How many times have you not hit publish, not applied, or not shared your achievements because of fear of what others might think? In this episode, I’m diving into the concept of Tall Poppy Syndrome - a cultural tendency to cut down those who stand out - and how it feeds into FOPO, the fear of other people’s opinions.

After being named one of the National Retail Federation’s 2026 Top Retail Voices, I found myself wrestling with the same insecurities so many of us face: “Will people think I’m full of myself if I share this?” This episode is a candid, honest look at why it’s so hard to own our success, and why we need to do it anyway. Whether it’s hitting publish on your next blog post, launching your podcast, or applying for that award, I’m here to remind you: apply for the damn award!

This episode is sponsored by Mirakl Ads

Timeline

[00:00] – Reflecting on imposter syndrome after being named a National Retail Federation 2026 Top Retail Voice.

[01:00] – Introducing Tall Poppy Syndrome and how it affects ambitious professionals.

[02:15] – Understanding FOPO: the fear of other people’s opinions.

[03:05] – Why applying for awards feels uncomfortable—and how to reframe it.

[04:30] – My five practical steps for getting past FOPO and putting yourself out there:

[06:00] – Access my Notion database of retail media industry awards to help plan your 2026 goals.

[06:30] – Closing reflections and what’s coming next on the podcast.

Links & Resources

• Check out the full list of 2026 Retail Voices by NRF honorees
• I have compiled a living database of awards relevant to the retail media industry, with dates, rules, and how to apply. You can access it here.
  The database is open-source: if you work for a company that hosts industry awards which are relevant for people & companies in the retail media & ecommerce space, please feel free to add your award (or update any out-of-date info I have here!)
• Subscribe to Retail Media Breakfast Club's daily newsletter
• Follow Kiri on LinkedIn