The Imposter’s Gift: How Feeling Like a Fraud Can Be Fuel (Introduction to the 4-Part "Imposter's Gift" Series)
Whether you’re an Olympian, executive, or rising leader, you’ve likely felt like an imposter. I know I have! It’s not only normal, it can mean that you are pushing yourself outside your comfort zone. That makes you extraordinary!
World-class performers are comfortable in this discomfort, knowing that the only way to their next level is through.
Imposter syndrome, imposter phenomenon, or whatever it’s currently being called has received a bad rap. By trying to diminish it or get rid of it, we are attempting to banish thousands of years of cultural, social, religious, cultural, and even generational indoctrinations.
Maybe it’s time to stop fighting this enormous battle and instead, with compassion, look for the wisdom in the feeling.
If you feel like you don’t belong in the room you’ve worked so hard to be in, don’t worry. You have an ally.
Here’s something that I’ve learned from researching and working with world-class athletes, Olympians, and some of the most prolific female executives in S...
Building Loyalty: Retain and Inspire High Performing Teams - an Interview with Maricel Perez-Lovisolo and Lucia Leal-Pensabene of TELUS International
In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the rare privilege of speaking with not one, but two inspiring women from TELUS International: Maricel Perez-Lovisolo, VP of Global Learning Excellence and Organizational Development, and Lucia Leal-Pensabene, Senior Learning and Enablement Manager. This unique conversation gave us a double lens—hearing both from an established executive leader and a rising star in the pipeline—on how to create environments where emerging female leaders can not only survive but truly thrive.
Maricel emphasized the power of accessibility, modeling open communication and psychological safety early on—even several levels down the org chart. For her, leadership means being approachable, available, and intentional about nurturing future talent, long before formal titles are earned.
Lucia spoke vulnerably and powerfully about the importance of seeing role models at the top. Early access to leaders like Maricel gave her not only feedback but also belief—...
Strategies to Stay Relevant at Every Stage of Leadership - an Interview with Veena Joji, Chief Human Resources Officer at Apexon
In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the privilege of speaking with Veena Joji, Chief Human Resource Officer of Apexon, about what it truly takes to stay relevant in today’s ever-evolving business climate. Veena brings a deeply thoughtful and people-first approach to leadership, grounded in inclusion, continuous learning, and courage.
Veena’s passion for inclusive leadership was sparked during her childhood, attending an international school where diversity was a lived experience, not a buzzword. That early exposure to belonging shaped her view that inclusion isn’t just a “nice to have”—it’s essential to business success and human transformation.
Now leading a global HR organization, Veena shared powerful, actionable strategies for emerging leaders, senior executives, and allies alike to remain not only visible but valuable in a fast-changing world. Her core message? Staying relevant is an intentional, ongoing practice of learning, connecting, and showing up full...
Know What’s Going On with Your Money - an Interview with Bridget Grimes, CFP, President and Founder of WealthChoice
In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the pleasure of speaking with Bridget Grimes, CFP, President and Founder of WealthChoice, about the critical importance of financial awareness—especially for women who are the primary or significant breadwinners. With a personal journey that spans Wall Street, single motherhood, and pastry school, Bridget’s mission is rooted in lived experience: to help women who are accomplished professionals but financially overwhelmed reclaim control and confidence in their financial futures.
Bridget founded WealthChoice nearly a decade ago to serve women like herself—high-achieving, time-strapped professionals who often neglect their own financial wellbeing. Her wake-up call came during a divorce when she discovered six figures in credit card debt she hadn’t been aware of. That moment sparked a powerful mindset shift: from financial avoidance to intentional engagement. She now empowers women to do the same—starting with awareness and moving t...
Navigating Tech and Teams Effectively - an Interview with Rehanne Allen, Senior Director, HR Technology and Operations at Epiq
In this enlightening Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the pleasure of speaking with Rehanne Allen, Senior Director of HR Technology & Operations at Epiq, about navigating technology and teams effectively in today's rapidly evolving workplace. Rehanne shared her inspiring journey as a woman in tech and her passion for creating positive change through strategic leadership.
Rehanne's leadership philosophy was forged through witnessing both exceptional and poor leadership examples throughout her career. She became particularly motivated by seeing how women in technology were often overlooked compared to their male counterparts, igniting her desire to become the leader she wished she had experienced. Her approach centers on problem-solving and finding solutions that genuinely improve people's daily work lives.
What drives Rehanne is her love for tackling challenges—whether complex or simple—and the immense satisfaction she finds in identifying issues and crafting effective solution...
