The Psychology of Imposter Syndrome at Top Tech Companies

By
Hannah Kissel
March 3, 2026
15
min
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About the episode

Why do some of the most capable, high-performing professionals feel like frauds behind closed doors? In this episode, Hannah Kissel responds to a listener working at a top tech company who is widely seen as calm, confident, and highly competent — yet privately feels anxious, ashamed, and emotionally exhausted. Despite promotions, glowing feedback, and exceptional executive presence, the listener is caught in relentless self-doubt, rumination, and fear of being "found out." Hannah unpacks the psychology of true imposter syndrome, explaining why it's especially common among high performers and women in elite environments — and how perfectionism, nervous-system dysregulation, and early responsibility patterns quietly fuel it. Using Internal Family Systems (IFS), behavioral exposure, and leadership-level mindset shifts, this episode offers practical, compassionate strategies for separating performance from self-worth — and for reclaiming confidence without burning out.

Hi there, I'm Hannah

Executive Coach, podcaster, speaker, writer, and builder of big f*cking Dreams. My mission? To help ambitious professionals build self-acceptance, self-trust in their careers.

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