Are you holding yourself back because you think you're not 'qualified enough'?

Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there. You scroll through job listings, and opportunities, or hear about an exciting new role—and your first thought is, “I’m not ready for this,” or “I don’t meet all the requirements.” That nagging feeling of not being good enough. But what if that mindset is the very thing keeping you from the next big leap in your career?

During the #10K Women:AI Advantage panel, which focused on empowering women in tech, two incredible leaders—Isabel Boniface, Customer Success Unit Manager, and Shireen Chetty, Azure Leader for New Zealand—challenged conventional career advice. They shared personal stories that cut through the typical career wisdom to highlight something crucial: waiting to feel ‘qualified enough’ might just be a losing game.

You Don’t Need to Know Everything—You Just Need to Start

Isabel Boniface, who has been with Microsoft for over 25 years, shared how she didn’t learn English until she was 19, growing up in rural South Africa. No fancy tech degree, no perfect resume—just a drive to keep moving forward. “I'm not worried about going into new challenges, if there's a new challenge, I just grab it with both hands and put my 100% behind it" she said.

This wasn’t just a cliché success story—it was a wake-up call. Isabel reminded everyone that you’re never going to feel 100% ready for anything. That moment of "I need to know more" is often just fear in disguise. And here’s the kicker: the people who get ahead aren’t the ones who know everything from the start; they’re the ones who are willing to learn and adapt along the way.

It’s a lesson we all need to hear, especially when we’re hesitating to take on that next role, project, or challenge.

Your 'Messy' Career Path Could Be Your Biggest Strength

Shireen Chetty began her career as a mother of three, working as a receptionist at a tech company. Curious and eager to expand her skills, she sought out new opportunities. Reflecting on her transition into a more technical role, Shireen shared, “It’s just very curious how this business worked so quickly. I moved and asked for opportunities to move off reception and get into the supply chain area of the business and started off my career not too long after that, assembling PCs. It was literally a motherboard and Intel chips and really just building up PCs, which is kind of how I got my hands dirty."

Despite her inexperience, Shireen embraced the challenge, acknowledging, "I knew nothing. When I think back about it, I go, that was either brave or stupid. I'm gonna go with very brave for now because I knew nothing about it. But I thought, well, what's the worst that could happen—they'd send me back to reception?". Her willingness to take risks and push beyond her comfort zone became the foundation of her successful career in tech leadership.

And here’s where it gets interesting: Shireen wasn’t talking about a ‘perfect’ career journey, but a real one. One filled with pivots, uncertainty, and exploration. We often think that switching industries, roles, or careers is somehow starting over. But what if it's the opposite? What if your previous experiences are exactly what makes you more prepared than you realise?

The takeaway? You don’t have to start over every time you pivot careers. You just need to pull the valuable threads from what you’ve already done and apply them to what’s next.

AI Isn’t Here to Replace You—It’s Here to Empower You

Both Isabel and Shireen highlighted how AI has transformed their day-to-day work, not by taking their jobs, but by freeing up their time for more strategic, creative tasks.

Isabel shared how Microsoft’s Copilot changed her work-life balance in ways she didn’t expect. "I went from spending an additional 2 hours per day doing admin to getting to a point where I could close my computer at 5:00 and go to the gym. That is something that I have never been able to do in my career" she explained. Instead of seeing AI as a threat, she embraced it as a partner that makes her more efficient and effective.

You might not be in tech, but AI is becoming a part of every industry, from healthcare to education to retail. Ignoring it is not an option. AI is here to help you do more, faster, and better—if you’re willing to learn how to use it.

Don't Play Small—Your Experience is More Valuable Than You Think

So many of us undervalue our lived experiences. Whether it's returning to work after raising kids or transitioning from one field to another, we often downplay our strengths because they don’t seem ‘relevant’ or ‘linear’. But here’s the key takeaway from Shireen and Isabel - those unconventional paths, those lived experiences—they’re exactly what makes you unique.

Shireen reflected on how she initially saw her wide range of roles as "chaotic" or "noisy" and worried it would reflect poorly on her ability to focus. However, her mentors encouraged her to embrace those experiences and view them as a strength, not a liability. “I’ve also often found that other people see potential in me when I don’t, and so having that trusted circle of advisers around me that says, I actually think you can do this, even though you might feel you don’t have 100% of the experiences that’s required... If you look at the collection of your experiences, you are well set up to do this"

If you’re feeling like your career path doesn’t ‘fit the mould,’ maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe it’s time to stop playing small and embrace what you bring to the table. The truth is, no one fits perfectly into the boxes we think employers want—those who succeed are the ones who make their own space.

Stop Waiting for Permission

The biggest takeaway from the panel? Stop waiting for permission. If you’re holding yourself back because you don’t tick all the boxes or feel underqualified, you might be waiting forever. Instead, take that leap. Apply for that role. Learn that new skill. Push yourself into spaces that feel uncomfortable because that’s where growth happens.

A special thanks to Isabel Boniface and Shireen Chetty for sharing your inspiring journeys and insights during the panel. Your stories are a powerful reminder that embracing unconventional paths and pushing beyond comfort zones can lead to unexpected and rewarding success!