The Impostor Syndrome Files

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about asking for help. Many of us love to help others but we are uncomfortable asking for what we need. But what if not asking for help not only hurts us but also hurts those who would otherwise help us? My guest this week, Emmett Tomkinson, shares their vision of our world as a collective that is designed to share help and that those who give help benefit just as much as those who receive it. We also talk about how you can get more involved in this effort. About My GuestEmmett Tomkinson lives in Seattle with their wife and two kids. They work as a Customer Success Specialist Engineer in the tech space. They have a unique gift of excelling both technically and interpersonally and are driven by a love for helping people. They are originally from Utah - born and raised in a very conservative religious environment. As a member of the LGBTQ community, this religious upbringing has had a big impact on their life. They recently came out as transgender - female to male - and currently use they/them pronouns. Emmett is a musician and they love to sing, play the guitar, and play the piano. They like to spend their free time playing Zelda with their kids or working out in the yard.Connect with Emmett here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmett-tomkinson-%F0%9F%8F%B3%EF%B8%8F%E2%80%8D%E2%9A%A7%EF%B8%8F-08400a67/About Unified Collective: helping people help each otherUnified Collective is a group dedicated to helping people help each other. Through an online forum, members of the community can reach out for assistance, and other members can respond to those needs. These help requests will come in all shapes and sizes. Some examples might include:Help talking through a tough situation with your boss or a co-workerHelp getting a second pair of eyes on your resume for typos or formatting errorsHelp feeling uplifted on a gloomy day. Maybe there’s someone in another part of the world who can share some sunshine over a video chat.Help staying accountable to a commitment you’ve made to yourselfHelp understanding how to navigate the stock marketFind out more about this initiative in the Show Notes.~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:https://yourcareersuccess.com/impostor-syndrome-challenge/ Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:https://yourcareersuccess.com/leading-humans-discussion-group/Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6 Join the Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadinghumansSchedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session Connect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/ Websites:https://yourcareersuccess.comhttps://impostorsyndromefiles.com

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about the power of writing at work. For much of our early lives, we write to be judged or graded by our teachers. When we transition to the workplace, the goals of our writing change, which can lead us to doubt ourselves or overthink our writing. My guest this week, Erin Lebacqz, an expert in business writing, shares her perspectives on how we can all become more confident, effective writers in the workplace.  About My GuestErin Lebacqz created the High-Value Writing program to help business writers develop more clarity and confidence in their writing. Her new book, High-Value Writing: Real Strategies for Real-World Writing, is based on conversations with thousands of writers around the world, and provides down-to-earth strategies and examples. Erin has been teaching writing for 25 years, both in the United States and internationally. ~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:https://yourcareersuccess.com/impostor-syndrome-challenge/ Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:https://yourcareersuccess.com/leading-humans-discussion-group/Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6 Join the Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadinghumansSchedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session Connect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/ Websites:https://yourcareersuccess.comhttps://impostorsyndromefiles.com

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about our addiction to the status quo. Each one of us is bombarded with messages about what we should do and who we should be. But those “shoulds” are rarely a recipe for happiness and fulfillment. My guest, Kathryn Burmeister, shares her journey of transitioning from a lawyer, a role she always dreamed about, to an entrepreneur focused on helping other lawyers find greater happiness in their lives. We also discuss our own mental health journeys and why it’s so important to have these conversations.About My GuestKathryn Burmeister makes a point to live every day. As a human being, she channels her passion for others into animal rescue, charities, and other causes. She is an entrepreneur, attorney, author, speaker, and guide to high-level service professionals.Kathryn has served on the Board of Directors for Ahimsa House, a non-profit that helps domestic violence survivors and their pets get out of abusive situations. She is a member of Animal Legal Defense Fund, a non-profit whose mission is to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system, and is a member of their Pro Bono Program network; a member of the ACLU, a non-profit that works through the legal system and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country; and a member of the Female Founder Collective, a network of businesses led by women, that enables and empowers female owned and led businesses to positively impact communities, both socially and economically. She is also a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, whose mission is to protect the Constitutional promise of justice for all by guaranteeing the right to trial by jury, preserving an independent judiciary, and providing access to the courts for all Georgians.Though she never anticipated having her own business, after a number of tumultuous events, Kathryn started her own law firm, Burmeister Law Firm, LLC, in October of 2018 and focuses exclusively on personal injury by giving a voice to those that have been hurt because of someone else.She formed her personally branded business, Kathryn F. Burmeister, LLC. Known as The Happiness Lawyer™, she speaks, writes, and guides high-level service professionals towards living a full life (both personally and professional) of happiness. She wrote her first book, “Overcoming Addiction to the Status Quo,” in 2020.~Connect with Kathryn:https://Kathrynfburmeister.com~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:https://yourcareersuccess.com/impostor-syndrome-challenge/ Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:https://yourcareersuccess.com/leading-humans-discussion-group/Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6 Join the Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadinghumansSchedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session Connect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/ Websites:https://yourcareersuccess.comhttps://impostorsyndromefiles.com

