Member since August 2026
Sue Maitland, PCC, is an engaging speaker, professional coach, course creator and community leader who helps people quiet their inner critic, build confidence and create meaningful connections with others.
Drawing on more than 20 years in the fast-paced world of IT consulting, where her roles included managing large-scale projects, executive sales, recruiting and resource management, Sue brings both professional experience and personal insight to her talks. Throughout much of her successful corporate career, she experienced imposter syndrome without recognizing the impact it was having on her confidence, decisions and wellbeing.
Today, Sue speaks openly about her experiences with imposter syndrome and her own journey from someone who once dreaded networking to becoming a skilled networker and connector. By candidly sharing her own stories, she creates an environment where audiences feel comfortable reflecting on their own experiences.
Known for her authenticity, warmth and practical approach, Sue goes beyond simply sharing information. Her talks encourage self-reflection, provide practical strategies and inspire people to take positive action in their work and lives.
Sue has delivered talks and workshops to corporate, professional and community audiences, both virtually and in person.
I’m passionate about shining a light on imposter syndrome because I know firsthand how profoundly it can affect capable, successful people - often without anyone around them realizing it.
For more than 20 years, I experienced imposter feelings during a successful corporate career without understanding what was happening or recognizing the impact they were having on me. Today, through extensive research and my work with coaching clients and workshop participants, I see just how widespread these experiences are and how much potential can remain untapped as a result.
In our workplaces, talented people may hold back from speaking up or pursuing opportunities, spend excessive time perfecting work that is already “good enough,” hesitate to ask for help, or overcommit themselves in an effort to prove their worth, contributing to stress and potential burnout.
My mission is to bring imposter syndrome out into the open. Through my talks, I want people to understand what it is, recognize how it may be affecting them or those they lead, and discover that there are practical ways to quiet their inner critic and move forward with greater confidence.
Ultimately, I want more people to stop allowing self-doubt to determine how fully they share their talents, ideas and potential with the world.
I spent more than 20 years building a successful career in IT and much of that time quietly wondering when someone would discover I didn’t really belong there.
I didn’t have a computer science degree. My entry into technology came through a government-sponsored program designed to encourage more women into the industry. Even applying took courage. My then-husband told me not to bother because I was “totally illogical” and would never pass the aptitude test.
Thankfully, I didn’t listen.
I pushed through my fear, took the test, passed it and went on to build a successful career in technology. I managed large-scale projects, recruited and managed people and eventually moved into executive sales.
Along the way, I received recognition and awards for my work. You might think that would have convinced me I deserved to be there. It didn’t. I found ways to discount the evidence of my own success, and a part of me continued to wonder whether I had simply fooled people into believing I was more capable than I really was.
On the outside, I looked successful and confident. On the inside, I was still waiting to be “found out.”
Working in a predominantly male environment, I developed a tough professional persona that helped me fit in and succeed. But I rarely stopped to question the enormous gap between the evidence of my accomplishments and what I believed about myself.
It wasn’t until years after leaving the technology industry that I began to understand what had been happening. I discovered the imposter phenomenon and suddenly so much of my experience made sense.
That realization also left me with an important question: How different might my experience have been if I had understood this while I was living it?
That question is one of the reasons I speak so passionately about imposter syndrome today.
I want capable people who are privately questioning themselves to recognize what may be happening much sooner than I did. And I want the leaders who manage them to understand that the person who appears successful on the outside may be fighting a very different battle on the inside.
If sharing my story helps someone recognize their own imposter feelings, question the voice telling them they don’t belong, and begin acknowledging the evidence of what they are truly capable of, then an experience that held me back for many years can now be used to help someone else move forward.
For years, I had a successful career in IT, but eventually found myself in a sales executive role that no longer inspired me. Somewhere in the back of my mind was the idea that one day I might train to become a professional coach. The problem was, “one day” kept getting pushed further into the future.
Then two significant events collided.
My dad, who lived nearby, was diagnosed with a terminal lung disease. I wanted to stay close to home so I could support him and my mum through what I knew would be a difficult time. At almost exactly the same time, my company asked me to take on a new regional sales role that would involve extensive travel throughout Western Canada.
It was the last thing I wanted at that point in my life.
Those circumstances forced me to stop and seriously consider what I wanted my next chapter to look like. Instead of continuing down a career path that no longer felt right, I made the conscious decision to take the leap and train as a professional coach.
That decision changed the direction of my life.
