Billionaire and Shark Tank star Mark Cuban. Oscar winner Tom Hanks. Culinary icon Padma Lakshmi. All accomplished in their fields, beloved by the masses, and wildly successful, right? You might be surprised to learn they all, at one time or another, suffered from impostor syndrome—that sneakily pernicious feeling that you're just not good enough and undeserving of all your achievements.
You don't have to be a headline name to suffer from this. According to The Journal of General Internal Medicine, up to 82% of people face some form of impostor syndrome. And for all its innovation and disruption, the technology sector is no exception, something accomplished tech exec Amritansh Raghav knows all too well.
Raghav certainly has earned his stripes with over two decades working with tech titans such as Microsoft, Google, and various startups. But while his bona fide is impeccable, he candidly shares even his faced impostor feelings.
"I remember once telling my manager, 'I can't believe you folks pay me to do this,'" he recalls. "And we were joking, 'Your performance review is coming up; you could always cut your salary.' But I did really well, right? I rose really fast."
By exploring the origins of Raghav's impostor syndrome and the techniques he uses to mitigate it, other rising stars can access realistic perspectives and actionable advice to overcome self-limiting beliefs and realize their full potential.
Amritansh Raghav: 'Did I Just Get Lucky?'
One plus to having impostor syndrome is you must be good at what you do to have it. Psychology Today reports, "People who struggle with impostor syndrome believe that they are undeserving of their achievements and the high esteem in which they are, in fact, generally held. They feel that they aren't as competent or intelligent as others might think—and that soon enough, people will discover the truth about them. Those with impostor syndrome—which is not an official diagnosis—are often well accomplished; they may hold high office or have numerous academic degrees."
None of this is news to Amritansh Raghav. His battle with impostor syndrome is deeply intertwined with his perfectionism and a tendency to undervalue his abilities, often attributing his successes to luck rather than skill. He recalls thinking at a pivotal moment in his career: "Did I just get lucky? Was it because of my reputation as opposed to what I am actually capable of?"
This self-doubt led him to attribute his achievements to fortune rather than merit repeatedly. He pondered, "How much of your success is because of all the support and structure around you?"
When in reality, his work ethic was extraordinary, driven by passion rather than obligation. "I used to work seven days a week. I'd go in on Saturday, Sundays," he says. However, this intense commitment did little to silence his inner critic. The tech industry's focus on external validation and achievement only served to reinforce his internal belief that he didn't truly deserve his accolades, further fueling his impostor syndrome.
Amritansh Raghav's Top Tips To Battle Impostor Syndrome
Raghav turned around his feelings of self-doubt by adopting a unique approach he's confident will help his fellow tech pros. He deliberately sought new, high-risk environments where he had to start from zero. This method forced him to validate his skills. He shares, "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."
It worked.
Amritansh Raghav didn't just change his environment; he embraced the discomfort that came with unfamiliar circumstances—and he brought along his dedication and resolute work ethic. He believes in the value of enduring tough times at work. "I think that there's this thing that will get hard, and you will hate everything about your job, and you have to get through nine to 12 months," he explains. This perseverance through periods of self-doubt and acquiring new skills gradually built his self-confidence.
In addition to seeking out challenging situations, Raghav employed other tactics to mitigate feelings of being an impostor. He suggests reinterpreting nerves as excitement for opportunities to grow. He also points out the importance of meticulously documenting achievements, which helps counteract the tendency to undervalue one's successes.
Further, Raghav highlights the role of mentors and sponsors in providing perspective. These individuals offer reality checks when anxiety skews self-perception. "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 says. For Amritansh Raghav, having a solid support network is essential to effectively confront and overcome the inner critics that fuel impostor syndrome.
Maintaining Balance and Self-Care
Maintaining a balanced life, especially for those in high-pressure roles, is essential, Raghav stresses. "You should find balance in your life," he advises, highlighting the need to carve out downtime amid demanding work schedules actively. Also important? The sage old advice to love what you do. His approach involves ensuring his workload is fueled by passion.
"One of the first things I would tell people is to know yourself well. If you get in the tech industry, know it's because you love technology."
Despite his intense work ethic, Raghav strongly advocates work-life separation. He understands that he must enforce personal time to sustain his rigorous pace. This includes taking weekends off and engaging in hobbies unrelated to his job. He acknowledges the ongoing struggle to maintain this balance, humorously noting, "If you can figure that one out for me, that would be great." For him, finding time for leisure and establishing healthy habits are essential to counteract the feelings of inadequacy and restlessness that often accompany high-achieving individuals.
In addition to downtime, Raghav emphasizes the importance of wellness routines. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, and a healthy diet aren't just beneficial for physical health; they serve as vital counterbalances to the mental and emotional pressures of impostor syndrome. He views these practices as indispensable for anyone looking to have a long and thriving career, particularly for those who are intensely driven in the ever-evolving technology space.
Raghav says he also carries indispensable advice from Mark Zuckerberg close to the vest. "The more risk you take, the better you get at taking risk," he says.
