In this talk, Dr. Nellie Tran challenges one of the most widely accepted narratives about confidence. Instead of asking individuals to “fake it till they make it,” she reveals how schools and workplaces reward the performance of confidence over the development of real skill. This disconnect leaves many people, especially those navigating bias and exclusion, questioning their worth rather than questioning the system. Drawing from research and lived experience, Dr. Tran shows how impostor feelings are shaped by inequitable environments, unspoken rules, and who gets recognized as “competent.” She introduces a powerful reframe. You are not an impostor. You are an infiltrator, entering spaces that were never designed with you in mind. This talk invites a shift from self-doubt to self-trust, from performance to practice, and from individual blame to collective awareness. You are not the problem. You are the change.

We, teachers, coaches, counselors, and mentors, have overused and often misused concept of imposter syndrome and imposter phenomenon! In this training, I share the ethical use of these labels and introduce the Infiltrator Experience to more aptly explain the experiences of marginalized people, especially in toxic workplaces.

I am honored to have been invited by the White house Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders to facilitate a panel conversation on Asian American hate, violence, microaggressions, and mental health for the first ever White House Mental Health Summit on AANHPI.

I received the Charles and Shirley Thomas Award from the APA’s Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race. The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate significant contributions to the education and training of students of color as well as a professional presence within ethnic minority communities.

New publication on reframing the Imposter Syndrome / Imposter Phenomenon to the more accurate “Infiltrator Experience”