Women tend to take fewer risks than men - both in their careers and otherwise. However, that gap in risk-taking can lead to more 'missed chances' for advancement and leadership. Our goal with this presentation is to help women learn to identify opportunities where not taking risks or feeling like an imposter has held them back. To identify 'safe' risk-taking opportunities (like asking questions in a big meeting). To challenge the negative thinking associated with failure, and to learn to reframe as positive growth opportunity. And finally, to learn when to trust your gut and when to let your brain override your instincts. Everyone - especially women - should practice taking safe risks every day to help combat the insidious challenge of imposter syndrome!

1. IMPOSTER SYNDROME
AND THE ART OF BEING
WRONG
Women Who Test @
STAREAST 2019

2. WHY US?
Jeanne
Riley
Melissa
Benua
@queenofcode + @jeanneriley STAREAST 2019

3. WHY THIS TOPIC? Where
are all
the
women??
@queenofcode + @jeanneriley STAREAST 2019

4. WHY THIS
TOPIC?
@queenofcode + @jeanneriley STAREAST 2019

5. @queenofcode + @jeanneriley STAREAST 2019
"If we don't have the skills to get
back up, we may not risk falling."
- Brene Browne

6. WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
@queenofcode + @jeanneriley STAREAST 2019
Women take fewer risks than men due
to a fear of the repercussions of
failure
Taking fewer risks holds women back
in their careers
Being comfortable taking risks and failing is
key to moving up

7. @queenofcode + @jeanneriley STAREAST 2019

8. @queenofcode + @jeanneriley STAREAST 2019

9. WHAT TO
DO ABOUT
IT?!
@queenofcode + @jeanneriley STAREAST 2019
‘real’ vs. ‘perceived’ impacts of risksUnderstand
of negative self-talkBe Conscious
risk vs. reward tradeoffConsider
taking more risks!
Get
Comfortable

10. EXERCISE 1
@queenofcode + @jeanneriley STAREAST 2019
Take 2 minutes to think about a time when you could have
taken a risk, but didn’t (for example, wanted to ask a
question but didn’t)
Write a reason as to why you think you didn’t take the risk –
what did you think was going to happen?
Looking back, what do you think would have been the most
likely outcome? Best case? Worst case?
Share with your neighbor!

11. RISK
THERMOMETER
@queenofcode + @jeanneriley STAREAST 2019
0: Nothing bad could ever happen
10: I get fired
8: The company loses a lot of
money
2: A peer thinks badly of me in the
moment
6: My manager thinks badly of me
4: My current task goes badly
Which are ‘real’ vs.
‘perceived’ impacts?
“Do one thing every day that scares you.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt

12. EXERCISE 2
@queenofcode + @jeanneriley STAREAST 2019
Rate your previous situation on the scale
from 0-10
What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken in your
career and SUCCEEDED at – what number
was it? What was the impact?
What’s the biggest risk you’ve experienced
in your career and FAILED at – what number
was it? What was the impact?

13. REWARD SPECTRUM
@queenofcode + @jeanneriley STAREAST 2019
0: Nothing
10: I get promoted
8: I get a raise
2: Recognition from a
peer
4: Recognition from my manager
6: I get assigned a choice project
“If it’s a good idea, go ahead and do it. It’s much easier to
apologize than it is to get permission.”
— Rear Admiral Grace
Hopper

14. EXERCISE 3
Examples of negative self-talk:
Dwelling on problems instead of solutions
Second-guessing a decision
Personalizing setbacks or failures
Excessive ruminating
@queenofcode + @jeanneriley STAREAST 2019
Why did I
make
that
decision?What if I
look
stupid?
I’m not
good
enough
What if I
fail?
Think about a risk you did NOT take– why did you
talk yourself out of it? How can you confront your fears?

15. DECISION MATRIX
@queenofcode + @jeanneriley STAREAST 2019
Low Risk,
High Reward
High Risk,
High Reward
High Risk,
Low Reward
Low Risk,
Low Reward
“Security is mostly a superstition. Life is either a
daring adventure or nothing.”
— Helen Keller
Launching a startup
with your own
money
Shipping untested
code to meet a
deadline
Driving for ‘perfection’
when 80% is good
enough
Accepting a
promotion you are
qualified for

16. EXERCISE 4
@queenofcode + @jeanneriley STAREAST 2019
Make a list of your top 5
TRIUMPHS!
Which quadrant in the risk/reward
matrix did they fall into?
Share your topmost triumph with
the group.

17. WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?
@queenofcode + @jeanneriley STAREAST 2019
Buddies
Sponsors
Mentors
“Anything that is successful is a series of
mistakes.”
— Billie Armstrong

18. KEY TAKEAWAYS
@queenofcode + @jeanneriley STAREAST 2019
Find your tribe
of trusted
people to help
you judge risks
01
Identify 'safe'
risky
opportunities -
like asking
questions in a
big meeting
02
Challenge the
negative
thinking
associated with
failure and
reframe as
positive growth
opportunities
03
Learn when to
trust your gut
and when to
override your
instincts
04

19. hub.techwell.com
Join me on the
TechWell Hub
Questions?
#stareast_chat
@queenofcode +
@jeanneriley