The Impostor Syndrome Files

• Confidently Navigating Menopause at Work

  In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about menopause. For some women, the phases of menopause follow a reasonably predictable course. For others, however, it might start earlier than expected or lead to unexplained symptoms that can have you asking, “What’s wrong with me?” My guest this week, Susan Miele, a menopause educator and former chief people officer, shares how early perimenopause interrupted her once-thriving career. Without an understanding of what was happening to her, she began self-medicating and eventually left her job to focus on her health. Here we discuss the importance of menopause awareness in the workplace so that women can get the support and care they need to stay in their roles and continue to grow their careers. We also talk about ways in which organizations can have these conversations and normalize this experience.About My GuestDr. Susan Miele is a transformational leader and workplace well-being advocate dedicated to redefining the narrative around menopause. Susan frequently speaks and writes about workforce inclusivity, gender equality, and the retention of senior women, challenging organizations to see menopause as a key factor in creating supportive, inclusive workplaces.A former Chief People Officer at Ginkgo Bioworks, Susan led efforts to make biology easier to engineer. At Foundation Medicine Inc., she built a People Team that helped drive the company’s rapid global growth and earned it multiple Best Places to Work awards. Her career spans senior leadership roles across biotech, publishing, finance, and more.Susan holds a PhD in Human and Organizational Systems and brings a mindset of continuous learning to her work. A dedicated yogi, she infuses her leadership with mindfulness and compassion. Susan is active on several boards, with a special focus on organizations that bring resilience and well-being to marginalized communities in her hometown of Portland, Maine.~Connect with Susan:Websites:https://menopause.org/ https://www.susanmiele.com/ https://www.letstalkmenopause.org/~Other Resources:The Menopause Society: https://menopause.org/~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:https://www.kimmeninger.com/challengeLearn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroupJoin the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6Join 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-sessionConnect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/Website:https://kimmeninger.com

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  39:39
• Don’t Fear the Moment

  In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about how to name, tame and reframe impostor syndrome. Does impostor syndrome keep you from asking for help, sharing your ideas or taking risks? If so, you’re not alone. Each of us has warring factions in our brains. There’s the intellectual side that knows that we’ll be okay if we step outside our comfort zones and then there’s the emotional side that lives in constant fear of something terrible happening. This week, I talk with John Little, an executive performance coach, about how to bridge the gap between these two sides. Here John shares strategies and insights to help us manage impostor syndrome. In particular, he emphasizes how important it is for us to not fear the moment because when we fear a certain moment, we lose out on bigger growth opportunities. Lastly, we talk about how impostor syndrome impacts, not just individuals, but organizations, and why we should be addressing this as a business issue. About My GuestJohn Little is an Executive Leadership Performance Coach with over 25 years of experience leading people and businesses across multiple industries. He specializes in helping CHROs, VPs of HR, and senior leaders support executives and high-potential individuals in excelling in their current roles, preparing for future leadership positions, and reducing costly turnover.John’s coaching focuses on building trust, influence, and authority using his proprietary EMBRACE framework, empowering leaders to create meaningful impact and seize new opportunities. His clients often experience career growth 2-3x faster, improved team collaboration, and measurable improvements in employee engagement, retention, and leadership effectiveness.Known for aligning leadership development with business goals, John equips his clients with mindset strategies and actionable tools that drive both personal and organizational transformation. Whether through one-on-one coaching, cohort-based learning, or organizational training, his approach is tailored to meet each client's unique needs.At the heart of John’s work is his passion for helping people overcome limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome to become authentic, confident leaders in their families, careers, and communities.~Connect with John:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bigjohnlittle Assessment: https://impostersyndromedetector.scoreapp.com~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:https://www.kimmeninger.com/challengeLearn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroupJoin the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6Join 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-sessionConnect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/Website:https://kimmeninger.com

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  39:01
• Driving Creativity Among Teams

