Confidence Classic: Overcome Imposter Syndrome To Go ALL-IN On Your Purpose with Michelle “Mace” Curran
In this episode of Creating Confidence, Michelle Curran shares her journey from an introverted kid in rural Wisconsin to becoming one of only four female Thunderbirds pilots in history. Despite having no prior military or aviation connections, Curran pursued a career as a fighter pilot after a chance encounter with aviation in college sparked her interest. She details her experiences with imposter syndrome, particularly as one of few women among F-16 pilots.
Curran discusses how vulnerability and seeking help strengthened her leadership abilities, and explains the role mentorship played in her development. She describes building trust-based team cultures where mistakes drive growth rather than shame, and shares her transition from active duty to entrepreneurship. Throughout the episode, she reveals how visualization techniques from her military career now support her business ventures, and explains how inspiring others became central to her sense of purpose.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Dec 10, 2025 episode of the Creating Confidence with Heather Monahan
Sign up for Shortform to access the whole episode summary along with additional materials like counterarguments and context.
1-Page Summary
Michelle Curran's Path to Thunderbirds Leader and Fighter Pilot
Michelle Curran, who grew up as an introverted kid in rural Wisconsin with no military or aviation connections, transformed herself into a distinguished fighter pilot and leader of the Thunderbirds. Her journey began unexpectedly in college when witnessing a fighter jet takeoff sparked her passion for aviation, prompting her to shift from criminal justice studies to pursuing a career as a pilot.
Overcoming Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome
Curran reveals her ongoing struggle with imposter syndrome, particularly acute when she joined her first combat squadron as one of few women among over 100 F-16 pilots. She discovered that embracing vulnerability and seeking help, rather than pretending to have all the answers, strengthened her leadership abilities and team relationships. Her experience with the Thunderbirds, including its rigorous application process, helped her develop resilience and self-confidence, though she acknowledges that donning the uniform didn't instantly eliminate her self-doubt.
Role of Mentorship and Building Supportive Team Culture
Initially lacking female mentors, Curran eventually connected with two established female pilots in Misawa, Japan, who helped her realize her challenges weren't unique. She emphasizes the importance of creating a trust-based culture where mistakes drive growth rather than shame. In her team, Curran promotes extreme accountability through rigorous flight analyses and open acknowledgment of errors, regardless of rank or experience.
Finding Purpose and Transitioning to Entrepreneurship
As the fourth female Thunderbirds pilot in history, Curran found her greatest fulfillment came not from flying but from inspiring others, particularly women and girls. This realization led her to leave active duty and pursue entrepreneurship, seeking greater control over her impact. Seven months into her entrepreneurial journey, Curran reports feeling motivated and confident, applying the same visualization techniques from her military career to her business ventures.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can explore new interests by attending local community college classes or workshops in fields you've never considered. For example, if you've always been interested in technology but studied humanities, try a beginner's coding workshop to see if it ignites a passion similar to how a fighter jet takeoff inspired a career in aviation.
- Build resilience by setting up a 'failure debrief' with friends or colleagues where you openly discuss mistakes and learn from them. This could be a monthly meetup where each person shares a recent challenge and the group brainstorms constructive feedback, turning setbacks into growth opportunities.
- Enhance your accountability by keeping a personal performance log where you record daily tasks, noting errors and areas for improvement without self-judgment. This practice can help you recognize patterns, celebrate progress, and maintain a commitment to personal development, much like rigorous flight analyses do for pilots.
Get access to the context and additional materials
Michelle Curran's Path to Thunderbirds Leader and Fighter Pilot
From a shy, introverted kid from a small town with no connections to the military or aviation, Michelle Curran forges an unconventional path that leads her to become a leader of the Thunderbirds and an esteemed fighter pilot, all while grappling with and ultimately overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome.
Curran's Unconventional Path To Becoming a Fighter Pilot
Curran: An Introverted, Outdoorsy Small-Town Kid Without Military or Aviation Background
Michelle Curran grew up introverted and outdoorsy in a rural town in Northern Wisconsin, having no family background in the military or aviation. She didn't even experience an air show as a child. Initially enrolled in college for criminal justice with aspirations to join the FBI or CIA, her path took a dramatic turn.
Passion For Jets Ignited by College Takeoff
Curran's passion for jets ignited unexpectedly in college when she witnessed a fighter jet takeoff, which resonated deeply with her, leading her to pivot towards becoming a pilot.
Overcoming Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome In Her Career
Curran's Struggle With Inadequacy and Belonging In Combat Squadron
Curran admits struggling with imposter syndrome throughout her career, facing challenges in becoming a fighter pilot. Joining her first combat squadron, she felt in over her head despite being fully qualified. These feelings were compounded by her being one of the few women among over 100 F-16 pilots at her base.
Curran Managed Self-Doubt With a Supportive Team Embracing Vulnerability and Accountability
Despite her struggle with imposter syndrome, Curran realized the importance of vulnerability and asking for help. Her transformation began when she decided to stop pretending and be herself. This shift led her to accept opportunities previously avoided out of fear.
