Advice wanted: I’m the only female on my product team. Coworkers objectively have more experience than I do. They are all really nice but I am timid in meetings because of lack of experience and imposter syndrome. Tips on how to speak up more?

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Imposter syndrome never goes away! I’ve been in product for several years and still feel it creep in. Ask questions!! I’ve found over the course of my career that many times what you think of as a “stupid question” is actually something the SMEs haven’t even thought of themselves!! Plus these tech guys loveeee “teaching us” so I think they actually enjoy it and it ends up being a good relationship builder with you team. Lean into it:) I get so much positive feedback about my “curiosity” but it’s really just me trying to understand what’s going on and WHY we’re doing something a certain way.

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Connect with other women on other teams! Get your support and mentorship from those connections and it’ll empower you in your own role

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I’m hoping you have a good supportive environment! If able, steer them toward helpful agendas and advance materials - that will enable you to prepare and feel more confident. And when you can, take the initiative to call your own meetings, so you can set the agendas.

I’m the same and have been around for a little while. Try to force yourself to say at least one thing during a meeting, and speak earlier in the meeting rather than later. Even if you don’t have the experience you may have insights that are just as valuable and worthy to contribute to the conversation but people won’t know unless you vocalize them.

Going through the same thing and these responses are helpful. Thanks!

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