Black women tech leaders on fighting imposter syndrome and the power of career turnaround

The fourth annual took place earlier this month in the heart of Atlanta RenderATL the event took place, filling the city with young people from throughout the country. If you are recent, “Render,” as I’ve often heard people call it, which began in 2019 and was founded by CEO Justin Samuels, is a multi-day technology conference for industry professionals who need to learn from and network with the best in the industry contacts. It has grown tremendously over the years.

I had the pleasure of participating in moderating an inspiring fireside chat with Imani Ellisfounder and CEO of the Creative Collective agency and the brains behind the wildly popular CultureCon conference, and Beverly Jackson, vp of brand and marketing at Zillowat Ponce City Market for the conference. It was a really influential time.

Both women left behind what many would consider their dream jobs to be where they’re today. Ellis worked at NBC Universal with Bravo (even starting BravoCon), while Jackson was a game-changer at Twitter (now referred to as X). The ladies talked about finding the courage to step away from these roles in order that they could have more influence.

“Even though I truly had my dream job at NBC, I couldn’t help but notice that The Creative Collective and CultureCon were growing, and as they grew, they needed more and more attention,” Ellis told ESSENCE after a fireplace chat about the spaces she built to assist creatives in obtaining the resources they should develop. “I heard a quiet whisper that said, ‘It’s time,’ and soon after I realized that my goal was to build this community and I wanted to devote my full attention to these activities.”

“At first, I resisted the idea of ​​becoming a full-time entrepreneur, but once I started thinking about the possibilities, I got excited,” she adds. “I started saving, said a prayer, and took a risk. I was afraid of change, but more afraid of staying the same. Sometimes discomfort can be a great catalyst for growth.”

Jackson agrees. The opportunity to assist solve the housing crisis through Zillow was too great to pass up and was a possibility for her to realize strength.

“After years of working in marketing for big brands, I’m now more focused than ever on a purpose-driven career where I can support my organization while positively impacting people’s lives,” she says. “That mission led me to join Zillow, where I proudly promote our ‘super home app’—a one-stop platform for buying, selling, and renting real estate. It’s an important role providing information, tools, and resources that make real estate more transparent, fair, and equitable,” she says. “Zillow is committed to creating opportunity in real estate. There are few things as powerful as a home—and every day I get to help make home a reality for more people.”

One of the most impactful moments during the panel was hearing women share the truth about how they cope with imposter syndrome as Black women in leadership positions. He thinks, “Do I fit in here? Do I know what I’m doing? Will I fall on my face?” these are the ones they’ve also encountered.

“Throughout my career, I’ve found that the key to overcoming self-doubt is shifting my focus from internal uncertainty to external inspiration,” Jackson says. “Whenever I take on a new role or project, I make it a priority to be a leader who inspires others to grow. By channeling my energy from self-doubt into creating a supportive and innovative environment for my team, I can create a safe space for creativity and innovation. By embracing our core value, #BetterTogether, we recognize that we are stronger when we work as a team. We value what each person at Zillow brings to the team and strive to consistently treat each other with respect, empathy, and appreciation in serving our customers, communities, and partners. This empowering approach not only fuels collective success, but also helps us all rise above moments of doubt. I believe in playing with the front of the jersey and mobilizing to build teams that win through collaboration.”

Ellis says one piece of advice perpetually modified the way she checked out herself when she walked into rooms with other tech industry leaders, especially those that didn’t appear like her.

“A mentor recently reminded me that the definition of a fraud is ‘someone who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others,’ and that’s not who I am,” she says. “In any room you’re invited to, you belong. In this next chapter, I embrace what I know and what I don’t know. If I know something, I’m able to stand behind it, and if I don’t know something, I’m not afraid to ask. That’s how I stay true to myself, and that’s how I know I’m not a fraud.”

Sharing these gems of advice with the audience was motivating for those in attendance, but in addition enriching for Jackson and Ellis. Both women benefited from interacting with their guests and learning about one another’s experiences, as individuals who were once underpaid, undervalued, or questioned their calling to turn out to be the successful changemakers they’re today. Jackson especially enjoyed offering insight right into a space crammed with the next generation of Black tech leaders, and she knows how vital that’s.

“The energy at RenderATL was electric! As a Black woman, I’ve sometimes found myself in positions that felt isolating, so I deeply understand the importance of seeking connections and inspiration both inside and outside of my organization,” she says. “At Zillow, our employee resource groups, like Zillow’s Black Employee Billow, play a key role in cultivating connections, diversity, and inclusion internally. Collaborating with external communities like RenderATL provides additional practical advice and motivation. These connections are key to diversifying the tech industry and adapting our products and services to meet the needs of diverse consumers. I’m committed to building strong communities to make an impact.”

Both women are grateful to have had the opportunity to make use of the RenderATL platform and Samuels’ highly popular conference to encourage Black professionals.

Their best advice for those seeking to change careers is one which could be encouraging to anyone, whether or not they work in tech or not.

“Go on a date first,” says Ellis. “While it’s tempting to jump out the window, you can actually test your idea. Is there a real demand for what you sell? Do you already have clients or is anyone interested in becoming a client? Also set a financial goal for what you need to get through each month and start saving to achieve it. If you decide to leave the 9-5, you want to make sure money-related stress isn’t at the top of your list [of concerns]. Immediately worrying about money can distract you from your vision and force you to make compromises you wouldn’t make if you had a few coins in your pile.”

“Self-awareness and courage are essential,” says Jackson. “The best advice I can give is to be brave and take risks. Once you’ve done your research and understand that a change is necessary for your situation and goals, don’t hesitate – just do it and see what happens. I believe in striving for excellence, so if you feel it’s time for a change, trust your instincts and make the move.”

He adds, “Your safety net is the wisdom and experience you’ve gained over time that stays with you forever. If you put in the effort, you have a backup of your hard work that can support you if you have to pivot multiple times until you discover what truly drives your passions. I’m comfortable embracing change because I’ve put in the work for the past 20+ years and the body of work is a proof of concept.”

My time attending to know each women, each on and off stage, was an emotional rollercoaster ride. It’s at all times great to learn the stories of industry leaders, and it’s much more memorable when they appear such as you.