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Blog
SharpMinds founder Tracy Sharp's latest thoughts on happiness, confidence and navigating life setbacks.


Overcoming Self-Doubt: Understanding Imposter Syndrome and Its Many Forms
Photo by Gabrielle Wright on Unsplash I was 39 when my imposter syndrome reached its peak. I’d applied and interviewed for a job I...
5 min read
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3 Months To Rebuild A Life
I held the phone to my ear whilst Sarah tried to help me regulate my breathing. I was sobbing in gasps, utterly overwhelmed at the task...
11 min read
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Setting Up Women In Stem for Success: China Business Trips
Hong Kong Big Buddha 2015 A couple of weeks ago, I received a message in my LinkedIn inbox from a colleague from my time living and...
5 min read
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Is It Self Doubt—or Is It Time to Leave?
Photo by charlesdeluvio on Unsplash In 2021 I jacked it all in. Walked away from a 15+ year career in engineering. Just like that. Done....
3 min read
49


Why Supporting Women in STEM Still Matters
Photo by Felix Mittermeier on Unsplash International Women’s Day 2025 came and went, and I didn’t post about it on LinkedIn.I was too...
4 min read
28


Leadership Skills That Stick - What the Best (and Worst) Bosses Teach Us
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash A former client had just gotten a promotion and it was the first time they would be leading a...
3 min read
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Authenticity as a Leader: What It Means and Why It Feels So Hard
Photo by Daniele Franchi on Unsplash I think about authenticity as a leader all the time. It absolutely breaks my heart to see how hard...
3 min read
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Growth Mindset Activities for Self-Critics: What Actually Helped Me Change
Photo by Suzanne D. Williams on Unsplash I’ve always struggled at being nice to myself. To everyone else? No problem. But when...
3 min read
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Mentor Definition vs Coach: Which One Do You Need Right Now?
Photo by Nadir sYzYgY on Unsplash I recently wrapped up another cycle of the Kerning the Gap mentoring program, where I’d been...
3 min read
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What Is Reflective Practice—Turning Uncertainty Into Action
Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash I’d been working with a female founder for a few months. At the beginning of our sessions, we’d...
4 min read
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How to Have Difficult Conversations at Work (Without the Stress)
Photo by Maxime Gilbert on Unsplash Difficult conversations are inevitable in any career. Whether it’s pushing back on unrealistic...
3 min read
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From Engineer to Manager: Is Leadership the Right Career Path for You?
Photo by Burst on Unsplash If you work in a technical field, you've probably faced the question at some point: should you move into...
4 min read
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5 Ways to Build Self Confidence in a Male-Dominated Industry
Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash Working in a male-dominated field like engineering or design can be both rewarding and challenging and I...
3 min read
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Empowering Women Through Allyship: A Guide for Good Leaders
Photo by Edgar Chaparro on Unsplash Allyship has been a cornerstone of my journey. It’s not an overstatement to say that I would not be...
3 min read
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Proven Strategies for Women in STEM to Get Promoted
Photo by Raquel Moss on Unsplash I’m getting a bit tired of hearing stories of women in STEM being passed over for promotion — or...
3 min read
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Bringing Clarity and Energy to Leadership: Key Strategies for Empowering Teams
Photo by Joshua Hibbert on Unsplash A recent restructuring left me questioning my place. The uncertainty made me wonder if I should...
3 min read
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"Do I Just Really Suck at My Job?"
Photo by Igor Omilaev on Unsplash We’ve all been there—feeling like maybe we’re just not good enough at work. This thought can creep in...
3 min read
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Work-life Balance: Can You Have a Successful Career and a Family?
Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash “Do you have kids?” “No.” “Well… I’d still like your opinion on this… Is it possible to have a...
3 min read
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How to Make Your Resume Stand Out: Top CV Tips
Photo by Bram Naus on Unsplash Over the past few months, I’ve had mentoring conversations with professionals navigating career...
3 min read
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Help! I’ve Been Made Redundant - What Now?
Photo by Fernando Venzano on Unsplash I’ve been seeing this call for help far too often over the last couple of years, and honestly, it...
3 min read
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Stuck in a rut? Try this....
It was a hot, sunny day in Shenzhen, 2020. I’d gone to a pool with my friend Laura, who was reading Designing Your Life by Dave Evans...
3 min read
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Stuck In A Rut? Start here....
It's almost 3 years since I lost my job. As cliched as it sounds, it's honestly been the best thing to ever happen to me but it has...
4 min read
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Ah hello Imposter Syndrome, who let you in?!
It's best I begin with saying I'm not an expert in imposter syndrome. I don't have a degree in it or a piece of paper that means I would...
4 min read
132


Diversity in Engineering & Design: What can we do for 2023?
"As a smart, capable woman you have to accept that you will be hated." "Well women never apply for the jobs in the first place so what...
7 min read
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