In her new squadron, she embraced a culture of trust, encouraging open communication and support among colleagues. By revealing her uncertainties, she closed the interpersonal gap with others, discovering that embracing vulnerability can build stronger team bonds and increase credibility.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Curran's Confidence Journey With the Thunderbirds
Curran's pathway to becoming a Thunderbird included a move and adapting to a new environment that fostered a trusti ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Michelle Curran's Path to Thunderbirds Leader and Fighter Pilot
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can explore a new interest by attending a local event related to that field, such as an airshow for aviation or a guest lecture for criminal justice, to ignite a potential passion you haven't yet discovered. For example, if you've always been curious about marine biology, look for a nearby aquarium that hosts educational tours or talks.
- Overcome feelings of imposter syndrome by starting a 'vulnerability journal' where you document moments of self-doubt and the steps you take to ask for help or learn from others. This could be as simple as noting a time you felt out of your depth at work and the conversation you had with a colleague to gain clarity and support.
- Build a personal 'trust ...
Get access to the context and additional materials
Role of Mentorship and Building Supportive Team Culture
Michelle Curran, as a pioneering female fighter pilot, faced significant challenges due to the lack of mentorship and the need to adapt to a culture vastly different from her more reserved personality.
Curran Lacked Mentors to Guide Her As a Pioneering Female Fighter Pilot
Initially, Curran did not seek a mentor, struggling to fit into the confident and somewhat arrogant persona of a fighter pilot popularized by media, such as "Top Gun." She felt the overwhelming need to prove herself in a new culture, further compounded by the lack of female mentors in the early part of her career.
Curran Sought Mentors Further Along in Their Careers, Helping Her Realize She Wasn't Alone
Curran eventually connected with other female fighter pilots, given the small size of the community. This led to a turning point when two established female pilots stationed in Misawa, Japan, began to mentor her. Their guidance helped her realize that her challenges were not unique, which Curran found empowering and beneficial to her career.
Curran Stresses a Trust Culture Where Mistakes Drive Growth
Curran places great importance on the value of vulnerability within leadership. She believes that leaders who can admit their limitations foster a team environment built on trust, where team members feel comfortable to complement each other's strengths and weaknesses. Curran discusses the necessity of a strong culture of trust and teamwork, especially because there are no backup pilots - the same six pilots perform every demonstration.
The practice within Curran's team is to hold an extreme level of accountability for their actions during flight demonstrations. Rigorous analyses of flights, utilizing ground and cockpit footage, help in identifying areas needing improvement. Curran underscores the expectation that all team members, regardless of rank or experience, must openly acknowledge their mistakes. This tra ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Role of Mentorship and Building Supportive Team Culture
Additional Materials
Actionables
- Create a peer mentorship program at work to foster a culture of support and growth, pairing individuals from different departments to share experiences and advice. By doing this, you encourage cross-departmental understanding and create a network of support that mirrors the mentorship that benefited Michelle Curran. For example, a marketing professional could be paired with someone from the finance team to exchange insights, which could lead to innovative solutions that benefit the entire company.
- Start a 'mistake of the month' club within your team where members voluntarily share a recent error and what they learned from it in a non-judgmental setting. This practice promotes transparency and turns mistakes into collective learning experiences. Imagine a scenario where a salesperson shares a misstep in a pitch that led to losing a potential client, and the team discusses ways to improve their approach, leading to better preparedness for future interactions.
- Implement a 'vulnerability hour' in ...
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
Finding Purpose and Transitioning to Entrepreneurship
Monahan explores with her guest, Michelle Curran, the dramatic shift from being an elite jet fighter pilot to embracing the role of an entrepreneur, emphasizing the challenges and triumphs in Curran's journey.
Curran Found Rewarding Experiences Inspiring Women and Girls Through Her Thunderbirds Role
Curran, known for her role on the Thunderbirds, aimed to recruit and inspire with her visibility, using her position to particularly motivate women and girls. As the fourth female pilot in the Thunderbirds' history and the first in five years, she recognized the significance of her gender in that role and endeavored to reach as many people as possible. Curran reveals that the most fulfilling aspect for her while on the team wasn’t the actual flying, but the meaningful impact she had on individuals who shared with her how previous conversations had significantly influenced them. These interactions, Michelle Curran found, were more fulfilling than anything she had experienced in the cockpit.
Driven by Impact, Curran Left the Military to Become an Entrepreneur
Curran felt a compelling need to have more control over her life and to fulfill her desire to have a meaningful impact outside of the military. Leaving behind what many would call a dream job as an F-16 pilot, she stepped away from active duty. The positive influence she was able to imprint on others during her military career led her to seek similar ways to maintain that level of impact in civilian life. Deciding to be in charge of her own path, she considered various roles before taking the entrepreneurial plunge, even amidst the uncertainty brought on by the pandemic.
Curran's Entrepreneuria ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Finding Purpose and Transitioning to Entrepreneurship
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can identify a role model who embodies the qualities you aspire to and study their path for inspiration. Look for someone who has made a significant career transition or has broken barriers in their field. Analyze their journey, the challenges they faced, and how they overcame them. This can help you understand the mindset and strategies required for your own transition or to overcome personal challenges.
- Start practicing visualization to enhance your performance in any area of life. Begin by setting aside a few minutes each day to close your eyes and vividly imagine achieving a goal you have. Picture the steps you'll take, the obstacles you might encounter, and the success at the end. This technique can improve focus and increase confidence in your ability to reach your objectives.
- Take control of your personal development by creat ...
Get access to the context and additional materials
Create Summaries for anything on the web
Download the Shortform Chrome extension for your browser
