Freedom to lead
Bypassing imposter syndrome along the way.
What happens when you are invited to take a big step in leadership in a place where you had not intended to go? How do you relate with others’ expectations and find freedom to lead in unexpected ways? This week, Nancy Pedulla continues her series of The Wise & Courageous Podcast with professor of early childhood education Diane Lee. Diane shares her surprise journey to a job she relishes in a place where she did not expect to be. She exposes her sense of imposter syndrome and how she chooses to address it. Listen for the way Diane describes her own pathway into uncovering and pursuing God’s call on her life. And don’t miss out on the other interviews from this series, all found on The Women Scholars & Professionals Podcast.
“God are you sure? Did you pick the right person? Why me? You are the only one who thinks I can do this, so tell me, what do I do?... That was a time when I felt like I had to be courageous and really believe in God, trusting that he knew who he chose and that he would equip me with wisdom and knowledge to be obedient and effective in serving the community.”
Pursuing a call into academia as a woman poses unique challenges — challenges that are absolutely surmountable, but that require careful thought and attention. The structure of the university was not designed with women in mind, and therefore we must work to align professional vocation with the multiple other roles in our lives, not to mention putting imposter syndrome and other insecurities in their proper place. One of the most powerful resources available to us can be found our communities. We’re reminded of Joyce del Rosario’s writing on the joyful and supportive gatherings she cultivated and their importance in her own life and calling. What relationships might God be inviting you to deepen in this season?
“I was determined to find the other women PhD students because I knew that although there were few of us, there were still some of us, and chances are we had all gone unseen or unnoticed even by one another.”
A note. If you head to The Well, you might notice a few little things that are different about our website — including a new landing page for Women Scholars & Professionals!
While we’re in the middle of some behind-the-scenes construction, some website features might be on the blink — so let us know if you have trouble finding anything. In the meantime, any new content will be posted here on our Substack page. Thanks for your patience with us!
You’re Invited!
Our online 30-minute guided prayer meetings happen on Fridays at 8 am, 9 am, and 12 pm (Eastern). Can’t come? We will pray for you anyway — send your prayer requests by emailing us at wsap@intervarsity.org.
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Four More Things We Loved This Week
March could be the best month for the northern lights for nearly a decade — if the sun stays active.
“It’s been ten years since I took up cursing for Lent.” Kate Bowler shares her journey of leaning into salty language as a practice for connecting with real pain during Lent. (Content warning: as you might expect, this article contains profanity.)
“So far, God has not provided any answers, except to be quietly present with me in this extended unknown and to assure me that this life will involve still more love than I can imagine.” Kendall Vanderslice opens up about her decision to pursue single motherhood.
New study challenges notion that aging means decline, finds many older adults improve over time