Ursula Mejía-Melgar on Rediscovering Confidence After Doubt

What I’ve Learned

Early in her career, Ursula Mejía-Melgar received feedback that stopped her in her tracks. A boss told her she was “too happy” to be taken seriously as a leader.

“It shook my confidence. I had to rebuild it brick by brick.”

At the time, her positivity was one of her greatest strengths — but it was dismissed as a weakness. For a period, Ursula second-guessed herself. She muted her natural style and tried to show up in ways she thought others expected. But it left her disconnected and less effective.

Her turning point came later in her career, when she stepped into a leadership role at Diageo. Surrounded by colleagues who valued authenticity, she realized the problem was never her happiness. The problem was a culture that didn’t see it as leadership. “Confidence isn’t about conforming. It’s about owning who you are and leading from there.”

How I’ve Sharpened

Ursula rebuilt her foundation through deliberate practices:

• Reclaim authenticity. She stopped muting her upbeat energy and leaned into it as her differentiator. “When I’m at my best, I bring optimism. That’s not frivolous — it’s fuel.”
• Build supportive allies. She sought mentors and peers who reminded her of her value and reinforced her strengths.
• Track small wins. She created her own “evidence file” of moments where her authentic leadership drove impact, slowly rebuilding her confidence.
• Reframe feedback. She learned to filter criticism: take what’s constructive, discard what undermines authenticity. “Feedback is input. It’s not your identity.”

Why It Matters

Confidence isn’t a one-time achievement — it’s a foundation rebuilt over and over through challenges. Ursula’s story shows that resilience doesn’t mean you never doubt. It means you learn to come back stronger, grounded in your authentic self.

“Authenticity is not a liability. It’s the source of your strength.”

About Ursula Mejía-Melgar

Ursula Mejía-Melgar has more than 25 years of experience leading global marketing at Diageo, Mondelez, and Nestlé, to name a few. Recognized by Forbes for her advocacy for women and inclusion, she has built her reputation as a leader who brings humanity and impact together across Latin America, the U.S., and Europe.