The Impostor Syndrome Files

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about feeling too young at work. Have you ever felt too young at work? Maybe people thought they were complimenting you by pointing out how young you look. Or they made condescending comments that made you feel different or unwelcome. My guest this week is Leslie Alvarez, community management leader and author of the book, “When Life Gives Y...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about leadership. Being a people leader is hard! It’s especially hard in a rapidly changing world where there is so much more to think about and so much less time available to us. My guest this week is Scott Allen, a management professor and leadership consultant who talks about what he refers to as the puzzle of leadership. Here we explore...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about career transitions. Career transitions can feel daunting for lots of reasons but they’re especially scary when you don’t know what you want. This week, I talk with Sarah JanTausch, founder of SRJ Coaching & Consulting and creator of the Values-Based Career method. Here Sarah shares her own career transition story that led her to th...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about what my guest this week, Melody Wilding, calls sensitive strivers. The term sensitive strivers refers to those of us who think and feel more deeply than others while also putting a lot of pressure on ourselves to set goals and succeed. This combination of traits tends to leave us more susceptible to self-doubt and impostor syndrome. He...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about the trap of the comfort zone. It’s all too easy to get stuck in our comfort zones. Each time we choose not to take action, we reinforce the security of our comfort zones, which makes the outside world feel that much scarier. This week, I talk with Aaron Trahan, a former executive leader turned performance coach who now helps leaders re...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about networking. Some of us love connecting with others while others of us may be less interested in or even intimidated by networking. The good news is that, whatever your relationship to networking, there are steps you can take to make it work for you. My guest this week is Michael Morgan, author of the book, “The Power of Networking”. He...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about the human brain. We like to think that we’re rational beings who happen to have feelings. In actuality, we’re emotional beings who happen to think. This week, I’m talking with Carlos Davidovich, an executive coach and neuromanagement expert, about the five different characters, or aspects of our brains, that make up what he calls our i...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about introversion. If you’re an introvert, you’ve likely felt pressured, directly or indirectly, to be more like your extroverted colleagues. Workplaces tend to have an extrovert bias, which can make it really hard for introverts to own and embrace their unique strengths. This week, I’m talking with Stacey Chazin, a leadership coach and fou...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about dealing with drama at work. Because we’re complex humans, it can be challenging to navigate other people’s drama without making it about ourselves. In reality, though, very little about other people’s behaviors has anything to do with us. This week, I’m talking with Brenda Neckvatal, a human results professional who helps leaders tackl...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about pressures on working parents in the workplace. If you’re a working parent, you know how challenging it is to navigate the pressures of advancing your career while being the parent you want to be. Unfortunately, many of us put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be perfect at work and at home. My guest this week is Moe Carrick, a workplac...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about well-being. What does well-being look like to you? This is a question we don’t often ask ourselves but, if we want to be “successful,” it’s important to consider. My guest this week is Meico Marquette Whitlock, a well-being strategist. Here we talk about how to prioritize well-being individually and collectively. Meico shares 3 powerfu...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about side hustles. Side hustles are a popular experiment these days but, for those of us who struggle with impostor syndrome and other fears, the process can be daunting. My guest this week, Jen Lewi, is an executive coach with a specialty in career strategy. Here she shares how she started her coaching business as a side hustle before offi...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about focusing on what’s within our control. If you’re like me, you’re worrying about the upcoming election, climate change, social issues, and much more. But, while it’s important to be aware of our macro-environments, it’s even more important to focus on what’s within our control. This week, I’m talking with Lissy Alden, the founder of MYN...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about personal empowerment. If we let impostor syndrome control our personal narratives, we may be giving away our power in ways we don’t realize. My guest this week, Marjorie Ngwenya, is a board member, coach, consultant, speaker and author of the book, Empowered Evolution. Here we talk about Marjorie’s early career experiences, having had...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about breaking free from adopting others’ personas and embracing our own. Many of us have found ourselves impersonating those around us, either because we lacked the confidence to be our true selves, or we were told, implicitly or explicitly, that we had to behave in certain ways to fit into the culture around us. My guest this week, Daniell...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about how to create a meaningful “now” in the midst of everything going on in the world around us. With the upcoming election here in the US, volatility across the world and constant negativity on social media and the news, how do we get back on track and shift our attention to building a better now? This week, I talk with Greg Bennick, keyn...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about the fear of flourishing. Many of us grew up in families where we were made to feel that chasing our dreams meant getting too big for our britches. Or we’ve been afraid that if we become too successful, we’ll lose our friends or our community. My guest this week, Rebecca Anne Nguyen, author of the new novel, The 23rd Hero, shares her jo...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about building stronger relationships with ourselves. We often think we know ourselves well but, in reality, we’re too busy living and reacting to the demands around us to notice the way our thoughts, feelings and actions influence our experience in the world. My guest this week is Pallavi Srivastava, executive coach and author of the book,...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about the pressures facing introverts. Many introverts believe that they need to be more extroverted in order to achieve success in the workplace. As a result, they exhaust themselves by trying to be someone they’re not. My guest this week, Kimberly Charvet, shares how she went from growing up with extrovert envy to recognizing that her intr...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about hidden leaders. Hidden leaders, according to my guest, Ali Wilson, possess traits that make them great leaders but, paradoxically, also keep them from reaching higher levels of leadership. Here we discuss the ways in which we overvalue confidence, and even narcissism, which holds hidden leaders back. We also explore ways that hidden le...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about navigating self-doubt as an “only”. My guest this week, Carrie Driscoll, is the co-founder of Reef Consulting. Here she shares her career journey from winning a college scholarship as the only female in computer science to working in software startups to eventually founding her on consulting firm. Carrie shares how she navigates self-d...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about middle management. Many of us don’t like to think of ourselves this way but if you’re responsible for managing up and down, you’re likely a middle manager. My guest this week is Jeff Sigel, author of the book The Middle Matters, a Toolkit for Middle Managers. Jeff argues that middle managers are actually doing three roles at once – doi...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about balancing work with career management. Many women tend to struggle with prioritizing their own career growth because they’re too focused on the needs of the business. This week, I talk with Marja Wagenaar, a leadership specialist, former member of parliament in the Netherlands and author of “The Leadership Book for Women”. Here we disc...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about people management. Whether or not you manage people today, you likely know that it’s a tough job! Not only do you have responsibility for a team of people who are relying on you but you’ve likely gotten very little training and support on how to lead them effectively. My guest this week is Cree Scott, founder and CEO of Serenity and co...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about the power of an anti-vision. Visions can be inspiring but they’re often not powerful enough to break through fear. My guest this week, author and coach Scott Allan, talks about how he uses an anti-vision to push himself out of his comfort zone and face his fears. We also talk about the importance of reminding ourselves that confidence...