How do you overcome self-doubt and project confidence as an executive?

I agree - many of the feelings of self-doubt, unworthiness, imposter syndrome and the like can very often be linked to some major childhood event of a traumatic nature that excluded them, demeaned them or chastised them for doing something well intended. It may be a single incident - as in my own experience, or a violent ongoing process, and the often unnoticed 'drip-drip-drip' of subtle small remarks that eventually grind a person down!

My early lack of trust and self-doubt was directly the result of childhood experience. My father, a WWII veteran, returned from years of combat in the Pacific Theatre. Initially he entered college, but found himself caught between his studies and a need to make up for all his missed time as a young man. So, like many of his friends he decided to find employment, and then celebrate his new-found freedom. He quickly married, and then came me as a his first born. Although I was intellectually gifted, my father was never supportive of my academic endeavors in my Catholic all-boys high school. Instead he pushed me to work at an early age, which did in fact create my appreciation for the value of earning, and then saving.

Following my undergraduate experience I entered the workplace, and then quickly founded my own successful business. This provided me a sense of self confidence.From there I was recruited as an executive, which launched me into a whirlwind career, moving up through positions of increasing complexity and a variety of industries. It was at this time I realized that my time developing a foundational skill set had prepared me to successfully navigate any goal. There came a point, where with one of my executive positions, my CEO took me aside following a critical business presentation, and announced he was going to be my mentor. That was a game changer. From that point on I followed his advice, and say one point we became business partners.

I never really understood my own excessive drive to achieve and succeed - until my coach identified a repeated commentary in our discussions that led us to identify the culprit 'incident' when I was twelve years old - where I was brutally excluded from a group of peers - and my response was to prove everyone wrong and 'show them' that I did belong!

Reflecting back on my career, I had overcome self doubt by simply following my instincts. From that point my entire career was based on curiosity. I traveled a course beginning in health care and medical device, to quality assurance, to Internet and communications, to becoming a partner in a high technology startup. At each juncture I had been successful by every metric. And I enjoyed the ride. From rejecting that laborer's career my father insisted, to thriving at executive positions with Fortune 50 companies, I had chosen the correct path for me. And I had no regrets with any part of the process.

Throughout most of my career I had to be my own coach. I assessed my position at each juncture, and knew intuitively I was ready for the next step, the next challenge, and the larger responsibility. I lost all sense of self doubt, and embraced what lay in front of me.