The Seat at the Table Doesn't Come with Confidence

Author: Addy Combs

I've spent a good portion of my career sitting in rooms with people who have decades more experience than I do. And I'll be the first to admit, that can be intimidating.

I started my career as an intern and eventually worked my way into the role of VP of Performance Digital. Along the way, I've had plenty of moments where I've questioned whether I had enough experience, whether people took me seriously, or whether I really belonged in the room.

I think that's pretty normal when you're young and stepping into leadership. But I've also learned that if you wait until you're completely comfortable or feel 100% ready, you'll probably be waiting a long time.

Confidence doesn't always come before the opportunity. Sometimes you have to take the opportunity and build the confidence along the way.

Learning to Lead (and Let Go)

One of the harder lessons for me was learning how to delegate.

When you've spent years building something, it's natural to want to have your hands in everything. You know how you would do it, you know what you expect, and sometimes it feels easier to just do it yourself. But that's not leadership, and it's certainly not sustainable.

What made that transition easier for me was my team. Without a doubt, the thing I'm most proud of in my career is the group of people I get to work with every day. They're insanely talented at what they do, but more importantly, they're genuinely good people. They care about our clients, they care about the work, and they care about each other.



That makes it a whole lot easier to trust people and let go of the little things. Of course, trust doesn't always happen overnight. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith, give someone an opportunity, and accept that you might both learn something along the way.

I've learned that being a leader doesn't mean having all the answers or doing everything yourself. It's about building a team that can accomplish more together than any one person could on their own.

Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

I've definitely had moments where I felt underestimated because of my age. And when you're consistently surrounded by people who have been in business longer than you've been alive, it's pretty easy to second-guess yourself.

But I've come to realize that experience isn't just measured in years. It's also measured by what you're willing to take on, the decisions you make, and how you handle things when they don't go according to plan.

One thing I've always believed is that if you want something to change, you have to be willing to do something about it. It's easy to come up with reasons why you can't do something, why the timing isn't right, or why someone else has an advantage. And sometimes those reasons are valid. But at some point, you have to decide what you're going to do about the things you can control.



Take the chance. Ask the question. Put in the work. Learn from the mistakes. If it were always easy and comfortable, everyone would do it.

Do What You Love

There's a neon sign hanging in my office that says, "Do What You Love." It's a simple saying, but it's something I've always believed in.

I genuinely love what I do. I love the people I work with, the challenges that come with running a business, and the fact that no two days in digital marketing ever look quite the same.

That doesn't mean every day is easy or that I love every part of my job. Trust me, there are plenty of stressful days. But when you care about what you're building, the passion and work ethic come a lot more naturally.

I certainly don't have leadership all figured out, and I don't expect I ever will. I'm still learning, still making mistakes, and still finding ways to be better for my team.

But if there's one thing I'd tell someone who's early in their career, it's this:

Don't wait for someone else to decide you're ready.

You might not be the most experienced person in the room, and that's okay. Show up prepared, take ownership, surround yourself with good people, and be willing to learn.

The confidence will come.