Embracing the Imposter

Jeany Ngo isn’t your typical designer. She didn’t go to design school and, as someone with aphantasia, she can’t visualize images in her mind. Despite her successes as an Experience Designer at Airbnb and other tech startups, these differences have often left her feeling like an imposter. But the truth is, everyone goes through imposter syndrome. The trick is learning not to quit. In her presentation, Ngo will discuss how to deal with these nearly universal, but rarely discussed, insecurities. She’ll also talk about the importance of taking risks, the upside of failure, and how managers can create trusting and safe environments, where employees can learn, grow, and ultimately get over the imposter syndrome.