Ep 12: The Audacity to Belong: How Deesha Dyer Overcame Imposter Syndrome and Learned to Take Up Space

🎙 Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong, even when you earned your spot? Former White House Social Secretary Deesha Dyer knows that feeling all too well—and she’s here to tell you why imposter syndrome is a scam and how to stop playing small in rooms you deserve to be in.

In this episode of To Tell You The Truth, we dive into:
✅ How Deesha went from community college at 29 to running events at the White House
✅ The truth about imposter syndrome (hint: it’s NOT your fault)
✅ The exhausting reality of Black women always being asked to “save the day”
✅ Navigating elite spaces when you don’t have the ‘right’ background
✅ The confidence hack that changed Deesha’s career forever

In this conversation, Deesha discusses the emotional toll of political engagement for Black women, emphasizing the need for self-care and prioritizing personal goals. She shares her inspiring journey from a non-traditional background to becoming the social secretary at the White House, highlighting the challenges she faced as a Black woman in a high-pressure role. Deesha also addresses financial literacy, the impact of imposter syndrome, and the importance of authenticity in navigating professional spaces. In this engaging conversation, Deesha and Brittany explore themes of creating safe spaces, navigating public perception, and overcoming imposter syndrome. Deesha shares her journey of writing and vulnerability, emphasizing the importance of support systems and the creative process. They discuss the dynamics of interracial relationships and the significance of self-worth, while also touching on Deesha's entrepreneurial ventures aimed at social impact.

Deesha Dyer is a philanthropist, award-winning strategist and author, on-the-ground community organizer, and executive operations expert. Working her way up from a 31-year old community college student who served as a White House intern for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, Deesha ended her government career as the White House social secretary, a highly-coveted senior position. She is currently the founder and president of social impact agency, Hook & Fasten where she coordinates transformational partnerships by utilizing a company’s funds, skills, resources or product to ignite sustainable change in communities. 

She is curator of multiple scholarships for Black women in politics, travel, wellness and animal care and sits on board of the Humane Society of the United States. Serving as a Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics Resident Fellow in 2019, Deesha designed and led a study course called, Imposter to Impact. A renowned speaker known for her engaging and authentic delivery, she is an expert on topics ranging from diplomacy, events, women leadership, confidence, race & ethnicity and social change.

Deesha was included in Marie Claire’s new guard of women changing the world, the Root’s most influential African-Americans and profiled in Women Who Run the White House by Essence. She’s been featured in Vogue, Travelnoire, and the Washington Post and has also delivered commentary on CNN, MSNBC and NPR. Deesha has written for Oprah Daily, Glamour and Lonely Planet and was awarded the Women of Excellence Award by the District of Columbia. In April 2024, Deesha released her highly anticipated debut, Undiplomatic about her untraditional journey in politics and advocacy. Undiplomatic has been praised by Oprah’s Book Club, Taraji P. Henson and Michelle Obama as being a must-read and is used as a resource for confidence and worth at institutions across the country. For her impact through Undiplomatic, Dyer was recently awarded the prestigious Larry Neal Writer’s Award.