High-achieving people tend to have a lot of the same characteristics.
When it comes to their work ethic, high-achieving people tend to be very disciplined in their daily routines and with their time. Author and professor Ruth Gotian wrote in the Harvard Business Review that high-achieving people tend to be lifelong learners, are comfortable with failure and know the “why” behind their work.
But high-achieving people aren’t entirely built out of early-morning alarm clocks or audiobook titles connected to their newly acquired skill set. For many, there are characteristics that are less talked about — like a pattern of high-achievers having what psychologists call “avoidant attachment” styles or experiencing imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is defined as describing “high-achieving individuals who, despite their objective successes, fail to internalize their accomplishments and have persistent self-doubt and fear of being exposed as a fraud or impostor,” according to the Journal of General Internal Medicine. The article notes that up to 82 percent of people face feelings of imposter syndrome.
What is less discussed is how the term itself was first noted in studying women in the workplace.
Psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes first described an “impostor phenomenon” in 1978 among high-achieving professional women.
Unfortunately the prevalence of imposter syndrome remains high among women and has not decreased over time.
Imposter syndrome comes into play in all sorts of ways throughout the workplace — from not taking credit for success to occupational burnout. One of the primary characteristics of imposter syndrome is doubting one’s accomplishments; sadly many women frequently battle this at some point in their careers — especially when it comes time to apply for a new role. According to a study conducted by LinkedIn, women are 16 percent less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t meet 100 percent of the criteria. In contrast, many men will apply after meeting just 60 percent of the criteria.
Built In Los Angeles spoke with two women who have learned how to assert themselves and helped other women to push for meaningful change in the workplace.
GoodRx is a healthcare marketplace that provides reliable health information and prescription discounts that are accepted at more than 70,000 U.S. pharmacies.
Describe your experience as a woman in tech. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced, and how have you overcome them?
My journey has been a mix of growth and challenges. In a field traditionally dominated by men, I’ve faced obstacles like biases and stereotypes and a lack of female representation in senior roles. Early on in my career, I often felt my ideas were overlooked in meetings, which pushed me to assert myself more and strive for the recognition I deserved.
To overcome these challenges, I focused on developing my technical skills and seizing opportunities for visibility, such as leading key projects. Building strong relationships within my team and seeking mentorship from inspiring leaders have empowered me to advocate for my ideas effectively. I’m fortunate to work for a company that actively supports women in tech by creating an environment that nurtures our growth. Working for an inclusive company that empowers women’s voices is key.
“To overcome challenges, I focused on developing my technical skills and seizing opportunities for visibility, such as leading key projects.”
While the scarcity of women in senior roles can be discouraging, it motivates me to be a role model for others. Engaging with fellow women in tech and participating in mentorship programs has provided invaluable support. I encourage women in tech to prioritize these connections; they’re essential for navigating challenges and driving meaningful change.
What are your professional goals, and how has your current company enabled you to pursue them?
My professional goals are focused on taking on strategic leadership roles where I can shape product vision, mentor the next generation of women in tech and create products that genuinely help people and make the world a better place.
GoodRx has been instrumental in helping me achieve these goals. The company really prioritizes continuous learning and professional development, offering us an annual budget for outside learning opportunities. This support has enabled me to take courses and access resources that allow me to sharpen my skills while connecting me with a fantastic network of inspiring women in tech.
I’ve led high-profile projects and built products that truly make a difference in our customers’ lives. I’ve been given the opportunity to manage and mentor other product managers to help them become exceptional leaders themselves.
Additionally, the guidance I’ve received from other senior female leaders at GoodRx has been invaluable, empowering me to confidently advocate for my ideas and drive impactful projects. I really appreciate how GoodRx values diverse perspectives and creates an inclusive environment that aligns with my vision of developing meaningful products.
How does GoodRx celebrate and empower women?
GoodRx truly values and is dedicated to celebrating and empowering women. One of the most exciting ways we do this is through our women’s community resource group, which is all about building a supportive and inclusive community for women across the organization.
One of my absolute favorite highlights of the year is our International Women’s Day award ceremony. It’s such a special event where we get to highlight and honor the incredible women who make a real difference at GoodRx. Watching colleagues cheer each other on, nominate one another, and then celebrate these incredible achievements in front of the entire company is really inspiring.
Beyond these celebrations, GoodRx is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for women by prioritizing their involvement in high-visibility projects and leadership roles. It’s a great company to work for.
Hot Topic is an e-commerce retail company that includes the brands Hot Topic, BoxLunch and Her Universe.
Describe your experience as a woman in tech. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced, and how have you overcome them?
For those that meet me for the first time, I am an Asian five-foot-tall woman in tech. I led mostly men during my technical consulting days, and one of the things that is key is quickly establishing your position in your role during those first impressions, like when I was introduced to our retail leaders and partners. I learned early that a firm handshake and friendly but stable demeanor goes a long way in establishing my position.
For the most part, I have been lucky in my growth as I did not encounter a lot of adversaries; however, impostor syndrome did creep up throughout my career. In an area that is still substantially led by men, self-doubt or imposter syndrome is something that I have to remind myself to not be a victim to. I have to constantly remind myself to not allow myself to feed into these thoughts. To keep a daily reminder, that I am in my current position because I am capable, and I deserve to be here.
“In an area that is still substantially led by men, self-doubt or imposter syndrome is something that I have to remind myself to not be a victim to.”
What are your professional goals, and how has your current company enabled you to pursue them?
Presence of women in technology is growing recently, especially in the leadership space, and this is a good thing that I hope will continue in the same trajectory. Personally, I want to be in a position where I can be a good mentor to someone else.
For women like me who are also mothers, navigating the tech industry on our own will already be a hard road to trek and can leave us feeling overwhelmed. Having a mentor along the journey that we can share experiences and insights with will go a long way.
What I like about Hot Topic is the overall culture that the leaders in this company showcase. I joined this company at the right time — where several tech growth areas were happening — and with the leader's support, I was encouraged to put forth some ideas for change and improvement. I was encouraged to speak and to not hesitate to tackle challenges head-on. My leader paved the path for my success the minute I joined the company and continuously set up open-door conversations.
Mentorship, continuous learning either from tech resources or from management, speaking up and being reminded of my worth are resources I am lucky to have in this company.
How does Hot Topic celebrate and empower women?
Hot Topic does not only celebrate and empower women, empowerment is part of the culture and within the business model itself.
