You Belong Here: Reframing Impostor Syndrome into Leadership Strength

Thursday, October 01, 2026 | 1:00PM–1:45PM MT
Session Type: Breakout Session
Delivery Format: Panel Session
Impostor syndrome doesn’t always disappear when you become a leader. Nor does it look the same for everyone. It just gets quieter, more sophisticated, and sometimes better dressed. What if, instead of fighting it, we learned to lead through it? In this session, a panel of higher education IT leaders will share candid, real-world experiences navigating self-doubt at every stage of their careers, including at the most senior levels. Together, we will explore how these feelings can be reframed as a source of humility, empathy, and more intentional leadership. Through honest storytelling and practical strategies, panelists will highlight how mentoring and coaching build confidence, how peer support creates space for vulnerability, and why the best leaders focus less on having all the answers and more on creating environments where others can succeed. Attendees will leave with actionable ways to support themselves and their teams, and a refreshed perspective on leadership that values growth, connection, and the confidence to lead anyway.

Presenters

  • Christina Bleyer

    College Librarian, AVP Libraries and Digital Learning, Director of Special Collections and Archives,, Trinity College

  • Mark Davis Jr.

    Associate Chief Information Technology Officer, Swarthmore College

  • María Claudia Higuera Palacio

    Assistant Director, Workday Student, Wesleyan University

  • Rana Silver

    Director, Student Information Systems, University of California, Berkeley

  • Ashley Turner

    Director of Learning Spaces Innovation, Swarthmore College