This document discusses impostorism and how to overcome it. It begins with an introduction of Todd Barr, who will discuss his experience with impostorism. Impostorism is described as feeling like a fraud and being unable to internalize positive feedback, believing success is due to luck rather than ability. Todd discusses how growing up in a small town without role models and being one of the only people of color in graduate school contributed to developing feelings of impostorism. He provides examples of how impostorism has affected his career. The document outlines common signs of impostorism and identifies five personas that often experience it. Strategies are provided for overcoming impostorism such as embracing failure as

1. Becoming a Geospatial
Superhero
Dealing with Impostorism
1

2. WHo are you?
2

3. Todd Barr
× Podcaster
× GeoSpatial Elder (20+ Years)
× Focused on GIS in Emergency Management
× Mostly work in FOSS4G Software, and Big Data
× Lecturer at NorthEastern University (GeoINT and
Deep Learning )
× Currently Director of Geospatial Products at a Large
Catastrophe Modeling firm
3

4. Impostorism -
The Enemy within

5. ImpostorismNot Impostor Syndrome
5

6. What is impostorism
× Feel like a fraud
× Can’t Internalize Positive Feedback
× Do not Deserve their Accomplishments
× Believes Success is Based in Luck, Charm or
Deception
× A form of Cognitive Dissonance
6

7. “The beauty of the impostor
syndrome is you vacillate between
extreme egomania and a complete
feeling of: “I’m a fraud! Oh God,
they’re on to me! I’m a fraud!” So you
just try to ride the egomania when it
comes and enjoy it, and then slide
through the idea of fraud”
- Tina Fey
7

8. “The exaggerated esteem in
which my lifework is held
makes me very ill at ease. I
feel compelled to think of
myself as an involuntary
swindler”
- Albert Einstein
8

9. 70%
Of all adults experience it
100%Total Bullshit - But it’s hard to believe it that is indeed
Bullshit
IT’S a Higher among Women and POC
9

10. My
How I developed and fought
Impostorism
10

11. BAck in 1988 - In
North TOpeka KS
11

12. Impostorism Foundation
× Lack of Mentors or Role Models
× An Environment of “This is good enough”/”Why
would you want more?”
× Success was viewed with Suspicion and
Distrust
12

13. Grad SChool build more infrastructure
13
× All these people have amazing backgrounds
× I got in by luck/The Prof got me in
× All these people are WAY smarter than me
× Their going to find out and kick me out
× That person’s dad is a member of Parliament

14. Effects on career
× All these people have more experience
× They went to better schools
× They know more people
× They have more money/access than I do
× I need to move back to Kansas and work for
an Investment House or something
14

15. 2004 - Pentagon
15

16. Meanwhile at Harvard University
16

17. ?!?!?!?!?Whoa, I’m not alone in this...others feel this
way too!!
17

18. SO how do I know if
I suffer from Impostorism?
18

19. Some Signs of Impostorism - not a complete list
× Difficulty Accepting and
Internalizing Praise
× Discounting Your Success
× Overworker to a Fault
× Feel like you have to be the best
× Perfectionism
× Paralyzed from Fear of Failure
19
× Avoid Showing Confidence
× Feel Guilty about Success
× Comparing Your Struggles to Others
× Chalk Success Up to Charm/Friendship
× You Focus on What You Haven’t Done
× Convinced You’re not Enough

20. 5 Personas of Impostorism
20
× The Perfectionist
× The Soloist
× The Superwoman/man
× The Natural Genius
× The Expert

21. The Perfectionist
21
× Sets Excessively High Goals
× When Fails to Meets Goals has
Crisis of Capability
× Control Freak - Only They Can
Do it Right

22. The Soloist
22
× Feels like they have to Accomplish
Tasks Alone
× Refuses Assistance When Offered
× Frames Requests as What the Project
Needs, not Their Needs

23. The SUperwoman/man
23
× Stays Excessively Late, Even
When Work is Complete
× Is Stressed When Not Working
(Vacations, Evenings, Weekends)
× Loses Interest in Hobbies
× Tends to Takes Criticism
Personally

24. The Natural Genius
24
× Also Sets Goal Bar High
× Stresses on Getting Things Right the
First time
× Dislikes the Idea of a Mentor
× Simple Setbacks and Errors Cause a
Crisis of Capability
× Reverts to Safe Space, tends to be
Challenged Avoidant

25. The Expert
25
× Bases Competence on WHAT and
HOW MUCH They Know
× Believes They Never Know
Enough
× Fears Not Knowing the Answer
to a Question
× Always seeking Training and
Certifications

26. How can you fight Impostorism
26
× Ditch your Comparisons
× Certifications/Degrees Do Not
Determine Your Future
× Separate Facts from Feelings
× Forget Perfectionism
× Keep a Journal
× Embrace Failure as Learning
× Talk to Your Peers
× Remember that Your Boss, Mentor
and All Stars have it too
× Fuck the Rules
× Treat YO Self

27. What can your employer do to help your fight
27
× Provide Mentorship
× Create an Open Safe Communications Environment
× Training to not Argue with an Person’s“Inner Critic”
× Help the Person Challenge Their Fear and Self Doubt
× Limit “All or Nothing” Thinking
× Communicate Failures as not “Dead Ends” but Opportunities to Learn
× Managers should not Assume the employee “Will Get Over It”
× Encourage Your Peers, Tell Them What you Respect About Them
× If you See Something Say Something

28. Impostorism hits everyone Regardless of...
28
× Education
× Popularity
× Experience
× Skill Level
× Income Level

29. You are Not alone!!!
29

30. 30

31. THAnks!!
31