Confidence Isn’t Inherited, It’s Built | Ritu Saxena on Imposter Syndrome, Identity & Self-Advocacy
Mon Feb 02 2026
What happens when doing “everything right” still doesn’t feel right?
In this episode of Baskets of Knowledge, we sit down with Ritu Saxena, founder of Project UpgradeHer, to explore what confidence really looks like when it’s built, not inherited.
Born and raised in Mumbai, Ritu became a Chartered Accountant and moved to New Zealand to experiment with independence and live on her own terms. On paper, she was successful. Internally, she struggled with imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and feeling invisible in environments she was fully qualified to be in.
Moving countries didn’t fix that, it amplified it.
Ritu shares the loneliness of starting over, the cultural shock of navigating systems that reward confidence but never teach it, and the breaking point that forced her to confront a hard truth: effort alone isn’t enough if you don’t advocate for yourself.
That moment led her into therapy, coaching, and deep inner work, transforming not just her career, but her relationship with herself. Today, she’s recognised as one of the Top 20 Chartered Accountants and empowers women of colour to build clarity, confidence, and income through Project UpgradeHer.
This is a powerful conversation about identity, belonging, courage, and what happens when you finally choose yourself.
🎧 Listen now and add this conversation to your basket of knowledge.
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What happens when doing “everything right” still doesn’t feel right? In this episode of Baskets of Knowledge, we sit down with Ritu Saxena, founder of Project UpgradeHer, to explore what confidence really looks like when it’s built, not inherited. Born and raised in Mumbai, Ritu became a Chartered Accountant and moved to New Zealand to experiment with independence and live on her own terms. On paper, she was successful. Internally, she struggled with imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and feeling invisible in environments she was fully qualified to be in. Moving countries didn’t fix that, it amplified it. Ritu shares the loneliness of starting over, the cultural shock of navigating systems that reward confidence but never teach it, and the breaking point that forced her to confront a hard truth: effort alone isn’t enough if you don’t advocate for yourself. That moment led her into therapy, coaching, and deep inner work, transforming not just her career, but her relationship with herself. Today, she’s recognised as one of the Top 20 Chartered Accountants and empowers women of colour to build clarity, confidence, and income through Project UpgradeHer. This is a powerful conversation about identity, belonging, courage, and what happens when you finally choose yourself. 🎧 Listen now and add this conversation to your basket of knowledge.