In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about the pressure to be perfect and the freedom that comes when we shift our focus to progress instead. My guest this week is Maria Rincon, a public speaking coach and former communications consultant at the United Nations. Maria shares her story of growing up as an overachiever in an immigrant household where perfection was expected and external validation became the measure of success.

In our conversation, we explore how perfectionism and impostor syndrome often go hand in hand, especially for those raised to equate achievement with self-worth. Maria talks about what it felt like to always be chasing the next accomplishment, how her work at the UN helped her reconnect with her values, and the mindset shift that allowed her to stop striving for approval and start living on her own terms.

She also shares the mantras she uses to ground herself, including “progress over perfection,” and why this phrase has become a daily reminder to let go of unrealistic expectations. We talk about how she brings this perspective into her work with clients, helping high performers build confidence through play, self-connection and a simple practice she calls an “evidence log.”

About My Guest
Growing up in a Colombian-Chinese household in Canada, Maria was a perfectionist since the age of seven. Always striving for success and to please her parents, she went on to get straight A's, win beauty pageants, complete a prestigious Master's program on full scholarship and work for the United Nations, until she hit a personal crisis of finding her purpose. As someone recovering from imposter syndrome, she's now a public speaking coach helping multilingual professionals speak with more confidence (and believe in themselves!).

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Connect with Maria:
Website: https://publicspeakingwithmaria.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrincon/

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MAFS RECAPS: Week 3 Episode 11