It Wasn’t Imposter Syndrome

A couple of weeks ago, someone asked me, “Do you feel any imposter syndrome since taking on this new job?”

The question caught me off guard because…I don’t.

That surprised me more than anyone.

For over 14 years, I built a successful career in banking. I led teams, managed projects, earned promotions, and built a reputation across multiple financial institutions in Lancaster County. From the outside, it probably looked like I had it all figured out.

On the inside, I constantly questioned whether I belonged. I second-guessed myself, worked longer hours than I needed to, and felt like I always had something to prove. I was an overachiever. I stayed late. I volunteered for the hard projects. Sometimes I punched well above my weight class because I thought if I worked hard enough, maybe I’d finally feel like I deserved to be there.

Looking back, I don’t think it was imposter syndrome at all.

Throughout my banking career, I found ways to weave community into every role I had. Whether it was volunteering, serving on a nonprofit board and committees, mentoring entrepreneurs, or representing my employer at community events, those were the moments I felt most like myself. Those weren’t obligations; they were the parts of my job that gave me energy.

At the time, though, I had different priorities. I was raising two boys, making sure there was food on the table and a roof over our heads. Stability mattered more than purpose. Like so many people, I chose the career that could provide for my family.

Now, for the first time, I get to choose a career because it’s where my heart is.

When I accepted the role of CEO at ASSETS, many people in the banking world were surprised. My career path seemed clear. I had built credibility, relationships, and momentum. Walking away from that didn’t make sense to everyone.

But it made perfect sense to me.

One experience helped me realize why and pushed me on this path.

During Leadership Lancaster’s Health & Human Services Day (shout out to the Best Class Ever, 2025 alumni!), our group was given the challenge of helping a fictional family navigate the resources they needed. What struck me most wasn’t the exercise itself. It was how often we were redirected from one nonprofit to another, sometimes believing we had found the right answer only to discover we hadn’t.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the real families living that experience.

What if that parent only had one day off work? What if they had to arrange childcare just to spend the day searching for help? What if they gave up after being sent from organization to organization?

That exercise changed the way I saw our community.

It made me ask myself: What role do I play in making this easier? How can I help build a system that works better? How can I help someone break the cycle of poverty instead of simply pointing them to the next resource?

Those questions stayed with me.

Today, through entrepreneurship and small business development, I have the opportunity to be part of that answer. I get to work alongside people who are creating opportunities not just for themselves, but for their families and their communities.

So when people ask if I feel imposter syndrome as a nonprofit CEO, my answer is no.

Because I’ve realized it was never imposter syndrome.

It was the feeling of trying to fit into a version of success that wasn’t fully mine.

For 14 years, I wasn’t doing the work that reflected who I was at my core.

Now I am.

And there’s a quiet confidence that comes from finally aligning your work with your why.

That is exactly why I believe so deeply in the work we do at ASSETS. We don’t just help people start businesses; we help people create opportunities for themselves, their families, and our community. Through entrepreneurship training, access to capital, and one-on-one coaching, we walk alongside entrepreneurs who have the talent and determination to succeed but may not have had the same access to resources. One of my favorite examples is our Idea Incubator Cohort, where aspiring entrepreneurs spend weeks refining their business concepts, testing their ideas, and building the confidence to take the next step. Their journey leads to our Great Social Enterprise Pitch on September 10th, where five finalists present their businesses and compete for funding to help turn their vision into reality.

Watching people discover what they’re capable of is a powerful reminder that changing a community doesn’t always begin with big institutions; it often starts with one person, one idea, and someone willing to believe in them.