by Peggy Klaus

Each time you move up a notch, does a little voice in your head whisper, “Boy, have you pulled a fast one. You really aren’t good enough to have this many people counting on you. You certainly don’t deserve a job with this much responsibility.” A friend who was stepping into a major management position told me, “Peggy, I feel like such an imposter.” I said, “Of course you do, and you probably will until you learn how to play the new role.”

No matter what line of work you are in or how high you climb, the imposter syndrome—also called the Imposter Complex—is likely to follow you. Although thankfully not at the same time, many successful people suffer from feeling they are bluffing their way up the ladder. They live in fear of being found out. Similar to when Toto pulled back the curtain in the Wizard of Oz, they are fearful of being exposed as mere mortals shaking in their boots. Although I’ve observed the Imposter Complex n numerous people of both genders, especially managers, women seem to be far more vocal about expressing their self-doubt.
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By Gale Britton

First job

My first job, which was really challenging, was at a Bronx day camp for kids.

I learned how to manage children and develop individual relationships with them until I had a corps of kids who learned to respect me and follow directions. But they were tough. I learned that working wasn’t so easy. My parents just made it look easy because they both left and returned home everyday and there was money at the end of the week.

Women Re-Shaping Leadership

I think the way women lead is generational. I’m a woman of a certain age, and that’s a nice way of categorizing us older boomers.

When I started working there weren’t a lot of women leaders, and I think in order for women to be successful they had to almost deny the fact that they were women. They kind of looked like men in many ways.
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By Deborah Roberts

First Job

My very first job was at McDonald’s. My nine-year old daughter gets a kick out of this because of the idea that mom worked in a fast food place and wore a little McDonald’s hat. What I carried away from that experience was a strong work ethic. I was so proud to be earning my own money and able to buy some of my own things. I was also in a position to meet the public and I took it to heart.
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by Jacqueline Liebergott

THE BALANCING ACT

My first job was as a graduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh. I worked for a woman with a PhD who also juggled her responsibilities with a husband and two children. She was an important role model for me in terms of my own life and my future. She taught me how to work hard and work smart–and she showed me how important it is to get others involved in shared responsibilities. I carry those lessons with me today.
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