My Journey as a Woman CEO

CEO Samantha Glover shares her story of rising to the top, charting the highs and lows of her journey to the highest level of leadership.

Key takeaways: becoming a Woman CEO

• Impostor syndrome is real. External gratification through qualifications or encouragement can help to quieten your negative internal monologue.
• Feel the fear and do it anyway. You only discover your strengths and what you love through experience. Don't be afraid to try things out – and to fail.
• Authenticity is a strength. Some people advise women to take on more "masculine" traits. But it's when you're true to yourself that you're most capable.
• Seek out a mentor. Find someone who inspires you and ask them for some of their time to share their insights.

Let's Act: take on your negative thoughts

One of the things that holds back both women and men is impostor syndrome – that feeling that you're out of your depth and it's only a matter of time before everyone realises.

One way to overcome it is to challenge those thoughts. So make this commitment today:

• Create a positive affirmation.

This is a positive statement to tell yourself whenever you feel like an impostor. Examples include, "I will be successful because I know what I'm doing," "I am proud of myself," and, "I can do this!"

Use your positive affirmation as a way to overcome your feelings of insecurity and to drive you toward reaching your full potential.

Here are some more related Mindtools resources to explore:

• Article: Overcoming Gender Bias in Leadership
• Article: How to Succeed as an Introvert Female Leader
• Article: Perfectionism
• Video: Women in Leadership: the Challenges
• Video: Gender and Power
• Infographic: Impostor Syndrome