This is the question we posed to the women leaders: Give one example when you lost your confidence and how you regained it back.
Confidence is a strange thing. It is extremely powerful, yet it is also extremely fragile. It can crack and crumble in many ways – through career transitions, personal struggles, workplace challenges, or unexpected life decisions. The miracle is that the crumbled confidence can once again become strong, and infact, become even stronger.
Some regain confidence with the aid of others, and some do it by themselves.
The women in our story have all faced a difficult situation that led to loss of confidence, but have recovered. Here are their powerful stories that highlight their journeys of overcoming challenges and emerging stronger. The stories are divided into 2 sections: professional challenges and personal challenges.
Professional Challenges
Smitha Sudheendra, ED, Chief Operating Officer – Wealth Business at JM Financial, faced one of the toughest crossroads of her life when she accepted a national role that required relocating to Mumbai. The timing was far from ideal – her son was entering his 10th standard, and her mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Juggling between Mumbai and Bangalore while setting up a home in a new city was overwhelming. On top of it all, she was tasked with building a business from scratch. But she was determined. Within a year, she successfully led a 400+ member team across sales, products, operations, and technology, giving her an immense confidence boost.
However, corporate office politics forced a difficult choice – either move to Mumbai permanently or step away. Choosing family, she returned to Bangalore, but rather than giving up, she embraced the entrepreneurial path. The journey was humbling yet enriching, with every step bringing new challenges – regulatory changes, market crashes, investor setbacks. Boldly starting with a 25-member team and 2 offices from day one seemed crazy, but her fighting spirit kept her going. Within 2 years, she built a thriving business, proving that resilience is the key to success.
Confidence dwindles due to changes in external environments, as Gita Daya, CIO at Bank Zero, South Africa, experienced. A leadership change at a previous company turned the work environment toxic. She and her colleagues were treated as though they knew nothing, leaving her deeply demotivated. It was a phase that tested her confidence.
In that moment of struggle, she found clarity. She recalls: “I reminded myself of who I am and realized that the problem was not with me. I had choices, and I decided to take control.” With this shift in mindset, she made the necessary changes, emerging stronger and more confident. Reclaiming her power became the turning point that reshaped her journey.
Shweta Srivastava is the Chief Human Resource Officer at SATYA MicroCapital. Climbing the corporate ladder has been challenging for her too, like many others. With greater responsibility came higher expectations, tougher scrutiny, and moments that tested her confidence.
One such moment arose during a high-stakes senior management presentation where she was unveiling an expansion strategy. Despite thorough preparation, the sharp, probing questions from seasoned executives and industry veterans caught her off guard. By the end of the meeting, she left feeling deflated – like she had failed to prove herself and lost credibility in the process.
For two days, she wrestled with self-doubt, replaying every moment. But then, she made a choice – not to let one difficult meeting define her. “Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, I focused on what I could do next,” she recalls. She followed up with the leadership team, addressing the unanswered questions with deeper insights and clarifications. That simple step helped her reclaim control of the narrative.
But true confidence, she believes, isn’t built in a single moment – it is strengthened over time. She committed to improving her ability to handle tough, unexpected questions by practicing thinking on her feet. More importantly, she sought guidance from a mentor who had faced similar challenges, whose insights reminded her that setbacks are inevitable, but growth comes from how one responds to them.
That experience taught her that confidence isn’t about always having the perfect answers – it’s about resilience, adaptability, and the courage to keep showing up. What once felt like a setback became a defining moment in her growth, shaping her into a more prepared and self-assured leader.
For Paulomi Desai, Chief People Officer at Niwas Housing Finance, being overlooked for promotion became a moment of self-doubt and professional setback. It made her question her capabilities and her confidence took a hit. However, she decided to focus on developing her skills and sought feedback from mentors. Over time, she realized that setbacks were a natural part of the journey. By taking on new challenges and learning from her experiences, she regained her confidence. Paulomi depicts, “This helped me come back stronger, and eventually, it led to future growth in my career.”
For Subha Venkataraman, Managing Director – Global Head, Procurement & Third Party Management Program Execution at Citi, confidence wasn’t necessarily lost but she faced moments of self-doubt. Imposter syndrome surfaced from time to time, especially when she found herself as the only woman in a room full of men. Those moments were tough, and at times, she felt more scrutinized than her peers, particularly when things didn’t go as planned.
