mood, motivation, and self-confidence.
- Cognitive changes (brain fog, decision fatigue, memory blips) can spike during midlife hormonal shifts, mimicking or intensifying imposter symptoms.
- Anxiety and self-doubt are more prevalent during perimenopause, particularly in women navigating big transitions (like leaving a job or launching a business).
- According to the UK’s 2022 Menopause and the Workplace Report, over 46% of working women in perimenopause say their confidence has taken a hit — affecting their visibility, ambition, and willingness to pursue leadership roles.
In plain english: you’re not imagining it.
The confidence dip you’re feeling might not be about capability. Your hormones are probably messing with your head.
Challenge the Inner Critic: Flip the Script
This doesn’t mean you should give up.
Just stop blaming yourself, get support, and realise this is structural.
But it’s also changeable.
The antidote to imposter syndrome is:
- Exposure
- Community
- Consistent evidence that you belong
Psychologist Pauline Clance, who coined the term imposter syndrome, noted that it’s more about the internal narrative than actual ability.
We all have what researchers call the self-derogatory bias.
Women are more likely to credit luck or timing for success.
Men? They credit skill.
We’ve spent decades internalizing this. It’s why you might hesitate to post on LinkedIn about your achievements, while your male colleague casually shares his “quick win” on a half-baked case study.
So here’s how you put a nail on that coffin:
Notice that inner voice
- Whose voice is it? An old boss? Society’s expectations? Your 10-year-old self who was told to “be quiet”?
Ask for proof
- Where’s the evidence you’re not good enough?
Talk back
- Would you say this to your best friend? Then don’t say it to yourself.
Document ALL wins
- Start a BRAG folder of screenshots, emails, data, feedback.
Own It: You’re at the Starting Line of Something Big.
You’ve spent years building skills, delivering results, and leading from the shadows.
Now you want to take centre stage and your brain is screaming:
“But what if they find out you’re a fraud?”
But here’s what I know:
- The imposter voice is loudest when you’re about to level up.
- It’s trying to keep you safe, not successful.
You don’t need to silence the voice to move forward.
Just stop listening for a few minutes so you can take the next step.
This Week’s Action Plan: (For ME and for YOU)
- Start a “BRAG Folder”: Save every compliment, testimonial, client win, and kind word. Build evidence for your greatness.
- Write down one thing you know you’re great at (and ask 3 trusted people to confirm it)
- Choose one action you’ve been avoiding because you “don’t feel ready” – and take it imperfectly.
- Add this post-it to your laptop:
“Confidence comes from doing, not knowing.”
Just remember: we all have that voice.
None of us have a clue what we are doing.
We’re all just throwing spaghetti at the wall.
Just do it anyway.
Let’s go.
With balls the size of Russia (and a lot less self-censorship),
Claudia