  In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about creativity. What’s your definition of creativity? And do you see yourself as creative? I struggled with seeing myself this way for many years because I’m not artistic. Expanding my definition of creativity helped me to see that I’m far more creative than I thought. You probably are too! This week, I’m talking with Dr. Amy Climer, a creativity and innovation consultant, about driving greater creativity and innovation among teams. Here she shares the three key elements needed for teams to be creative together: team purpose, strong team dynamics and a team creative process. We also talk about the ways in which our current structures set us up for failure by emphasizing the idea that there’s one right way to do things and by focusing on short-term, transactional results rather than long-term innovative solutions. And, lastly, we talk about the ways in which impostor syndrome and fear keep us from being creative and how creative teams can support one another.About My GuestDr. Amy Climer is a thought leader in innovation, team development, and experiential learning. She teaches research-based practices, tools, and techniques to forward-thinking organizations such as the Mayo Clinic, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FOX Sports, and the University of Wisconsin. Amy holds a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change from Antioch University. She is the author of Deliberate Creative Teams: How to Lead for Innovative Results, a book for leaders who want their teams to be more creative, but don’t know where to start. Dr. Amy’s research led to the Deliberate Creative Team Scale, designed to measure the three critical dimensions of team creativity. Her TEDx talk The Power of Deliberate Creative Teams explains her research and philosophies on innovation. Dr. Amy is the host of The Deliberate Creative™ Podcast. She is the designer of Climer Cards, a creativity and teambuilding tool used by thousands to deepen conversations and generate ideas. In 2016 she won the Karl Rhonke Creativity Award from the Association for Experiential Education. Amy lives in Asheville, North Carolina in the U.S. ~Connect with Amy:Websites:   https://www.climerconsulting.com   https://climercards.com/Book: https://deliberatecreativeteams.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyclimer/~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:https://www.kimmeninger.com/challengeLearn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroupJoin the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6Join 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-sessionConnect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/Website:https://kimmeninger.com

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  31:47
• How to Develop Gravitas & Boost Your Confidence

  In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about gravitas. Gravitas is one of those words we use but rarely define. We know it when we see it but it’s tough to pin down. This week, I’m talking with Richard Reid, a psychologist and coach, about the connection between gravitas and confidence. We sometimes think of gravitas as an innate trait when, in actuality, you can develop it. Here we talk about what gravitas looks like, why it matters and how to get there.About My GuestRichard has over twenty years of experience as a psychologist and coach. Originally trained as a trauma therapist, he has been involved in several high-profile cases for the City of London Police, London Underground and the Witness Protection Program. Alongside this work, he is an author, media spokesperson, coach and consultant, working with individuals and organisations to help them achieve their full potential.~Connect with Richard:Website: https://www.richard-reid.com~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:https://www.kimmeninger.com/challengeLearn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroupJoin the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6Join 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-sessionConnect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/Website:https://kimmeninger.com

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  33:32
• Be BOLD. Choose You

  In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about being BOLD (believe, own, learn and design). Many of us stay trapped in the wrong situation for too long because we’re afraid to take risks or make changes. But living our best lives requires that we choose ourselves and take bold action. This week, I’m talking with Leigh Burgess, founder of Bold Industries Group and author of Be BOLD Today. Here she shares the story of how severe burnout led her to leave a successful career in healthcare and start her own business. Leigh and I talk about her BOLD framework and how to use it to regain control of your own life. She also emphasizes that you can be bold incrementally and at a pace that works best for you.About My GuestLeigh Burgess is an entrepreneur, visionary leader, and the unstoppable force behind Bold Industries Group, Inc. (BIG). As the CEO and Founder, Leigh has transformed a passion for business consulting, coaching, and creating life-changing experiences into a multi-seven-figure enterprise in just four years. Her debut book, Be BOLD Today: Unleash Your Potential, Master Your Mindset, and Achieve Success (Simon & Schuster, 11/ 2024) explores The BOLD Framework that Leigh created and the four actionable and relatable steps to embrace your true self and design a life of purpose and passion. Leigh shares from personal experience how she made her dream a reality through B.O.L.D. (Believe, Own, Learn, Design), and it is the roadmap for living your own #bold life. After more than 20 years leading in the corporate world, Leigh hit a wall. Burnout came knocking, and suddenly, the success she’d been chasing felt empty. She was out of sync—emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. But instead of sticking it out, Leigh did something most wouldn’t dare to do, she left her job, choosing herself and her well-being. This decision led to Leigh becoming the bootstrapped founder and CEO of BIG in 2020. Leigh wanted to create a space where organizations and individuals can make bold moves, be curious and take life to the next level. She co-founded the company with her daughter, her biggest inspiration and partner-in-business. Leigh’s mission? To make sure no one ever has to go through the burnout she did, that they learn how to break free of self-doubt and to leave a legacy that her daughter can be proud of. ~Connect with Leigh:Website: https://leighburgess.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighburgess23/~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:https://www.kimmeninger.com/challengeLearn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroupJoin the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6Join 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-sessionConnect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/Website:https://kimmeninger.com

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  35:00

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