Yet, she persisted. She reminded herself that setbacks are just a part of the journey and don’t define her or her abilities. Through perseverance and continuous learning, she rebuilt her confidence, emerging stronger with every challenge she faced.
Kirti Gulaati, EVP – Branch & Affluent Banking at Yes Bank, had a different kind of challenge. She took a bold leap when she relocated to the UAE to advance her career. She saw it as an opportunity for both professional and personal growth. But soon, she realized it wasn’t the right fit. Being in an unfamiliar environment, far from the professional reputation she had built in India, led to a phase of insecurity and doubt.
Instead of dwelling on setbacks, she chose to focus on the lessons. She recalls: “After 8 months, I made the crucial decision to return to India, where I could utilize my skills and revive my career with renewed confidence.” This experience reshaped her perspective, teaching her that: “obstacles aren’t failures; they are merely shifts guiding us toward improved understanding and achievement.”
Lakshmi Prasanna Susarla, Executive Director at Wells Fargo, initially faced a drop in confidence when she moved into a completely different role. Surrounded by peers with prior experience in the domain, she was a new entrant navigating unfamiliar territory. How did she overcome? She reveals: “I did my certifications, conducted deeper analysis, and invested time in research and learning to understand the technical aspects – this gradually helped me regain my confidence.”
Personal Challenges
Abhishikta Chadda Munjal, CRO at IIFL Home Finance, faced a moment of doubt during her CA final exams. The Financial Management (FM) paper was notoriously tough, and like many of her peers, she struggled to cope. For the first time, she found herself questioning whether she could clear the exams. But in that moment of uncertainty, her family, especially her father, became her greatest source of strength.
She recalls: “Sensing my despair, my father stepped in to uplift me. His unwavering faith and daily encouragement helped me shift my focus from fear to determination. I realigned my energy, put the FM paper behind me, and gave my best in the remaining exams.”
That experience became a turning point, reinforcing the power of perseverance and a strong support system. Abhishikta went on to clear both groups of CA final in her first attempt. She believes that setbacks are inevitable, but with resilience and the right support, they can become the foundation for greater achievements.
Aditi Mukherjee, Chief People Officer at NCDEX, faced a similar test of confidence, though in a different phase of life. Returning from maternity leave was one of the most challenging transitions in her career. Torn between professional responsibilities and personal commitments, she found herself overwhelmed, questioning whether she could balance both worlds. Doubts crept in, and for the second time – first during her health crisis – her confidence wavered.
But amidst the chaos, she discovered a powerful truth: perfection wasn’t the goal. She realized that even through her struggles, she was setting an example for her child and others. This shift in perspective became her anchor. She recalls: “I regained my confidence by taking it one step at a time. Slowly, I found my rhythm and proved that being a mother and a professional were not competing identities but complementary strengths.”
Similarly, Megha Garg, Deputy Head L&H Global Valuation Team, Director/ SVP at Swiss Re, faced a critical turning point when she chose to step away from her high-powered corporate role to focus on her newborn son. She faced a defining phase when her son was born. At the time, she was in a CXO position at an organization with a culture similar to the public sector in India, where working from home wasn’t an option. Simultaneously, her extended family was dealing with serious health challenges, and she had no family support. After much thought, she made the difficult decision to leave her paid job to focus on being with her son.
For the next 2 years, she dedicated almost every waking moment to him, adjusting her schedule around his needs to nurture their bond. She deeply cherishes this time, but like many full-time caregivers, she began losing confidence in her ability to engage professionally. She reflects: “Focusing solely on a child can make you forget how to interact with adults.”
Determined to regain her confidence, she leaned on her support system. She sought counseling to plan her return to work, joined a book club of accomplished women to rediscover herself, and openly shared her fears with friends and family. She started attending conferences – sometimes as a host, other times as a speaker. With every conversation where she felt she had made an impact, her confidence grew stronger, slowly but surely.
The Bottom Line
These leaders’ journeys reveal a powerful truth – confidence isn’t a fixed trait but a skill that is tested, lost, and regained throughout life. The paths are many – support of loved ones, self-reflection, learning, bold decision-making and overcoming self-doubt. The experiences of these women leaders are a testament that no matter how tough the challenge, there is always a path to regain confidence.
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