Nicollette Moyo is an Applications Consultant for Capgemini. She believes many people have experienced imposter syndrome, but only a few have been able to correctly identify it.

Nicollette explores what imposter syndrome is and how you can navigate yourself out of it.

Self-doubt can overshadow a sense of pride and happiness

"I joined Capgemini as a graduate and my role is Salesforce Functional Consultant. I remember the moment I received the phone call to say I got the job; I was so happy that I’d achieved what felt like one of my longest and hardest goals," explains Nicollette. 

"Then the feeling of self-doubt quickly overshadowed that sense of pride and happiness. I didn’t have a technology background, I hadn’t even really used Salesforce prior to this, I was just hard-working and had the skills and knowledge I’d gained over the years to land the job, but was this going to be enough?"

How to deal with imposter syndrome

Nicollette was recently on a panel talking to soon-to-be graduates about working at Capgemini and a topic of discussion was ‘how to best deal with imposter syndrome’.

"This was interesting because imposter syndrome is something that permeates the workplace quite frequently but isn’t discussed much," says Nicollette. 

"At that point, I realised that imposter syndrome is a feeling that I do get from time to time, and quickly remembered the self-doubt I felt when I received the “you’ve got the job” the phone call. This field which is typically known to be male dominated, women can especially be the biggest sufferers of imposter syndrome. Despite being qualified for the job, we can still feel like frauds."

Discovering a new sense of confidence 

Nicollette once came across a saying: “We’re more likely to experience imposter syndrome if we don’t see many examples of people who look like us or share our background who are clearly succeeding in our field.”

However, since working at Capgemini, Nicollette has become more comfortable in herself and found a new sense of confidence that she didn’t know existed.

"I think it comes from the fact the company is so inclusive, seeing so many women from all types of backgrounds achieve their career goals and leading some of the biggest projects gives a feeling of 'I can do this.'

"Working here has allowed me to gain so much exposure, working alongside the best female role models where you can use their skills and experiences to elevate your own. You truly get the best support to be the best version of yourself here, especially as a graduate. The graduate community is so welcoming - you feel supported every step of the way," explains Nicollette.

Self-reflection helps conquer imposter syndrome 

Nicollette advises that, if you’re in doubt, take a step back and reflect on how far you’ve come. She says, "What seemed impossible before has suddenly become your reality because you worked to get there and you deserve every success that comes with it. It can be hard to shake the feeling of imposter syndrome, but even the most successful people have experienced it, so you’re not alone."

"I have realised that although I work in a male dominated field, I am just as good as my male counterparts and there is a need for us to bring our perspectives and ideas. We are just as much the future, and we should recognise we are the change the world needs as well," concludes Nicollette. 

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