# Confidence is a skill, says Telugu woman after US work experience

2026-08-16T03:46:03+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

Harini, a Telugu woman working in the United States as the only Indian in her office, has shared a workplace insight that has resonated widely on social media. In an Instagram video, she said she initially thought her American colleagues knew something she did not, but came to realise the real difference was often their willingness to speak up even before they had all the answers. Greatandhra.com reports that Harini said while growing up in India, she was taught to think twice before speaking and to express an opinion only when completely sure. This mindset served her well in school, she said, but in the workplace it sometimes held her back. An idea never gets a chance to be considered if it is never shared, she explained, adding that confidence is a skill that can be learned, practised and developed over time. Many social media users said they could relate to being raised to stay quiet until certain, while others agreed with her conclusion that confidence can be built. NDTV.com covered the same story, noting Harini was taught not to speak until she was too sure about something.

## Coverage

- ndtv.com <https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/indian-woman-in-us-says-she-learned-confidence-is-a-skill-from-american-colleagues-11915920>
- greatandhra.com <https://www.greatandhra.com/articles/special-articles/confidence-can-be-learned-telugu-womans-us-experience/>

This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources. Last updated 2026-08-16T13:32:51+00:00.

Tags: Harini, India, US
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