Emma and Clare have been best friends since they were three years old. Despite living in separate countries for the past 15 years, they speak every day via WhatsApp (they spoke on email before there was MSN, and Bebo before Facebook).

What Emma thinks:

“When I look at my career path, I feel like I’m nowhere near where I thought I’d be at my age – even though I’m still working on the plan I set for myself when I was 10 years old.

I feel like I’m lagging behind my ‘before I hit 30’ goals, as if there’s a ticking clock of when I should reach my career peak before I accept that I’ll never be successful.”

What Clare thinks:

“Whenever I’m trying to diagnose if I’m working hard enough, I always compare myself to Emma.

I don’t know anyone our age who is as ambitious or as successful as she is. She’s a role model for me professionally – I’m even relying on her to help me negotiate my own promotion and pay rise right now.

I don’t know where I’d be without her as a professional confidante and mentor. She’s 100% my #careergoals.”

How Emma feels now:

“I’ve never thought of myself as a role model to anyone. I’m genuinely surprised to hear Clare’s praise.

The advice I give is purely as a friend, so I’ve never seen myself as a career mentor. I just want the best for her.

It’s touching and encouraging that she thinks so highly of my career. I now recognise an element of impostor syndrome and knowing she thinks of me like this has given me the confidence that I’m doing better than I think.”

5 women on what they think of themselves vs what their friends think of them