Q&A: Building Career Confidence, Learning From Your Mistakes, and More with Career Bestie Sheri West

Starting your career can come with many different emotions and challenges. You may make mistakes, or be nervous to lead your first meeting as someone new to the workforce. Mistakes and working through nervous feelings are how you grow as a professional. But, the tools you use to grow through these moments aren’t always handed to you. 

Sheri West, Founder & CEO of LiveGirl and author of the guided workbook Confidence Unleashed: 10 Kick-Ass Strategies To Grow As A Leader (Without Changing Who You Are) helps young people gain confidence and remain their authentic selves. 

As a true career bestie, Sheri has shared some key advice for Generation Hired members. Check out her guided workbook and tap into your leadership potential.  

GH: How can young people entering the workforce (as interns, freelancers, first full-time jobs) find their voice as one of the youngest people on the team? 

Sheri: First, let’s dispel the myth: experience doesn’t necessarily equate to value or impact. Your voice matters – and you must hone your ability to communicate ideas persuasively, engage audiences with clarity and conviction, and project a commanding presence that earns respect and attention. Don’t let societal norms and conditioning hold you back from speaking confidently and assertively. (Consider this stat: Women, when outnumbered, speak as much as 75 percent less than men.) Speaking up and asserting yourself is crucial to being seen, heard, and valued. So, find your voice in two steps. First, Trust Your Opinion: Identify what is causing you to doubt the value of your opinion—if it's because you're one of the youngest on the team, remind yourself that everyone started where you did, and a fresh Gen Z perspective can often bring valuable insights. Second, Prepare to Shine: Put in the effort and plan what to say. I recommend using the 5W Framework (Who, What, Why, When, Where) to boost your speaking confidence.

GH: Mistakes happen, especially early on in your career. How can you recover from mistakes? 

Sheri: If you’re doing it right, mistakes will happen! The path to confidence lies in action; it requires putting yourself out there, trying new things, taking risks, and, inevitably, experiencing failure. This requires pushing beyond your comfort zone into your discomfort zone. Consider this stat: 78% of professionals say stepping outside your comfort zone is fundamental to growth and advancement. One of my favorite quotes is: 'Be brave enough to suck at one new thing daily.' It’s true—the path to confidence requires doing hard, scary, and uncomfortable things!

So, embrace your discomfort zone, take more risks, and experience more failure. Failure is a necessary stepping stone to growth and success, but how we frame our failures is crucial. We must view them as valuable learning experiences, not setbacks, and discover the unexpected opportunities that often come from rejection. Here’s an idea: Reward yourself every time you fail with a F.A.I.L. (First Attempt In Learning) reward! Debrief on what you learned from the failure, congratulate yourself, and then enjoy a lil’ treat!

GH: How can new professionals and interns learn the ‘unwritten rules’ of a workplace? What are some ‘unwritten rules’ that may be the norm but can be toxic? 

Sheri: One of the most important ‘unwritten rules’ is that it’s up to you to invest in relationship currency and build social capital. Early in your career, focus on building your personal board of directors—mentors, sponsors, and coaches. (What’s the difference? Simply put, a coach talks to you, a mentor talks with you, and a sponsor talks about you.) These relationships are crucial to your career advancement, and it's 100% your responsibility to cultivate them. While not inherently toxic, this rule can be particularly challenging for first-generation college students, as they may not have an established network to rely on. So, attend the after-hours social, linger at the 'water cooler,' and ask a senior colleague if you can contribute to their project in some way. Be strategic and intentional in building these connections. (Read my book to learn how to use a Relationship Currency Matix for smart and savvy networking!)

GH: How can young people in the workforce gain leadership skills when they aren’t in charge of a team? 

Sheri: It’s important to understand that leadership is not top-down but all-around. Whether you are just starting in your career or are in a position of power, we all have a role to play. Leadership is about influence, initiative, drive, and impact—regardless of your position in an organizational structure. Start by identifying what you bring to the table. Identify the core values and strengths that set you apart. If you get stuck, think of a recent accomplishment (or challenge you overcame) that made you proud—and identify the values and strengths that made the accomplishment possible. Next, take initiative! Don’t wait to be selected for an opportunity. Create your opportunity. For example, initiate a conversation with your manager about adding responsibilities to your scope or initiate a conversation with someone outside of your functional area and ask to learn more about how their role fits into the organization. Taking initiative will ensure that your strengths shine and that you grow as a leader.

As you embark on your career journey, remember that you’re not supposed to know it all. Learning is a part of helping you develop skills that will make you indispensable to employers, or teaching you the fundamentals of running your own business one day. Check out Confidence Unleashed to work on your career development on your own time and step confidently into your highest potential.

More about Confidence Unleashed: 10 Kick-Ass Strategies To Grow As A Leader (Without Changing Who You Are): This guided workbook—inspired by a decade of mentoring young women—is the ultimate roadmap to unleashing your leadership potential and building an authentic, fulfilling career.  

Did you know that 75% of female executives face imposter syndrome? Or that the most important leadership quality isn’t strength, it’s adaptability? In the early stages of your career, navigating the modern workplace’s unwritten rules can feel impossible. But there are more opportunities than ever—if only you know where to look.

Enter Sheri West, former Fortune 500 management executive turned social entrepreneur and founder of women’s leadership organization LiveGirl. West leverages her 25 years of corporate and leadership development experience to identify ten key areas of career growth necessary for women to thrive—and then shows you exactly how to achieve it. 

Through a series of evidence-based strategies, you will learn how to shift your mindset, build your skills, and become the leader you were meant to be.