The Impostor Syndrome Files
Do you ever feel like a fraud? Struggle with chronic self-doubt? Wonder if you really deserve your role?
You’re not alone. As a leadership coach who’s battled impostor syndrome myself, I created this podcast to provide a place where professionals can share their stories, shed the silent shame and feel seen.
Each episode features honest conversations with professionals from all walks of life who’ve faced impostor syndrome and found ways to move through it. We’ll also hear from experts who share practical strategies for managing ourselves and shaping environments that reduce the threat of impostor syndrome.
Let’s erase the stigma. Let’s stop pretending we’re the only ones. And let’s come together to share, support and rise above the fear that keeps us playing small.
The Impostor Syndrome Files
Experiments: Building Self-Trust and Confidence Through Small Shifts
In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about experimenting with your own growth. My guest this week is Jen Wilson, a coach and consultant whose nontraditional career path has taught her that confidence doesn’t come from perfection; it comes from trusting yourself to handle whatever happens next.
Jen shares how she built her career through unexpected twists and turns, including co-founding innovative schools, burning out and then reinventing her work on her own terms. We explore why self-trust matters more than fearlessness, how small, low-risk experiments can rewire long-held patterns of self-doubt and practical ways to pause, observe your triggers and create new neural “tracks” that support courage and authentic action.
About My Guest
Jennifer Wilson is a consultant, coach, educator, activist, and author. She founded New Leaf Coaching and Consulting in 2006 to partner with world-changing organizations, such as The Obama Foundation and NRDC, that are committed to social and environmental justice. As an abuse survivor, she uses both her pain and resilience to support others in their own healing.
Jennifer earned a Masters in Counseling and Educational Psychology, leading to a career in community social work with youth and families before holding multiple roles within K12 public schools and higher education in Wisconsin. After co-founding two high schools serving marginalized urban youth in Milwaukee, she shifted her focus to working for transformational change within higher education and the nonprofit sectors to ensure that future generations live on a healthy planet in just societies.
Jennifer has had a lifelong love affair with words and writing. She had her first byline in 4th grade, reporting the 4-H club news for her local paper, and the first book she bought with her own money was Roget's Thesaurus. When she's not reading or writing, she heads outside for inspiration, across her home state of Wisconsin and around the world.
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Connect with Jen:
Book - Waking Up to Your Worth: https://consultnewleaf.com/waking-up-to-your-worth-ten-touchstones-for-overcoming-imposter-syndrome/
Website: https://consultnewleaf.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/consultnewleaf/
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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