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SharpMinds founder Tracy Sharp's latest thoughts on supporting women in STEM, overcoming self doubt and navigating life setbacks.


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. I was utterly fed up. Burnt out to a crisp. Unfulfilled. And I had no idea—zero inspiration—what might come next. So I went down a completely different path: retraining, relaunch, repair. I don’t regret it. But I won’t sugarcoat it either. It’s been a really, REALLY difficult road to walk. In the last couple of years, I’ve spoken to a numbe
3 min read


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 absolutely did not believe I was qualified for — and… amazingly… I got it. My brain didn’t celebrate. It panicked. It convinced me I didn’t know what I was doing. That I’d bluffed my way in. That sooner or later, everyone would realise I didn’t belong. There was a constant, low-level sense that whatever I did, it just wasn’t enough. A project I
5 min read


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


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 would certainly know! This year celebrates 21 years in the field and over time, i've collected some real nuggets to give you a boost when facing tough times. I learned that while talent and hard work are essential, confidence is often the key to success. If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt or felt like you had to prove yourself more than
3 min read


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
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