What happens when you have worked hard to reach the next level, only to find yourself questioning whether you belong there?

We often think of imposter syndrome as a lack of confidence. Yet beneath the self-doubt can be something much deeper: an identity that has not yet caught up with who we are becoming.

For nonprofit professionals and event leaders, growth often requires greater visibility, bigger asks, stronger leadership, and the willingness to step into rooms and opportunities that once felt out of reach. Yet the very success we are working toward can bring old beliefs about worth, belonging, and who we are allowed to become to the surface.

In this thought-provoking and interactive session, Candice Van Dertholen expands upon her most highly booked speaking topic, imposter syndrome, to explore the deeper connection between past identity and fear of success.

Her work on imposter syndrome has been presented to national, international, and global audiences, including McCormick & Company, the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading Conference in Birmingham, United Kingdom, the SheLeads DC Summit, Blue Star Families, and The Rosie Network.

Across industries, organizations, and cultures, one theme continues to emerge: sometimes our greatest resistance appears when we are standing at the edge of becoming someone we have never been before.

Participants will examine the past experiences that shaped their relationship with success, visibility, belonging, and achievement. They will learn how those experiences can influence present-day leadership and recognize the patterns that may be keeping them from fully stepping into what comes next.