The Expertise Gap That Exists Only in Our Minds
Why accomplished women struggle to claim the expertise they've earned—and why it matters.
I recently published a LinkedIn post where I referred to myself as an expert. Before I clicked "Post," I found myself reading that sentence more than once. Not because it wasn't true, but because it made me uncomfortable. That surprised me more than the word itself.
I started asking myself why one word carried so much weight. After nearly two decades in technology, years of writing, teaching, speaking, leading projects, and helping organizations understand cybersecurity and responsible AI, why would I hesitate to describe my own expertise? If another woman with the same experience had written those words, I wouldn't have questioned them for a second. I would have thought she had earned the right to say them.
That realization made me think about how often accomplished women minimize their own accomplishments. We celebrate the expertise of others while softening the language we use about ourselves. We introduce ourselves as learners, helpers, or professionals, even after building years of experience and credibility. Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that confidence could be mistaken for arrogance.
Expertise has never meant knowing everything
The truth is that expertise has never meant knowing everything. Technology evolves too quickly for that. Cybersecurity changes daily, artificial intelligence continues to reshape our world, and new challenges emerge faster than anyone can master them all. The strongest professionals remain curious, continue learning, and use what they know to help others navigate change with confidence.
As I reflected on my own journey, I realized my work has never been about proving how much I know. It has always been about helping people make sense of technology that often feels intimidating or out of reach. Whether I'm teaching digital literacy to older adults, discussing AI governance with community leaders, writing white papers, or helping organizations think differently about digital risk, my purpose has remained the same. I want people to leave feeling informed, empowered, and better prepared than when they arrived.
That is what expertise looks like
That is what expertise looks like. It is built through experience, thoughtful decision-making, continuous learning, and a commitment to serving others with integrity. It isn't a title that magically appears after earning one more certification, receiving one more promotion, or collecting another award. It grows through the work we choose to do, day after day, year after year.
Calling yourself an expert should never be about placing yourself above anyone else. It is about accepting the responsibility that comes with the knowledge and judgment you've developed. People seek out experts because they want guidance, perspective, and someone they can trust to help them make informed decisions. Shrinking from that responsibility doesn't serve the people who could benefit from what you've learned.
Looking back, I wasn't struggling with whether I had earned the title. I was struggling with whether I was allowed to say it out loud. There is a difference, and I have a feeling I'm not the only woman who has experienced it.
If you've spent years learning, growing, solving problems, and making a meaningful impact, stop waiting for someone else to validate what you've already built. The world doesn't need more women who minimize their accomplishments or hesitate to own their expertise. It needs women who lead with confidence, continue learning with humility, and recognize that claiming the title they've earned isn't arrogance.
Maybe the expertise gap isn't in our experience.
Maybe it exists only in our minds.