I began by helping people navigate life and career transitions through one-on-one coaching. As I built my practice, I also had to master something I had previously found extremely uncomfortable - networking. Over time, something I once dreaded became something I genuinely enjoyed, and today connecting people and teaching others how to build meaningful professional and personal networks is an important part of my work.
My work also led me back to something much more personal: imposter syndrome. I began recognizing patterns in my coaching clients that I eventually realized had been present throughout more than 20 years of my own successful corporate career. Despite my accomplishments, I had frequently questioned whether I was really good enough and worried that one day I might be “found out.”
Understanding the imposter phenomenon helped me make sense of experiences I had never previously had a name for and I became passionate about helping others recognize it much sooner than I did.
Today, alongside my coaching, I deliver talks and workshops on networking, confidence and imposter syndrome. Speaking allows me to take what I’ve learned through my own experiences, research and work with clients and share it with many more people.
My hope is that people leave my talks willing to question the voice that tells them they’re not good enough, recognize the strengths and accomplishments they may have been discounting, and have greater confidence to share their ideas, talents and potential with the world.
Have you ever achieved something significant only to wonder whether you really deserved it? Do you dismiss your accomplishments, compare yourself with others, second-guess your decisions or worry that someday people will discover you’re not as capable as they think you are?
You may be experiencing the imposter phenomenon - and you’re far from alone.
In this engaging and highly relatable talk, Sue Maitland draws on her own experience of living with imposter feelings throughout a successful career without recognizing what was happening. She helps participants understand what the imposter phenomenon is, recognize how it may be showing up in their own lives and discover practical ways to respond differently to the inner critic that tells them they’re not good enough.
Rather than simply learning about imposter syndrome, participants will be invited to reflect on their own experiences: the situations that trigger their self-doubt, the messages their inner critic gives them and the behaviours that follow.
They’ll leave with practical strategies for challenging those messages, acknowledging their accomplishments, reducing unhelpful comparison and perfectionism, and moving forward with greater confidence - even when their inner critic still has something to say.
This talk is relevant to a broad audience, as imposter feelings can affect people at every stage of their career and at every level of success - from those just starting out to highly accomplished professionals and recognized leaders. Anyone who has ever questioned whether they’re good enough, second-guessed their abilities or struggled to fully own their accomplishments will find something in this talk that resonates.
We all know that building a strong network is important. Yet for many people, the thought of walking into a room of strangers, introducing themselves or reaching out to someone they don’t know can feel uncomfortable - even terrifying.
Sue Maitland understands. She once hated networking and avoided it whenever she could. Today, she is known as a skilled networker and connector who brings people together and helps others discover a more natural and enjoyable way to build meaningful professional and personal relationships.
In this engaging and practical talk, Sue challenges the belief that networking is about self-promotion, collecting business cards or trying to impress people. Instead, she introduces a different approach:show up with curiosity, look for ways to be of service and focus on creating genuine human connection.
Participants will explore what may be holding them back from networking and learn how to reframe networking, so it feels more authentic and purposeful. They’ll discover practical strategies for setting networking goals, crafting a memorable 30-second introduction, approaching in-person and virtual networking with greater confidence, and turning new connections into meaningful relationships.
A strong network can open doors to career opportunities, increase visibility within an organization or industry, provide access to knowledge and resources, and create a valuable sense of connection and belonging.
Participants will leave seeing networking not as something they have to do, but as a skill they can develop - and perhaps even learn to enjoy.
This talk is relevant for a broad audience, as networking can feel uncomfortable or challenging for people at any stage of their career or life. It is particularly valuable for professionals who want to build stronger relationships, expand their network and become more confident making new connections.
It is especially well suited to conferences and professional events, where many attendees arrive not knowing other participants. The practical strategies shared in this talk can be put into action immediately, helping attendees connect more confidently and meaningfully with others throughout the event.
Organizations operating in today’s rapidly changing world need employees who are willing to innovate, collaborate, adapt to change and embrace emerging technologies such as AI. Yet capable, high-performing employees may privately question their abilities and fear being exposed as not as competent as others believe them to be.
These feelings, commonly associated with the imposter phenomenon, can show up in the workplace in ways leaders may not immediately recognize. Employees may hesitate to speak up or share ideas, avoid new opportunities, be reluctant to ask for help, compare themselves unfavourably with colleagues, or spend excessive time perfecting work that is already “good enough.” Over time, these patterns can affect employee wellbeing, collaboration, innovation, productivity, engagement and retention.
