Personal Branding for Women in Tech

How to keep that Imposter Syndrome at bay

“She explained that many people, but especially women, feel fraudulent when they are praised for their accomplishments. Instead of feeling worthy of recognition, they feel undeserving and guilty, as if a mistake has been made. Despite being high achievers, even experts in their fields, women can't seem to shake the sense that it is only a matter of time until they are found out for who they really are — impostors with limited skills or abilities.”

Sheryl Sandberg

Lean in: Women, Work and the Will to Lead

Myself and other journalists and podcasts hosts often lament that we simply can’t get enough female interviews.

Maybe this writer from The Atlantic has found the answer to getting more women in press, but why is it harder

work?

Women work on average 39 more days than men a year, at an average of 50 more minutes per work

day.

World Economic Forum

BUT “Men and women get imposter syndrome equally.”

The International Journal of Behavioral Science

70 percent of people will experience at least one episode of this Impostor Phenomenon in

their lives, whether in school or at work, or even in their relationships.

The International Journal of Behavioral Science

Imposter Cycle Explained1. Tasks are assigned.

2. Worrying you aren’t good enough, you procrastinate or over-prepare.

3. You feel relief when it’s finished.

4. But if you are praised for your work, it’s “luck” or because you overworked.

5. You feel like a fraud who hasn’t earned this success.

6. This all causes self-doubt in next project.

Downside of Imposter Syndrome

• don’t spend time self-promoting

• fear of letting others down

• fear of coming off as arrogant

• fear of being stigmatized

• underestimating yourself

• fear of being chosen not for talent or skill

• perfectionism

• overthinking, second-guessing

• OVERWORKING

“Caroline Holt, a consultant and career coach in London, worked with a woman in a senior position at a Big Four accounting firm who was in line for a

promotion to become a director. The partners at the firm were pursuing her for the position, but the woman resisted, even though she wanted the job.

She feared the company ‘would find out that she is not as good as it thinks she is’.”

BBC

Missed Opportunities

But it has an upside!• empathy

• good listeners

• good mangers and team players

• give credit where credit is due

• grateful

Self-doubt and leaving your comfort zone is part of personal development

“Experts say that this feeling of insecurity and self-doubt might actually be a sign that someone is headed for

greatness.

Evidence shows that those who have a tendency for the syndrome are driven to perfection and thus most likely

to achieve your goals.”

The Independent

Do whatever you want!

Don’t look at these recommendations as pressure.

Look at these small tips as empowerment to do what you want, when you feel ready to do it.

Just make sure you aren’t the one holding you back.

9 Ways to Fake it Until You make itIn 15 minutes or less a day

Tweet your own tips to #InternationalWomensDay @BrightTalk

Why 15 minutes?

Because everyone has 15 minutes to advance her future, five days a week.

Also as you see on the next slide, it’s proven growth hacking.

Lisette Sutherland

Founder, Collaboration Superpowers

Talking about her application of The Revenue Growth Habit by Alex Goldfayn

“Every week I look at my revenue goals and decide on one small (15 min) action per day that will bring me closer to those goals.

Sometimes it’s calling a client and asking for a referral I can use on my website. Sometimes it’s following up with a quote I sent out. Sometimes it’s planning a webinar to generate new leads.

The main thing is to plan what the actions will be in advance and track the success of each one."

Learn to take a compliment

“I got lucky!”

“It was a team effort.”

Be grateful

Share the learning

Keep a Work Journal• Makes it easier for performance reviews,

CVs/resumes, and your LinkedIn profile

• Add anything that you do beyond your job description

• Especially anything numerical like $ and % increase/decrease

• Remember your value!

At every tech conference I attend, I take photos of empty ladies’ rooms…

…but occasionally, I’m pleasantly surprised!

I just wish all ladies’ rooms at conferences were filled with female speakers and attendees doing this…

The Wonder Woman Pose

Two minutes of this ‘power pose’ can increase your testosterone and confidence.

Amy Cuddy, Presence

Try poses that take up as much space as possible.

Avoid poses that have you “lady-like” taking up less space or body language that closes you off

Sit at the Table

Sheryl Sandberg

Lean in: Women, Work and the Will to Lead

• Don’t know a subject? Don’t sit in the corner!

• Actively listen and learn. Ask questions and take notes

• Make sure to involve everyone’s opinions

Look great in each pic• No avatar, cartoon or political statement

• Have a headshot (professional even) that shows your personality and up-to-date of how you look now, glasses, freckles, hair color, beards, etc

• Don’t dress for the role you want. Dress how it expresses yourself comfortably.

Use same pic across everything public

Especially update your email, Gravatar, Twitter, and LinkedIn right away to all have same headshot.

Express yourself!(in so many characters)

YOU ARE NOT THE COMPANY YOU WORK FOR

LinkedIn = 60 characters or fewer

• Keywords

• No adjacent punctuation like/this

Twitter = 160 characters or fewer

• Your value proposition. What you do and what you can do for someone else.

• What makes you memorable. Something memorable of your personality, bonus points if it’s funny.

Cultivate your fans

• Ask for LinkedIn recommendations

• Ask for introductions

• Ask for a Retweet

• Just make sure to give back too!

Support each other!

Tweet out something you are proud of to:

#InternationalWomensDay @BrightTalk

And then track these to see who among us you should help promote and, of course, follow!

Jennifer Riggins

http://ebranding.ninja

@jkriggins

linkedin.com/in/jkriggins

And a special thanks to Gratisography for always supplying me with free, open-source, fun images.