I have imposter syndrome, and I have it badly.
Sometimes it’s just a dull hum in the background, sometimes it feels like my brain is shouting at me, and sometimes I can hear the actual words leaving my mouth. I was speaking to a new joiner at work the other day, who said to me "it's great to meet such a geo expert" - to which I immediately - and reflexively - replied "I'm not."
Every day I am stuck thinking "I shouldn't be here," "I don't deserve this" or "someone will find me out, any day now." There is always a small part of my brain, gnawing away at any success I have, convincing me that I didn't earn it.
And if I have imposter syndrome badly, then geospatial has it worse.
But why is that, and what can we do to address it? Let's get into it.
What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is that persistent, unsettling feeling that your accomplishments aren’t real, that you’re only where you are by luck or circumstance, and at any moment, someone will see through the reality. Imposter syndrome is often not tied to actual performance, but your perception of performance - and that you didn't earn it.
For me, this manifests in a few ways. For instance, when I get offered the opportunity to speak at an event, I often wonder if it's just because I'm a woman in a male-dominated field. I'm crap at advocating for myself (ironic, as my job title is "Geospatial Advocate"), and have often shied away from asking for a promotion or pay rise because I don't think I'm "worth it."
There are a few factors which fuel imposter syndrome:
Perfectionism: setting unrealistically high standards and seeing small mistakes as massive errors. Have you ever been told that you've made an amazing map, but there are a few small labelling errors? What impacted your feelings more - the word "amazing," or "errors?"
Comparison with others: seeing others’ successes without knowing their struggles makes it easy to feel like you're falling short. Social media is particularly to blame here.
New challenges or roles: imposter syndrome is often triggered when you're learning something new, as it can feel like you're back to square 1.
Cultural and social expectations: minority groups or those underrepresented in their field can often feel extra pressure to prove themselves. As a woman in a male-dominated field, I can sometimes feel myself trying to prove extra hard that I've earned my place. Also I'm 5"3 and I swear I just sometimes look like the work experience kid, so I have to try extra hard to prove that I am, in fact, a grown up.
Upbringing: growing up in an environment where success was either idolized or downplayed can lead to a belief that your achievements are never fully earned. The school I went to had a 40% GCSE pass rate (the exams 16 year olds take in the UK) and I definitely tried to underplay my academic achievements to avoid bullying. As an adult, that doesn't really fly - but I always feel myself trying to underplay the things I do, then wondering why I don't get results.
So why does this affect geo professionals in particular?
Why Is Imposter Syndrome So Bad in Geo?
1. Constantly Moving Technology
Geospatial tools evolve so quickly it’s hard to keep up. I’ve barely mastered one tool before a newer, better version comes along, and suddenly I feel like I’m behind. It can make me question whether I even belong in the field. When you're constantly playing catch-up, it's easy to feel like you're not good enough, even when you're right on track.
2. Broad Field, Niche Specialisms
Geospatial is vast. You can be a technician, analyst, consultant, data engineer, data manager, data scientist, developer, remote sensing specialist... all of who are sort of tied together under this "geo" umbrella, but are actually using vastly different tech. Couple that with the fact that geospatial isn't really an industry - it's more a discipline that ties together industries - so the tools that are being used in transport may be different to telecoms, which may be different to insurance... etc etc etc
No one can master all of the tech in geospatial, yet the expectation to can feel overwhelming. This isn't helped by geo job adverts which seem to expect you to have mastered every technology remotely related to location data... oh and maybe Adobe Creative Cloud and Salesforce too.
3. Comparing Yourself to the "Geniuses" Around You
I often look at geo thought leaders and think, How do they know all of this? It’s easy to forget that you’re only seeing their highlight reel. But even though I know this rationally, it’s still hard not to feel like I’m not measuring up.
Feeling familiar?
How to Combat Imposter Syndrome in Geo
So, what can we do about this? Here are my totally insubstantiated and unqualified ideas.
1. Embrace change
One of the reasons you probably got into geo was that you love working with cutting edge tech - and by it's very nature, cutting edge tech changes. That means it's something you need to find a way to embrace. Easier said than done, right?
One of the ways I try to combat this is reserving my final working hour of every week - Friday 5-6pm - so focus on trying out something new and cool with the CARTO platform (this is where I work btw!). I call this mappy hour, and it's usually accompanied by max-volume Taylor Swift and maybe a little drinko. It's a great way to round off the week and I feel like it helps keeping me up to date.
2. Celebrate Small Wins
In geo, projects can be enormous and complex, and often you won't see the benefits from them for months or even years after they're complete. Also, as "data people" we're often quite removed from the tangible benefits of our work, and may not even hear that they exist. For example, I might write an ebook for CARTO that someone downloads, and then a year later decides to purchase a platform license - and I might never know.
It’s easy to focus on what’s left to do or what could have been done better, but I’ve started forcing myself to stop and recognize the things I have done well, when they happen.
And you know what? If you're feeling this way, chances are others are too. It's so much easier to celebrate other people's wins, so make sure you are clapping your colleagues on the back at every opportunity.
3. Know what you don't know
The human brain can store an estimated 2.5 petabytes of information - that's massive! But most of that space is taken up with useful information that helps us function as humans - e.g. "drink water to survive" - as well as slightly less useful information, such as vivid memories of saying "you too" to the waiter who wished you a nice meal 5 years ago, or the lyrics to All too well (10 minute version, of course).
That doesn't leave much space to store expert knowledge of all of the geospatial platforms that have ever existed. So don't try.
Knowing what you don't know is key to knowing when to ask for help and say no. For me, my biggest professional blind spots are web development, Python and workwear appropriate clothing. And that's ok (except maybe the clothing part) - because if I had to, I could learn or phone a friend, which brings us neatly on to...
4. Lean on the community
The geospatial community is massive but incredibly supportive. I’ve found that reaching out, asking questions, and collaborating with others helps ease my anxiety. Every time I have an open conversation about imposter syndrome (which is a LOT) I feel a bit better about mine. Even writing this post has made me feel so much better, so thank you for reading this and indulging me with this therapy.
5. We're all learning
Remember what I said earlier about what causes imposter syndrome in geospatial - chiefly how broad the field is and how quickly technology changes? Well, those things affect all of us. Even the influencers with 100k on LinkedIn and the people delivering the keynote at the conference - they're in the exact same boat. Geospatial is an industry filled with constant learners, and there's no shame in that.
Conclusion
Imposter syndrome can be super painful, but it doesn’t have to define your experience in the geospatial world. I’m still learning how to manage it, and some days are better than others, but I’ve found that being open about my struggles, celebrating the little wins, and staying curious helps keep those nagging doubts at bay.
Geo is a field of innovators and learners. If you feel like an imposter, remember—you’re not alone, and you’re exactly where you need to be. You've got this!
Please also remember that talking about mental health is nothing to be ashamed of, and if you feel like you need support you should seek the health of a mental health professional. See below for some resources:
British Medical Association: https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/your-wellbeing/insight-and-advice/first-times-in-medicine/imposter-syndrome