Joyce Roché rose from humble circumstances to earn an Ivy League MBA and become the first female African-American vice president of Avon, president of a leading hair care company, and CEO of the national nonprofit Girls Inc. But despite these accomplishments, she felt like a fraud. She worked more and more, had less and less of a personal life, and was never able to enjoy her success.
In this deeply personal memoir, Roché shares her lifelong struggle with what she now recognizes as “the impostor syndrome,” a condition that plagues successful people in all walks of life. Based on her own experiences and those of top executives from organizations such as Eileen Fisher, Citigroup, BET, Pepsi, and Tupperware, she offers practical advice and valuable coping strategies that can help you embrace your own worth and live a life of joy, zest, and fulfillment.Foreword by Edward E. Whitacre, Jr. Preface Are You an Impostor? (Take the Test) Chapter 1: Breaking the Silence Chapter 2: It’s Not What You Wear Chapter 3: What If You Have No Silver Spoon Chapter 4: Gender Matters Chapter 5: What Color Is Your Parachute? Chapter 6: But You Are So Young Chapter 7: Climbing the Ladder Chapter 8: What If the Naysayers Are Right? Chapter 9: The Weight of the World Chapter 10: What Did You Do to Get Here? Chapter 11: Listen to Your Heart Chapter 12: Joy, Zest, and Power Afterword: Strategies for Confronting the Impostor Syndrome and Embracing Success Acknowledgments Index About the Authors“The impostor syndrome is all too common among highly successful people—and until now a closely guarded secret! Joyce Roché’s insights will make success at each stage of our life and career a more joyful experience for those of us—such as me—who have felt this insecurity.” —Rick Goings, Chairman and CEO, Tuppel.