Imposter syndrome doesn't signal weakness-it signals you're exactly where you should be. That's the counterintuitive message from Scott Galloway, a NYU marketing professor and serial entrepreneur who has built and sold multiple companies for millions of dollars. In a recent episode of his podcast, The Prof G Pod, Galloway reframed one of professional life's most common anxieties as evidence of ambition, not inadequacy.
At some point, nearly every woman has wished they had an older woman in their life whom they could ask their most burning questions. And while many of us have older sisters, mothers, or friends we could ask, it can often be awkward to ask them deeply personal questions... That's why I decided to open up the platform for women who are 25 and younger to ask women over 50 anything they want to know!
I landed a job at Goldman Sachs right out of college thanks to my résumé. My revamped résumé focused more on my mission as a person rather than my achievements. I think the best résumés and cover letters focus on a person's "why." More than a decade later, I've reviewed hundreds of résumés through my work as founder of Venture for Canada, a nonprofit that supports young entrepreneurs. The best résumés are not perfect. They are personal, show judgment, energy, and intent.
In June, after seven and a half years at Microsoft, I became a principal security engineer. When people ask what I do, I tell them, 'I fight threat actors.' I respond to threats like credit card fraud or phishing scams. As thousands of people get phishing links in their inbox every day, I work at scale, taking the scams down. Whenever something critical goes down, I run the incident response. I make sure the right people are in the room, all the processes are in place, and the fire is put out so the systems can get back online.
The marketing and communications field is evolving rapidly, shaped by emerging technologies, shifting consumer behaviors and new expectations for authenticity and impact. For professionals just entering the industry, the opportunities are vast-but so are the challenges. Building a successful career requires not only technical skills, but also adaptability, creativity and a commitment to continuous learning. To help the next generation chart their paths with confidence, Forbes Communications Council members share their top advice for those beginning their journey in the industry.
You will have to make very practical (sometimes very cold) decisions about what you want from life and what you're willing to give up. And if you don't make them, then life will make them for you.
"A layoff can feel so personal but it's not a reflection of your value or what you contributed. Especially in the U.S., the work we do is so tied to our identity," said Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, a financial therapist.
