Stop Selling Yourself Short — You’re More Qualified Than You Think

Yesterday, I had a conversation that stopped me in my tracks.

I was talking about how much I love external comms — the strategy, the storytelling, the outreach — but then I caught myself saying, “Oh, but I couldn’t do it professionally. I don’t have the experience.”

Cue the raised eyebrow and a very blunt, “Wait… what? Girl, you do comms every day. Have you seen your LinkedIn?”

And just like that, it hit me. I was doing the exact thing I coach my clients not to do: downplaying my experience because it didn’t come with a formal title.

The reality? I do have communications experience. I’ve built and executed content strategies. I manage channels. I run outreach. I collaborate with other creators. I conduct interviews. All of it. Just because it’s been through a side project doesn’t make it any less valid — in fact, it speaks volumes about my initiative and creativity.

It also made me reflect on something bigger.

I’ve been eyeing a pivot into commercial roles for a while now. It aligns with how I think — big-picture, strategic, creative. But every time I considered it seriously, the doubts crept in.

“I don’t have forecasting experience.”

“I haven’t worked in a commercial function.”

Except... I’ve started two businesses. Written two business plans. Contributed to multiple integrated strategic initiatives. Helped pitch and win new business in agency roles. Delivered proposals. Created go-to-market strategies. I’ve done commercial, just without the official label.

Here’s the thing: we get so caught up in job titles and traditional role boundaries that we overlook the actual competencies we’ve built.

We love to put ourselves in neat little boxes: medical vs. commercial, internal vs. external, side hustle vs. “real” work, but real experience doesn’t follow tidy labels. Skills are skills. Strategy is strategy.

It’s not the title that matters. It’s the substance.

So this is your reminder (and mine): If you’ve done the work, in any setting, you have experience.

Start owning it.

Reframe the way you talk about it. Because if you’re constantly underplaying your capabilities, you’re the one standing in your own way.

You’re more ready than you think.

Want help identifying and articulating the experience you already have so that you can go after the role you actually want?

👉 Book a 1:1. Let’s reframe your story and build the narrative that gets you hired.