Michelle Obama Says White Men Do Not Experience Impostor Syndrome

Michelle Obama said white men do not experience impostor syndrome during a live recording of her podcast at SXSW London. She stated she has attended every type of powerful meeting and has never met a white man who admitted to such self-doubt. Obama said many women and minorities at these meetings feel like outsiders.

Obama described how her parents required her and her brother to take responsibility for their own schedules starting at age five. She said they used alarm clocks to wake themselves for school and that her parents avoided over-managing their children's experiences.

She contrasted this approach with what she called helicopter parenting, which she said signals to children that they cannot succeed without constant parental intervention.

The former first lady participates in a podcast with her brother and has conducted speaking tours since leaving the White House. Her production company has created multiple films and series for streaming platforms.