This engaging talk equips HR professionals and leaders to better recognize and understand the imposter phenomenon and its potential impact on individuals, teams and organizational performance. It also explores the important role psychological safety plays in creating an environment where employees feel able to ask questions, contribute ideas, experiment, learn from mistakes and acknowledge when they don’t know something - without fear of embarrassment or negative consequences.
Participants will leave able to:
1.Define the imposter phenomenon, distinguish it from a lack of competence or ordinary moments of self-doubt, and understand why even highly capable employees can experience it.
2.Recognize common ways imposter feelings can affect individuals, teams and organizations, including perfectionism, reluctance to contribute ideas or pursue opportunities, burnout, reduced engagement and challenges with talent retention.
3.Identify practical, evidence-informed strategies HR professionals and leaders can use to strengthen psychological safety, support employee confidence and create a workplace where more people feel able to contribute their full potential.
Addressing imposter syndrome isn’t simply about supporting employee wellbeing. By helping capable people spend less energy questioning themselves and more energy contributing, collaborating and innovating, organizations have the opportunity to unlock potential that may otherwise remain hidden.
I spent more than 20 years building a successful career in IT and much of that time quietly wondering when someone would discover I didn’t really belong there.
I didn’t have a computer science degree. My entry into technology came through a government-sponsored program designed to encourage more women into the industry. Even applying took courage. My then-husband told me not to bother because I was “totally illogical” and would never pass the aptitude test.
Thankfully, I didn’t listen.
I pushed through my fear, took the test, passed it and went on to build a successful career in technology. I managed large-scale projects, recruited and managed people and eventually moved into executive sales.
Along the way, I received recognition and awards for my work. You might think that would have convinced me I deserved to be there. It didn’t. I found ways to discount the evidence of my own success, and a part of me continued to wonder whether I had simply fooled people into believing I was more capable than I really was.
On the outside, I looked successful and confident. On the inside, I was still waiting to be “found out.”
Working in a predominantly male environment, I developed a tough professional persona that helped me fit in and succeed. But I rarely stopped to question the enormous gap between the evidence of my accomplishments and what I believed about myself.
It wasn’t until years after leaving the technology industry that I began to understand what had been happening. I discovered the imposter phenomenon and suddenly so much of my experience made sense.
That realization also left me with an important question: How different might my experience have been if I had understood this while I was living it?
That question is one of the reasons I speak so passionately about imposter syndrome today.
I want capable people who are privately questioning themselves to recognize what may be happening much sooner than I did. And I want the leaders who manage them to understand that the person who appears successful on the outside may be fighting a very different battle on the inside.
If sharing my story helps someone recognize their own imposter feelings, question the voice telling them they don’t belong, and begin acknowledging the evidence of what they are truly capable of, then an experience that held me back for many years can now be used to help someone else move forward.
For years, I had a successful career in IT, but eventually found myself in a sales executive role that no longer inspired me. Somewhere in the back of my mind was the idea that one day I might train to become a professional coach. The problem was, “one day” kept getting pushed further into the future.
Then two significant events collided.
My dad, who lived nearby, was diagnosed with a terminal lung disease. I wanted to stay close to home so I could support him and my mum through what I knew would be a difficult time. At almost exactly the same time, my company asked me to take on a new regional sales role that would involve extensive travel throughout Western Canada.
It was the last thing I wanted at that point in my life.
Those circumstances forced me to stop and seriously consider what I wanted my next chapter to look like. Instead of continuing down a career path that no longer felt right, I made the conscious decision to take the leap and train as a professional coach.
That decision changed the direction of my life.
I began by helping people navigate life and career transitions through one-on-one coaching. As I built my practice, I also had to master something I had previously found extremely uncomfortable - networking. Over time, something I once dreaded became something I genuinely enjoyed, and today connecting people and teaching others how to build meaningful professional and personal networks is an important part of my work.
My work also led me back to something much more personal: imposter syndrome. I began recognizing patterns in my coaching clients that I eventually realized had been present throughout more than 20 years of my own successful corporate career. Despite my accomplishments, I had frequently questioned whether I was really good enough and worried that one day I might be “found out.”
Understanding the imposter phenomenon helped me make sense of experiences I had never previously had a name for and I became passionate about helping others recognize it much sooner than I did.
Today, alongside my coaching, I deliver talks and workshops on networking, confidence and imposter syndrome. Speaking allows me to take what I’ve learned through my own experiences, research and work with clients and share it with many more people.
My hope is that people leave my talks willing to question the voice that tells them they’re not good enough, recognize the strengths and accomplishments they may have been discounting, and have greater confidence to share their ideas, talents and potential with the world.
