It’s time to let you in on a secret – I’ve faked it.
Yes, there have been times when I’ve felt like an imposter and I’m not afraid or ashamed to admit it.
I know many women reading this (whatever your seniority) will understand what I’m saying. There are a multitude of books, articles and studies which all lead to the same path – women tend to downplay their skills. In other words, they feel like they have to fake it ’til they make it.
Study after study demonstrates the cavernous gap between men and women when it comes to assessing their own competence and ability to do the job. A study at New York’s Columbia University Business School estimates men tend to overestimate their skills by 30 per cent.
Men and women operate very differently in job interviews. Be bold, ladies. Post continues.
What’s my point? To get women to rise up and believe they are competent, worthy and have much to give.
We must keep fighting for our share of voice, representation and equality in pay or opportunities, but we also must start believing in ourselves and know we’ve got this covered.
Making the leap
People often ask me how I grew my career to become the CEO of McDonalds Australia – their first female CEO – before making the leap to a senior position in banking; two very different industries.