Confidence is often misunderstood as a trait you either possess or don’t. However, according to prominent female leaders from diverse professional backgrounds who recently discussed this topic on She's Next Talks, confidence is much more akin to a muscle—one strengthened with practice and determination. “Confidence gets stronger each time you push past your comfort zone,” shares Jovana Vulic, a project manager at Digitalise Me from Montenegro, recounting her nerve-wracking first presentation as a university student in front of CEOs and royalty. “Preparation and mindset shifts,” she says, “helped me to take control of the situation. Zhanna Kazakbayeva, founder of Botaqan, a resale platform for children’s items, highlights similar strategies drawn from her early career as a drilling engineer—a notably challenging field dominated by men. She pinpoints mastery of knowledge, mentorship, and proactive initiative as critical confidence builders. “My knowledge became my power,” Zhanna asserts, underscoring the tangible results of persistent learning and advocacy. Cristina Doros, senior vice president at Visa, reinforces this narrative by reflecting on her initial lack of industry knowledge and resulting self-doubt. “I realised that I needed to make my expertise unquestionable,” she said. Through diligent study, she turned her uncertainty into strength, proving that confidence indeed can be cultivated strategically.