I have worked in this field
for twenty plus years.
I am an expert.

I study. I read. I listen.
I learn.
I am an expert.

I know and I do
and I teach others.
I am an expert.

I make mistakes
and have my own biases.
I am an expert.

I lead and I mentor
and I follow.
I am an expert.

Why is claiming expertise problematic? Is it because I’m a woman? Is it because I don’t have a PhD? Is it because I don’t do research on some specific, narrow part of my work? Is it because I don’t know absolutely everything? Is it because you assume experts do not have the capacity to listen and learn? Is it because it’s intimidating to you? Is it because others who don’t have this expertise feel inadequate? What is it? And why should I minimize my expertise to deal with your insecurities? Why should I have to explicitly show you I am constantly reading and listening and learning in order to grow as a leader and as an expert in my field? Why should I use minimizing words such as “maybe”, or “perhaps”, or “I think” when “I KNOW”? Why do you doubt my expertise when you don’t have the same experiences or expertise as me? Why is claiming expertise problematic?

It’s madness! Deal with it!
I am an expert.

---

I wrote this before the United States Women’s National Team won the World Cup and Megan Rapinoe declared “I deserve this. I deserve this. Everything.” into a camera. She and the rest of the team worked ridiculously hard and won on the world stage. They are the experts in this space. They practiced and studied and learned throughout their careers. They made mistakes and missed goals and passes and got penalties. But they won…and they are the experts. And they will continue to inspire, and lead, and grow. And they deserve it. They deserve the title of champion. They deserve the title of soccer experts. Everything.

What is your expertise? Claim it. You deserve it. The world deserves it! Everything.