Why do so many capable, experienced people still feel like they don’t belong?

And what does it take to move beyond that — not in theory, but in real life?

In this episode of Catch The Upswing, Jessica Espinoza speaks with Marijn Wiersma — impact strategist, corporate anthropologist and co-author of SOS: A Navigation Guide for Women at Work — about confidence, identity, and navigating workplaces and systems that weren’t designed with everyone in mind.

From returning to work with a six-week-old baby to leading high-level projects early in her career, Marijn reflects on the moments that shaped her voice, her leadership, and her perspective on what it really means to belong.

This is a conversation about self-doubt, courage, and learning to step into your own light — even when you’re not sure you’re ready.

🎙️ In this episode, we explore:

• Why even highly capable people feel like impostors
• The moment you stop asking “Why me?” — and start asking “Why not me?”
• How perfectionism and guilt shape the way many women work
• The difference between grit and wellbeing
• Why confidence is not something you wait for — but something you build
• What it really means to “have it all” — and why that idea can be misleading
• Practical ways to navigate self-doubt, leadership, and career decisions

🔗 Check out Marijn’s work:

SOS: A Navigation Guide for Women at Work: https://soswomenatwork.org/ (also available on Amazon and bookstores worldwide)

Marijn Wiersma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marijnwiersma/

🔗 Additional resources:

Care Economy Knowledge Hub (Kore Global): https://www.the-care-economy-knowledge-hub.org/⏱️

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

02:49 Episode Starts: Meet Marijn Wiersma

07:12 Returning to Work With a 6-Week-Old Baby

09:24 The Moment She Realized Her Voice Mattered

15:16 Why Women Struggle With Guilt and Perfectionism

19:26 The Fear of Not Being Good Enough

24:09 The Reframe That Changes Imposter Syndrome

30:37 “Why Not Me?”

33:16 Vulnerability, Confidence, and Showing Up

38:24 “If the Mold Is Male, You Never Fully Fit In”

40:45 The Habits That Keep Her Grounded

44:47 The Reality of Balancing Career and Family

48:34 Letting Go of “Having It All”

52:53 Practical Advice for Work and Life

54:44 “Don’t Confuse Grit With Wellbeing”

56:52 Rapid Fire Round

58:45 SOS: A Navigation Guide for Women at Work

📺 Watch more episodes:

Catch The Upswing is a business podcast exploring how people build, lead, and navigate complexity in a rapidly changing world.

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🎥 B-roll credits: Some of the visual material used in the trailer of this episode is courtesy of 2X Global. Original footage supplied by C+A Media, commissioned by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

#Leadership #WomenInBusiness #ImposterSyndrome #CareerGrowth #Mindset #GenderEquality #FutureOfWork #CatchTheUpswing