Keeping Innovation Moving Forward During Change - an Interview with Bernadette Berger, Director of Innovation at Alaska Airlines
In this captivating Fearless Female Leadership interview, I sat down with Bernadette Berger, Director of Innovation at Alaska Airlines, to explore what it truly means to drive innovation in a time of massive change. From her early career rejections to becoming a leader shaping the future of air travel, Bernadette's story is a powerful reminder of the courage it takes to keep showing up—and the vision it takes to build what doesn’t exist yet.
Bernadette's path began in industrial design, not aviation, and after 29 job interview rejections, she finally broke through with Teague—Boeing’s premier aircraft design partner. There, she spent over a decade experimenting, learning new skills, and eventually helping design next-gen aircraft interiors and experiences. Her innovation philosophy? Don’t aim to fix everything at once—ask what would need to be true to solve the problem at hand.
Now at Alaska Airlines, Bernadette leads innovation across the organization, helping unify cross-functional tea...
Leading with Humility and Heart - an Interview with Kristyn Ramsey, Senior Director of Learning & Development at D. R. Horton
In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the privilege of speaking with Kristyn Ramsey, Senior Director of Learning & Development at D.R. Horton, about the power of humility, resilience, and lifelong learning in shaping fearless leadership. Kristyn’s story is a reminder that authentic leadership starts with embracing rejection, choosing growth, and empowering others through trust and perspective.
Kristyn opened up about the early influence of her parents—her father’s goal-setting rituals and her mother’s example of managing both work and home life—that instilled a fierce work ethic and sense of vision. Her career was not without challenges. Twice rejected for roles she deeply wanted, she chose to learn and improve instead of stepping back. Her experience underscores a core truth: setbacks can shape the most powerful comebacks.
Leading with humility, Kristyn says, is not about shrinking—it’s about shifting focus from self to service. It’s a mindset that drives ROI thr...
Wondering What's Next? Do This Consistently (Part 3 of 3)...
From Seeking to Serving: The Mindset Shift That Transforms What’s Next
If you’re at a crossroads in your career—wondering what’s next, what your next big move could be, or how to make the leap into something more meaningful—you’re not alone. I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside several clients recently who were in that exact space. Each of them ultimately landed CXO or executive leadership roles, but their real transformation started long before they signed their offer letters.
It began with a mindset shift: from seeking to serving.
Flip the Script: You’re Not Just Looking—You’re Offering
When we’re in a “seeking” mindset, it can feel like we’re chasing something outside of ourselves—waiting for someone else to hand us the next opportunity. But the truth is, you have immense value to offer. You’ve got wisdom, experience, and heart. So instead of asking, “Who will hire me?” ask this instead:
- “Where can I serve at the highest level?”
- “What kind of organization would be lucky to ha...
From 'The Knot' to Everest: Embrace Your Climb - an Interview with Lisa Abbott, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer at Boston Children’s Hospital
In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the honor of speaking with Lisa Abbott, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer at Boston Children’s Hospital, about the journey from “the knot” to Everest—both literal and metaphorical. Lisa’s story is an incredible example of how discomfort, determination, and asking for help can lead to powerful transformation.
Growing up in challenging circumstances, Lisa was influenced early on by teachers and mentors who saw her potential even before she did. That belief, along with her own courage and adaptability, helped her navigate a winding career path—starting in IT, moving into HR, and ultimately rising to the C-suite in healthcare despite not having a traditional background in the industry.
Lisa also shared a deeply personal metaphor from her childhood: the gym-class rope. As a child, she couldn’t climb past the knot. But years later, she not only found the strength to climb literal ropes, she also trekked to Everes...
Wondering What's Next? Do This Consistently (Part 2 of 3)...
My last three clients that have now recently landed CXO and executive leadership positions came to me wondering, “What is next for me?”
Some of them exited voluntarily. Some of them were exited involuntarily. And they had to take a moment and get some help through “What do I want? What is next for me? What impact do I choose to have?” And then we spent the time together to refine that clarity, put a plan in place, then help them land that next role.Â
I wanted to share some of the tips, tools, and strategies that were really successful for them.
Step 1: Be the observer not the judge of your emotions
If you're feeling stuck, feeling frustrated, maybe there's fear or worry wrapped in there. It's totally understandable. But what I want you to know is that there is wisdom in those emotions. Do not beat yourself up about those that can be very easy to do, but be the observer of them, not the judge. And so ask yourself if you are worried, or if you feel fear about what's next, or if you feel ...
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