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about how giving yourself permission to be a beginner empowers you to overcome perfectionism and impostor syndrome and stretch and challenge yourself in new ways. My guest, Lesley Logan, shares her journey from an unfulfilling career in the retail industry to a Pilates instructor and how this helped her to strengthen her relationship with herself, mentally and physically. We also talk about the power of discomfort in building the muscles we need to advance our careers.  About My GuestLesley Logan, a certified Pilates teacher, breathwork, habits and mindset coach, is the founder of OnlinePilatesClasses.com, the first free online catalogue of Pilates exercise tutorials, where you can also find weekly Pilates classes and workshops. Teaching Pilates since 2008, she has run multiple studios, has trained hundreds of people to become teachers themselves and has taught thousands of students. When not teaching from her studio in Las Vegas, Lesley she’s hosting her podcast Be It Till You See it or traveling the world-leading Pilates retreats.~Connect with Lesley:lesleylogan.co/podcast onlinepilatesclasses.com/free Instagram: @be_it_pod @lesley.logan ~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:https://yourcareersuccess.com/impostor-syndrome-challenge/ Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:https://yourcareersuccess.com/leading-humans-discussion-group/Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6 Join the Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadinghumansSchedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session Connect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/ Websites:https://yourcareersuccess.comhttps://impostorsyndromefiles.com

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about bringing more humanity to the workplace. My guest, Mike Thompson, founder of Spark Recruiting, shares his journey with impostor syndrome and how he views his investment in his mental health as just as important as his investment in his physical health. We also talk about how to re-imagine the hiring process to increase diversity and ensure that the right people are promoted to leadership. And, finally, we talk about the role of micro-disruptor that we can all play to transform our workplaces. About My GuestMike Thomson has been in the recruitment agency industry for thirteen years. He launched Spark at the end of 2021 with the goal to change how everyone attracts top talent. Hiring is uninspiring, generic, faceless, and lacks personality but not anymore. He is an entrepreneur, matchmaker, sales professional, storyteller, father, athlete and optimistically curious about people.For more information on Mike, go to his website https://www.sparkrecruiting.ca/ and connect with him on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikethomsonrecruiter/ ~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:https://yourcareersuccess.com/impostor-syndrome-challenge/ Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:https://yourcareersuccess.com/leading-humans-discussion-group/Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6 Join the Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadinghumansSchedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session Connect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/ Websites:https://yourcareersuccess.comhttps://impostorsyndromefiles.com

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about the power of bringing professionals of all genders together so that we can better understand and support each other. My guest, Jake Fishbein, and I share our journey of leading conversations about the gender experience in the workplace and discuss how surprised we were to learn that our experiences are far more similar than different. We also talk about the importance of psychological safety to these discussions and how we can all take ownership of creating a better workplace.About My GuestJacob “Coach Jake” Fishbein is an Executive & Personal Coach who specializes in helping people and teams make and navigate their most pressing choices. He’s passionate about helping men and women make proactive decisions and pushing their endeavors forward in purposeful and powerful ways. For him, coaching is all about learning - learning about yourself, your choices, your results, and how you can choose differently to create something new for you and the people and communities you impact.Coach Jake received his professional coaching certification from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), is a PCC accredited coach through the International Coaching Federation (ICF), and is an ACE Certified Coach (Accelerating Coach Excellence) after training with David Peterson (Former Director of Executive Coaching & Leadership at Google) and David Goldsmith (pioneer of the coaching industry).Before becoming a full-time coach, Coach Jake was a publicist for Jonathan Marder + Company, the general manager for Footnote Records, and the co-founder and COO of Experience Vinyl. He graduated magna cum laude from Kenyon College with a B.A. in History, and two track & field school records.~Connect with Jake:www.jakefishbein.comwww.arenaseries.com~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:https://yourcareersuccess.com/impostor-syndrome-challenge/ Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:https://yourcareersuccess.com/leading-humans-discussion-group/Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6 Join the Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadinghumansSchedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session Connect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/ Websites:https://yourcareersuccess.comhttps://impostorsyndromefiles.com

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about how to show up as allies to the LGBTQ community in the workplace, including why it’s important to use pronouns correctly, how to manage microaggressions and how to help people feel safe at work. My guest, Sarah Scala, a consultant with a specialty in LGBTQ coaching, shares her experience as a member of the community and what we can do to better support members of underrepresented groups in the workplace.  About My GuestSarah A. Scala M. Ed & OD, PCC (She/Her/Hers) Serving as consultant, coach, and educator, Sarah Scala’s experiential and high-energy approach increases client revenue, reduces turnover, creates business value, and transforms performance of executives, leaders, and teams, helping them reach their highest potential. She provides organization and leadership development, executive coaching, change management, public speaking facilitation, and team development solutions. She supports US-based and global clients across cultures, generations, geographies, and diverse industries. She has extensive experience working with organizations that strive to balance excellent performance, in addition to supporting LGBTQ+ leaders. Learn more at: https://www.sarahscala.com/about~Connect with Sarah:LINKEDIN:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahscala/WEBSITE: https://www.sarahscala.com/NEWSLETTER: https://www.sarahscala.com/joinYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChB6B0DjdUY3JDVovwd8JXQ Coming out as an LGBTQ+ Business blog: https://www.sarahscala.com/blog/coming-out-as-an-lgbtq-businessHow I got here blog: https://www.sarahscala.com/blog/how-i-got-hereLGBTQ+ Solutions: https://www.sarahscala.com/lgbtq-solutionsLGBTQ+ Coaching: https://www.sarahscala.com/lgbtq-coaching ~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:https://yourcareersuccess.com/impostor-syndrome-challenge/ Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:https://yourcareersuccess.com/leading-humans-discussion-group/Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6 Join the Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadinghumansSchedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session Connect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/ Websites:https://yourcareersuccess.comhttps://impostorsyndromefiles.com

