In the heart of Silicon Valley, amid all the innovation and disruption, a surprising truth resonates: Many high-achieving tech professionals struggle with impostor syndrome, a gnawing sense of inadequacy that undermines their accomplishments. Amritansh Raghav, a seasoned tech executive who has worked with titans like Microsoft and Google, is a testament to this phenomenon. Despite his impressive resume, Raghav readily admits to battling impostor syndrome throughout his career.
"I remember once telling my manager, 'I can't believe you folks pay me to do this,'" he recalled. "And we were joking, 'Your performance review is coming up; we could always cut your salary.' But I did really well, right? I rose really fast."
This anecdote, laced with humor, underscores the insidious nature of impostor syndrome. Even for those demonstrably successful, the feeling of being a fraud can linger.
Research published in The Journal of General Internal Medicine suggests that up to 82% of people experience impostor syndrome at some point. This psychological phenomenon isn’t confined to celebrities or household names. It thrives in the pressure cooker of the tech industry, where external validation and achievement are often seen as the gold standard.
This isn’t to say that other high-profile jobs, like a litigator or doctor, don’t have their share of inherent pressures, but the competitive landscape of the tech industry, its ability to capture the public interest, and its rapid pace of change can make even the most secure professional question their abilities from time to time. When your field is evolving so rapidly, it is easy to wonder if you are falling behind and going the way of the dinosaur.
But that’s normal. Doubt is a driver and a motivator for many high-performing individuals. Arguably the greatest ever at his particular job, former basketball icon Michael Jordan[1] once told USA Today that even he, of six NBA Championships and countless individual accolades, hated losing more than anything.
“I hate losing more than I love winning,” he said. “Winning is great, but it’s the fear of losing — that really motivates me.”
For Amritansh Raghav, rather than having insecurities about his perimeter defense, impostor syndrome manifested as a tendency to downplay his abilities and attribute his success to luck rather than skill. "Did I just get lucky?" he wondered at a pivotal moment in his career. "Was it because of my reputation as opposed to what I am actually capable of?" This relentless self-doubt fueled a relentless cycle of self-deprecation.
But who among us hasn’t stepped into the quicksand before? A situation or series of events that makes you question your abilities and wherewithal to handle difficult scenarios.
And maybe it should.
Amritansh Raghav's story is a cautionary tale, but not an uncommon one. It also offers a road map to overcoming impostor syndrome. His approach is unconventional yet effective. He deliberately sought out challenging, unfamiliar environments where he had to establish himself from square one. "I have ended up putting myself in some other position where I have to start from scratch with no one else knowing me so I can prove to myself that yes, I think I know how to do this," he explained. This strategy of embracing discomfort proved to be a turning point. Raghav didn't shy away from the initial awkwardness of being the new guy. He brought his unwavering work ethic and dedication to these new ventures. He emphasizes the importance of perseverance: "I think with every new job you have three phases. Initially there is the honeymoon period and the novelty and excitement makes everything fun. But around the 4 month mark things invariably will get hard, and you will hate everything about your job and wonder if you made a mistake and if you will be exposed as a fraud. But you just have to power through till the 9 to 12 month mark and you begin to realize you can do this job, and do it well" It's during these periods of self-doubt and acquired new skills that self-confidence gradually takes root.
Beyond seeking out challenging opportunities, Raghav recommends reframing nervousness as excitement for growth opportunities. He also emphasizes documentation of achievements - even congratulatory emails or notes of appreciation from peers, reports and managers. This isnot for self promotion, but as a source of solace and a powerful tool to combat the tendency to undervalue one's successes.
Mentorship also plays a crucial role in overcoming impostor syndrome. Raghav highlights the importance of having mentors and sponsors who can provide honest feedback and a healthy dose of reality when self-doubt clouds judgment. "By doing that, I'll be able to get insights on how well that thing is going, and I'll be able to go and improve the process," he noted.
He recognizes, and has suffered, the dangers of burnout, especially in high-pressure environments. "The constant battling of impostor syndrome can consume you. So be intentional to widen the aperture of your life and put things in perspective," he advises, acknowledging the need to carve out downtime for activities outside of work. Most importantly, he emphasizes the importance of passion: "If you're in tech, make sure it's because you love technology."
Easier than it sounds, as the very thing that can lead to burnout and deepen those feelings of insecurity is nonperformance. Nonperformance is often equated (right or wrong) with a lack of effort, work, or time working. But that time is the very thing one needs to reclaim in order to (hopefully) achieve a balance that will allow both for professional success and a balanced life.
A conundrum indeed.
In addition to advocating for self-care, Raghav quotes a valuable piece of advice he received from Mark Zuckerberg, one of the founders of Meta (the former Facebook Inc.): "The more risk you take, the better you get at taking risks." This philosophy underscores Amritansh Raghav's belief that stepping outside one's comfort zone is a crucial step toward conquering impostor syndrome and achieving one's full potential.
Amritansh Raghav's story illustrates how, by embracing challenges, reframing self-doubt, and prioritizing well-being, individuals can conquer their inner critic and propel themselves toward a fulfilling and successful career.
But that’s what worked for him. The issue is one that can only be sorted by the individual, given their particular circumstances, environment, and ambitions. Perhaps one of the most important aspects of dispensing with impostor syndrome is to know who you are and what you want. Once those elements are known, well, there is no impostor. Just you.