Overcoming Impostor Syndrome: My Journey to Speaking at Norway VMUG

As I sit here, reflecting on my recent experience speaking at Norway VMUG, I can’t help but think about the journey that led me here. It’s a journey that involves overcoming impostor syndrome, embracing my uniqueness, and finding my voice in a community that I hold dear.

I’ve been a member of VMUG for years now, and I’ve always looked up to the people organizing it. So when I was asked to hold a short presentation in November, I was both honored and terrified. The nerves started to set in, and I found myself questioning my abilities and wondering if I was good enough. Impostor syndrome was doing a number on me, but I was determined to push through it.

I’ve always secretly wanted to speak at VMUG, and now was my chance. The thought of speaking in front of a lot of people I’ve never seen before, both physically in Oslo and streamed to two other cities in Norway, was daunting, but I was adamant that I would make it work.

I started by taking notes and pictures during my first trip to VMware Explore. I wanted my presentation to be a mix of tips, experiences, and humor, so I constantly thought about what could be funny or interesting to talk about. My colleagues in Proact and VMUG leaders gave me a quick pep talk, and I was convinced that I was going to have a great presentation.

As I worked on my presentation, I found myself constantly thinking about how I could make it unique and relatable to the audience. I wanted to share my experiences and tips in a way that would inspire and empower others. I also wrote a blog post about the subject, which helped me solidify my thoughts and prepare for the presentation.

The day of the event arrived, and we started off with some pizza and mingling. I met some people I’d never met before, and we talked a lot about shared experiences and what we currently work on. That’s in my opinion one of the best things about VMUG meetings – the chance to meet likeminded people that work with different parts of the same product.

Amanda Blevins, an amazingly talented speaker, talked about Multi-Cloud Services. My brilliant co-workers Rudi Martinsen and Christian Mohn talked about news from VMware Explore. And then it was my turn. I’m not going to lie; I was very nervous, but I remember how sweet everyone was before and after I spoke.

VMUG really is an including community, and if you ever get asked to speak, you should definitely do it. It might be daunting at first, but it’s also very rewarding. As I look back on my journey, I realize that the key to overcoming impostor syndrome was embracing my uniqueness and finding my voice in a community that values diversity and inclusivity.

I hope to be asked to present again in the future, and in the meantime, I’ll continue being an active member of the community and contributing what I can – especially cheering on new speakers. If you ever feel like you don’t belong or that impostor syndrome is holding you back, remember that you are not alone, and there is a whole community waiting to embrace you for who you are.