2 minutes
From the editor
Imposter syndrome. The confidence gap. For many women, these are all-too-familiar phrases. Even in an industry filled with accomplished, talented women, many of us admit to feelings of self-doubt that persist despite our education, experience and accomplishments.
We examine the confidence gap in our latest issue of Advancing Women. This online-only quarterly publication offers information and inspiration for current and aspiring female credit union executives and those who support them. You’ll find a lot of value in our current issue, including a feature article about confidence.
“Our charge, as industry leaders, is to halt the imposter syndrome,” says Deedee Myers, Ph.D., CEO of CUESolutions provider DDJ Myers Ltd., Phoenix, in the article. “And the best place to start is by being the type of parent, grandparent, supervisor and mentor who negates and mitigates the bias and imposter syndrome in our homes and workplaces. We need to arm our women with the agency needed to find their way in this complex world.”
“In my experience, the issue isn’t that women are less confident than men,” says Bryn C. Conway, MBA, CUDE, principal of BC Consulting LLC: Strategies Beyond Creative, Frederick, Maryland, in the feature. “The problem is that confidence in women is not rewarded in the same way in the workplace as it is for men. This differential view of confidence in men versus women is a possible reason the confidence gap persists.”
To continue this conversation, join Conway and others for the third installment of CUES RealTalk! later this month. This engaging event is free and open to all. Register at cues.org/realtalk.
And returning in 2023, the Women in Leadership Cornell Certificate Program is an online program that helps attendees get inspired and gain confidence while perfecting strategies for handling the issues women in leadership positions face. Learn more at cues.org/ecornell-wil.
When I’m feeling like an imposter or unconfident, my strategy is to learn something new. Taking a course or reading a new book makes me feel in control, inspired and ready to go.
If you’re like me and gain confidence through education, consider signing up for CUES Advanced Management Program from Cornell University. This nine-month online program next runs from July 2022 through March 2023 and is designed to help emerging leaders accelerate their careers to the next level. Attendees will gain deep insights into the C-suite so they are ready when the opportunity for advancement comes. Learn more at cues.org/ecornell-cumanager.
For something with more immediate gratification, steal my practice. At CUES, we have no meetings on Friday afternoons so we can focus on learning and professional development. I have been using that time to work through the Harvard ManageMentor courses available to CUES members. So far, I have completed courses on diversity, equity and inclusion; leading people; and strategic thinking. I have ended each course with actionable and practical new ideas to try. Check it out at cues.org/membership.
Theresa Witham
VP/Publications & Publisher
