"Nobody really knows what they're doing" is a cope that will keep you mediocre forever.
There are absolutely people who know what they are doing.
There are absolutely people who know what they are doing.
Knowing what you are doing: accurate mental model
The author here is talking about mindset and confidence - not "understanding" persay. Source:
> For me, it was extremely humbling to work together with far more competent engineers at Apple.
Having a mindset that "some people are way more competent than me" is talking about humility and growth mindsets - different concept than mental models. I fully agree with the author here - a growth mindset is useful! But that's a different thing from saying that some people actually have accurate mental models of the important complex systems underpinning the world.
I am sure there are. But few and far between. And rarely are they in positions of power in my experience.