This is an online community dedicated to helping people who struggle with the impostor syndrome claim the joy, zest, and power of their success.
Too many of us fritter away too much time, talent, and emotional energy fearing that the success we have achieved is not warranted and therefore seeing failure lurking behind every door. Inspired by my life-long struggle with the impostor syndrome, this community offers people from all walks of life a supportive place to share their experiences with impostor feelings and their techniques for conquering them.
Over my many years in corporate America, one of my mantras became: "You've got to make like a duck--glide on the surface while paddling for all you're worth underneath."
As I have reflected on my experience with the impostor syndrome, I have often thought about the meaning of this phrase for me. In part, it was about the realities of getting ahead in the business world, where you really do have to work hard and always appear to be in control. But I have come to realize that more importantly the phrase was an expression of the fear of not fitting in that haunted me for so long.
As a trailblazer in the corporate world for 25 years, Joyce Roché mentored women by encouraging them to find their voices and take bold career risks to excel. Her vision for empowered businesswomen carried over into her work on behalf of girls when in 2000, she assumed the role of President and CEO of Girls Inc., the nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.
Before joining Girls Inc., Ms. Roché served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Carson Products Company, and Vice President of Global Marketing at Avon Products, Inc. During her tenure at Carson, an African American personal care company, sales increased over 130 percent. While at Avon, Ms. Roché broke new ground, becoming Avon's first African American female vice president, the first African American vice president of marketing, and the company's first vice president of global marketing.