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about why it’s so important to show curiosity and be vulnerable in our connections with others. Many of us struggle with building new relationships, particularly in light of changes in the workplace resulting from the pandemic. My guest this week, Rob Maloney, host of the Heart & Hard Work podcast, shares that his default assumption is that humans want to connect, so he’s always willing to take the risk. We also talk about the power of the growth mindset and why it’s important to show compassion toward ourselves if we want to support others.About My GuestRob Maloney’s life experiences forged a trilingual "learn-it-all" world traveler w/ 2 master’s degrees working at Microsoft and host of the "Heart & Hard Work" podcast. He empowers rethinking by sharing perspectives of purpose as a multiplier leader building communities where people can thrive together. He’s driven to reshape broken notions of fixed limitations and mental health while reteaching a growth mindset, emotional intelligence, and meta-cognition to actualize our full potential.~Connect with Rob:Heart & Hard Work podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/heart-and-hard-work/id1584116053Heart & Hard Work podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78hIcCt8WybpRA5vdwQlGf~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:https://yourcareersuccess.com/impostor-syndrome-challenge/ Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:https://yourcareersuccess.com/leading-humans-discussion-group/Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6 Join the Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadinghumansSchedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session Connect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/ Websites:https://yourcareersuccess.comhttps://impostorsyndromefiles.com

In this week’s episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we look at how important it is to feel special and unique in our workplaces. We also talk about how challenging that can be when we feel pressured to conform and fit in. My guest, Taylor Short, shares how she helps professionals return to their true selves by understanding what makes them unique and how to best engage with others in their workplaces. She also advises that, while there may be times when it’s best to leave your job, our power comes from looking at what we can control and re-defining our relationships with our work.  About My Guest Taylor Short is a Job Reset Coach & Consultant, as well as author of Reset Your Relationship to Your Job. She’s fired up about disrupting the narrative that work is meant to be stressful and knows what’s possible for employees and companies when they shift their relationship to their job. Taylor helps people move from feeling stuck and overwhelmed to energized and fulfilled, without leaving their job. Having spent 15+ years climbing the corporate ladder herself, Taylor discovered a missing piece in Corporate America. The entire focus was on external success, but most employees were experiencing a significant internal struggle. Through her own work, she learned what it takes to balance these two and eventually left to start her own business – Harmonious Return - to help people reset the way they relate to their jobs. She knows when people are fulfilled internally, they tap into a goldmine of energy, passion and worth that positively impacts everything they do. Her credentials include: MBA, ICF Certified Coach, Nature Connected Coach, Yoga Instructor, Human Design Reader ~Connect with Taylor:Website: https://harmoniousreturn.com/~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:https://yourcareersuccess.com/impostor-syndrome-challenge/ Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:https://yourcareersuccess.com/leading-humans-discussion-group/Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6 Join the Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadinghumansSchedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session Connect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/ Websites:https://yourcareersuccess.comhttps://impostorsyndromefiles.com

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about how easy it is to experience self-doubt and impostor syndrome when you feel different from those around you. My guest, Amber Barber, a senior director of program management in the high-tech industry, talks about her experience as the only woman studying physics when she went to college. She also talks about how often being the only woman in her workplace has led her to feel pressured to constantly prove herself. Amber shares how her experience with mentors has helped her to navigate challenges and stay focused on growing her career. She also shares tips for how you can find a mentor and maximize that experience.  About My Guest Amber Barber is an experienced problem solver, with nearly 22 years of fixing other people’s mistakes in the high-tech world.  After earning both her bachelor's and masters degrees in physics, Amber started at National Semiconductor in Texas.  She has since held roles at several other companies, including Microsoft and Lam Research, and is currently the senior director of Jade Global’s program management office, working remotely from a small town in Oregon.  Her passion for learning and guiding others drove her training and certifications in both PMI Project Management as well as Lean Six Sigma, where she earned Master Black Belt.  Amber is a proud mom of four adult children, and lives in her empty nest with two spoiled cats and her incredibly patient husband Brad.  Amber loves all things geek, reading for hours, and traveling the world.~Connect with Amber:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberbarber/ ~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:https://yourcareersuccess.com/impostor-syndrome-challenge/ Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:https://yourcareersuccess.com/leading-humans-discussion-group/Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6 Join the Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadinghumansSchedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session Connect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/ Websites:https://yourcareersuccess.comhttps://impostorsyndromefiles.com