The Impostor Syndrome Files
Do you ever feel like a fraud? Are you living with chronic self-doubt? Do you question whether you deserve to be in your role? If so, you're not alone! As a leadership coach and lifelong struggler with impostor syndrome, I wanted to create a space where professionals can tell their personal stories and unburden themselves of the silent shame that comes with this experience. I also wanted listeners to be able to hear themselves in others and realize that they are not alone. On this podcast, we'll share the stories of professionals from different backgrounds who've struggled with and learned to manage impostor syndrome. We'll also learn from experts on how to better manage ourselves and our environments to minimize the overall threat of impostor syndrome. Let's erase the stigma and stop feeling ashamed of these very normal experiences. And let's come together to share our challenges and strategize how to effectively rise above them.
The Impostor Syndrome Files
More Than a Doll: Challenging Gender Stereotypes
In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about early messages, the ones that shape how we see ourselves and what we believe is possible. My guest this week is Jodi Bondi Norgaard, author of More Than a Doll and creator of the Go! Go! Sports Girls, a line of empowerment dolls and books designed to challenge gender stereotypes in the toy industry. Jodi shares how a single moment in a toy store with her daughter opened her eyes to the narrow, and often damaging, images marketed to young girls. From there, she set out to create something different. What followed was a years-long battle with the toy industry. In our conversation, Jodi speaks candidly about the resistance she faced and the assumptions that still dominate product development for kids. We also discuss how these early experiences shape our confidence, identity and ambition. And lastly, we talk about what it means to advocate for change in the face of rejection and how to hold onto your values when the world tells you you’re wrong.
About My Guest
Jodi Bondi Norgaard is an entrepreneur, author, and speaker committed to breaking gender stereotypes and advancing equality. She is the author of More Than a Doll: How Creating a Sports Doll Turned into a Fight to End Gender Stereotypes (Post Hill Press, 2025), a powerful story of perseverance, purpose-led business, and disrupting the status quo.
Jodi founded Dream Big Toy Company and created the award-winning Go! Go! Sports Girls line to inspire confidence and healthy play in girls. Her advocacy has led her to work with the White House Gender Policy Council under the Biden administration and the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, influencing policy and representation in toys, content, and publishing.
A TEDx speaker and contributor to Ms. Magazine, Jodi has been featured on The Today Show, Forbes, and more. She speaks nationwide on entrepreneurship, resilience, and the power of using business to drive cultural change, while fighting for equality for women and girls.
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Connect with Jodi:
Website: https://www.jodibondinorgaard.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodibondinorgaard/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jodibondinorgaard/
Substack: https://jodibondinorgaard.substack.com/
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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:
Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/challenge
Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroup
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/leadinghumans
Schedule 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/
Website:
https://kimmeninger.com