At 23, Rebekah Patterson is one of the youngest people in her organisation and expected to make sense of big, strategic decisions. As a policy and insight officer at Bracknell Forest Council, she’s learning to lead while navigating the doubts that many young professionals keep hidden. Her journey is already inspiring others to speak up, step forward, and claim their space.

Overcoming imposter syndrome

“My biggest challenge is that I'm usually the youngest person in the room.” At first glance, you wouldn’t expect this to faze Rebekah, given how far she’s already progressed.

After graduating, she secured a place on a local government graduate scheme for Bracknell Forest Council and now works as a policy and insight officer, engaging regularly with senior stakeholders.

“I’m the link between anything that comes through at a strategic level from central government and how we, as a council, respond," she explains. "That could be anything from consultations to devolution bills going through parliament and everything in between.”

Despite her successful start, self-doubt often creeps in. “The sector I work in is predominantly made up of people with a lot more experience,” says Rebekah. “I’m trying to find my voice when I sometimes feel like I haven’t earned my place yet, or that I'm still learning.“

That doubt often manifests internally, rather than outwardly. “I’m often presenting to senior leaders and, although I might appear confident, inside I’m questioning whether I know what I'm talking about, or if I’m experienced enough," she says. "I'm surrounded by people who've been in the sector much longer, so imposter syndrome can be strong. Luckily the organisation is very supportive and I’ve had some great mentors, so that really helps.”

Lessons in leadership

Learning the theory and practice behind effective leadership has helped Rebekah feel more confident.

“While I was on the council's graduate programme, I completed a CMI Level 7 Strategic Leadership and Management qualification, which was integrated into the course,” she explains. 

“After leaving university, I wanted to work straight away and was reluctant to continue studying.”

The CMI qualification, which I completed through the Academy of Leadership and Management, helped me see learning differently because it was directly applicable to the work I do on a daily basis.

“It made me more open-minded and more observant. I’m now much more conscious about learning from different management styles within the organisation and seeking opportunities for leadership development.”

As a result of completing the qualification, Rebekah gained Foundation Chartered Manager (fCMgr) status, placing her on the pathway to full Chartered Manager (CMgr) status.

“That’s something I'm so proud of, especially this early in my career.”

Being a Foundation Chartered Manager helps set me apart. It shows that I’m committed to my leadership journey - and that it doesn't stop here. I know I’ll keep developing throughout my career.

Embracing mistakes

Rebekah doesn’t pretend to have everything figured out, and sees that as a strength, not a weakness.

“I'm never going to get it right every time. I’ll make mistakes, but I'll learn so much as a result,” she says. “That never really changes. At any stage of your career, you can get something wrong, but it’s about learning from it and having the right attitude. I might fail, but how do I respond? How do I bounce back? I truly believe that everything you do is a learning opportunity, whether it’s positive or negative.”

Making young voices heard

Rebekah is passionate about helping other young professionals in her organisation, and wants them to feel that their voice matters.

“Looking ahead, I want to be an inclusive leader, making sure young team members feel valued,” she says. “I’ve already set up an early careers network within my council. It’s an informal space where people at the beginning of their careers can come together, learn from each other, and share challenges and insights. It’s become really meaningful.”

Alongside this, she sits on the CMI Southeast Regional Board, advocating for younger learners entering the profession.

“I want them to have opportunities to find their feet, find their space and make their mark - whatever that looks like for them.”

Silence your inner critic

Encouraging young professionals to have confidence and be open to new experiences is something Rebekah strongly believes in.

The advice I’d give to anyone just starting out is say yes to everything and don't be afraid to make an impact. Just because you’re early in your career, that shouldn’t set you back. You’ve got these fresh, new perspectives and that’s so valuable.

“You’ll make mistakes and that’s okay as long as you learn from them. You don’t need to constantly prove yourself, just keep showing up and doing your best. Take every opportunity that comes your way, even if you’re not sure about it at first. You never know where it might lead.”