Have you ever achieved something significant only to wonder whether you really deserved it? Do you dismiss your accomplishments, compare yourself with others, second-guess your decisions or worry that someday people will discover you’re not as capable as they think you are?
You may be experiencing the imposter phenomenon - and you’re far from alone.
In this engaging and highly relatable talk, Sue Maitland draws on her own experience of living with imposter feelings throughout a successful career without recognizing what was happening. She helps participants understand what the imposter phenomenon is, recognize how it may be showing up in their own lives and discover practical ways to respond differently to the inner critic that tells them they’re not good enough.
Rather than simply learning about imposter syndrome, participants will be invited to reflect on their own experiences: the situations that trigger their self-doubt, the messages their inner critic gives them and the behaviours that follow.
They’ll leave with practical strategies for challenging those messages, acknowledging their accomplishments, reducing unhelpful comparison and perfectionism, and moving forward with greater confidence - even when their inner critic still has something to say.
This talk is relevant to a broad audience, as imposter feelings can affect people at every stage of their career and at every level of success - from those just starting out to highly accomplished professionals and recognized leaders. Anyone who has ever questioned whether they’re good enough, second-guessed their abilities or struggled to fully own their accomplishments will find something in this talk that resonates.
We all know that building a strong network is important. Yet for many people, the thought of walking into a room of strangers, introducing themselves or reaching out to someone they don’t know can feel uncomfortable - even terrifying.
Sue Maitland understands. She once hated networking and avoided it whenever she could. Today, she is known as a skilled networker and connector who brings people together and helps others discover a more natural and enjoyable way to build meaningful professional and personal relationships.
In this engaging and practical talk, Sue challenges the belief that networking is about self-promotion, collecting business cards or trying to impress people. Instead, she introduces a different approach:show up with curiosity, look for ways to be of service and focus on creating genuine human connection.
Participants will explore what may be holding them back from networking and learn how to reframe networking, so it feels more authentic and purposeful. They’ll discover practical strategies for setting networking goals, crafting a memorable 30-second introduction, approaching in-person and virtual networking with greater confidence, and turning new connections into meaningful relationships.
A strong network can open doors to career opportunities, increase visibility within an organization or industry, provide access to knowledge and resources, and create a valuable sense of connection and belonging.
Participants will leave seeing networking not as something they have to do, but as a skill they can develop - and perhaps even learn to enjoy.
This talk is relevant for a broad audience, as networking can feel uncomfortable or challenging for people at any stage of their career or life. It is particularly valuable for professionals who want to build stronger relationships, expand their network and become more confident making new connections.
It is especially well suited to conferences and professional events, where many attendees arrive not knowing other participants. The practical strategies shared in this talk can be put into action immediately, helping attendees connect more confidently and meaningfully with others throughout the event.
Organizations operating in today’s rapidly changing world need employees who are willing to innovate, collaborate, adapt to change and embrace emerging technologies such as AI. Yet capable, high-performing employees may privately question their abilities and fear being exposed as not as competent as others believe them to be.
These feelings, commonly associated with the imposter phenomenon, can show up in the workplace in ways leaders may not immediately recognize. Employees may hesitate to speak up or share ideas, avoid new opportunities, be reluctant to ask for help, compare themselves unfavourably with colleagues, or spend excessive time perfecting work that is already “good enough.” Over time, these patterns can affect employee wellbeing, collaboration, innovation, productivity, engagement and retention.
This engaging talk equips HR professionals and leaders to better recognize and understand the imposter phenomenon and its potential impact on individuals, teams and organizational performance. It also explores the important role psychological safety plays in creating an environment where employees feel able to ask questions, contribute ideas, experiment, learn from mistakes and acknowledge when they don’t know something - without fear of embarrassment or negative consequences.
Participants will leave able to:
1.Define the imposter phenomenon, distinguish it from a lack of competence or ordinary moments of self-doubt, and understand why even highly capable employees can experience it.
2.Recognize common ways imposter feelings can affect individuals, teams and organizations, including perfectionism, reluctance to contribute ideas or pursue opportunities, burnout, reduced engagement and challenges with talent retention.
3.Identify practical, evidence-informed strategies HR professionals and leaders can use to strengthen psychological safety, support employee confidence and create a workplace where more people feel able to contribute their full potential.
Addressing imposter syndrome isn’t simply about supporting employee wellbeing. By helping capable people spend less energy questioning themselves and more energy contributing, collaborating and innovating, organizations have the opportunity to unlock potential that may otherwise remain hidden.