“I Don’t Have a Degree”—Why That’s Not a Deal‑Breaker for Leaders
The world needs more leaders who own their unconventional journeys, who recognize that a missing diploma does not diminish their value.
When I first met him, his opening line wasn’t a greeting or a brief intro. He said:
“But I don’t have a degree.”
He runs a team of hundreds, oversees strategic operations, and manages profit‑and‑loss statements worth hundreds of millions. Yet, three decades later, that single sentence still haunts him. It’s classic impostor syndrome—and he’s far from alone.
The hidden narrative of high‑achieving leaders
Time after time, brilliant executives walk into my office and, before sharing any achievements, they downgrade themselves:
• “I didn’t go to the right school.”
• “I never finished my degree.”
• “I have no formal training.”
Meanwhile, they’ve built incredible careers. They’ve succeeded despite the lack of a diploma. Or maybe… because of it.
What really matters
I don’t care where—or whether—you graduated 30 years ago. I’m not interested in where—or even if—you earned a piece of paper thirty years ago. What counts is who you’ve become since and how you continue to grow today. Your post‑degree learning, the challenges you’ve overcome, the skills you’ve honed—that’s the real foundation of your leadership. I care about who you’ve become since. And how you’re still growing today.
A call to stop apologizing
If your story mirrors theirs, stop apologizing for the absence of a formal credential.
- What you’ve learned on the job is the core of your expertise.
- Your resilience shapes the leader you are now.
- Your ongoing growth fuels the impact you’ll have tomorrow.
The world needs more leaders who own their unconventional journeys, who recognize that a missing diploma does not diminish their value.
The world needs more leaders like you. 😉
