Bridging the Confidence Gap

A roadmap to self-confidence for women in leadership

Bridging the Confidence Gap: How Empowered Women Change the World is a startlingly insightful and inspiring discussion of female leadership by celebrated executive, business leader, and author Sheena Yap Chan.

Yap Chan delivers a transformative and fresh take on the challenges, pitfalls, and opportunities women face when they reach for the reins of leadership in business. She walks you through how to navigate those challenges and realize those opportunities with powerful observations drawn from a lifetime in business.

You'll learn to level-up your career as you discover how to increase your courage and promote yourself, just as you explore the benefits to you, your organization, and society that come from you taking on a leadership role.

You'll also find:

• A formula for women's leadership you can replicate in your own life and job
• Strategies for celebrating your remarkable achievements and supporting others in their own journeys through leadership
• Techniques for overcoming imposter syndrome and the double standards that women face in the workplace

Perfect for managers, executives, board members, entrepreneurs, founders, and other other women in leadership roles, Bridging the Confidence Gap is a must-read for all professionals interested in a female perspective on the challenges and opportunities of leadership for women in business.

Introduction: The State of Women’s Leadership and Confidence 1

Chapter 1 The Double Standards That Kill Confidence 7

Chapter 2 Imposter Syndrome: Changing the Narrative for Women 33

Chapter 3 The Gender Confidence Gap 51

Chapter 4 Courage Before Confidence 75

Chapter 5 Why Self-Promotion Empowers Women 89

Chapter 6 The Confidence Era 111

Chapter 7 The Benefits of More Women in Leadership 127

Chapter 8 Ready, Fire, Aim: The Formula for Women’s Leadership 151

Conclusion 161

Notes 163

Acknowledgments 177

About the Author 179

Index 181

SHEENA YAP CHAN is a keynote speaker, podcaster, consultant, and bestselling author dedicated to empowering all women, with a focus on leadership and confidence. Through her work, she inspires women to embrace their authentic selves, step into leadership roles, and amplify their voices. As the author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book, The Tao of Self-Confidence, she is on a mission to foster stronger, more authentic representation for women and to equip them with the confidence to lead boldly and unapologetically.

In Bridging the Confidence Gap: How Empowered Women Change the World, celebrated executive and author Sheena Yap Chan delivers an inspiring and exciting new take on how to unlock your full potential, in business and in life. In the book, Yap Chan explains how to overcome the imposter syndromes, the double standards, and the confidence gender gap that condemns so many women to work in roles that don’t properly challenge or reward them.

You’ll explore several key strategies that will transform the way you see yourself and your opportunities. You’ll discover the importance of self-promotion—and how it empowers women—and exactly why it’s so important to have women in places of power and leadership. You’ll learn about the benefits that you, your company, and society will enjoy when you take the opportunity to lead others.

Bridging the Confidence Gap demonstrates why you should take a chance on yourself and how you can become your own biggest cheerleader. It walks you through how to keep showing up, even when it seems like the entire world has turned against you. You’ll learn to recognize and celebrate yourself for your remarkable achievements and begin to cultivate a support system that coaches and lifts you up when times are at their hardest.

Perfect for managers, executives, board members, entrepreneurs, founders, and other women business leaders, Bridging the Confidence Gap will also earn a place in the libraries of male readers interested in getting a uniquely female perspective on the challenges, pitfalls, and opportunities of leadership for women in business.

Praise for Bridging the Confidence Gap

“Bridging the Confidence Gap is a must-read for anyone who knows your best work just needs the confidence to get seen, heard and respected and shared in the places that need your work most.”
—JEN KEM, Author of Unicorn Team

“A brilliant book for those in leadership. Sometimes it’s difficult to know exactly what to do to level up in your business or career but the strategies Sheena teaches here is a fresh perspective on what we need to do. If you want to start feeling empowered this year, read this book.”
—LISA JOHNSON, The Sunday Times Bestselling Author of Make Money Online

“Sheena Yap Chan’s Bridging the Confidence Gap is a powerful call to action for women who are ready to speak up, advocate for themselves, and take charge of their leadership journey. With a blend of personal experience and practical strategies, Sheena offers clear guidance on how to break through self-doubt, navigate workplace challenges, and build unwavering confidence. This book is a must-read for any woman who wants to own her voice and amplify her impact!”
—SELENA REZVANI, Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of Quick Confidence and LinkedIn Top Voice

“Sheena Yap Chan has written a guide that feels like sitting down with a trusted mentor—practical, relatable, and packed with actionable insights. Bridging the Confidence Gap goes beyond identifying the challenges women face in leadership to offering a clear, thoughtful roadmap for overcoming them. This book is a must-read if you’re ready to break barriers and achieve your goals.”
—NICOLE CASPERSON, Author of Fintech Feminists, and Founder and CEO, Fintech Is Femme

“In Bridging the Confidence Gap, Sheena Yap Chan delivers a compelling call to action for women to overcome barriers and embrace their full potential. Her strategies for navigating leadership challenges are both practical and inspiring.”
—JEANIE Y. CHANG, LMFT Clinician, Executive Coach, TEDx Speaker, and Author of How K-Dramas Can Transform Your Life