The Imposterâs Gift: Your Inner Critic Might Actually Be Your Ally (Part 3 to the 3-Part Series)
What if your imposter feelings werenât an enemy⊠but a friend and confidant? Not just a cheerleaderâbut a wise, honest guide imparting wisdom.
Instead of resisting it, try this:
- Acknowledge it: âI notice Iâm feeling like an imposterâand thatâs okay.â
- Ask: âIf this feeling were a trusted friend, what would it say?â
This exercise helps you defuse the shame, mine the wisdom, and access the emotional agility to lead with your full power and heart.
What if your inner critic was really your fiercest advocate in disguise? If that voice actually wanted to lift you up, what would it say? Comment below ... I would love to hear your perspective!
If youâre a leader looking to gain clarity on âwhatâs nextâ, how to build more cohesive and high-performing teams, and lead with greater confidence and influence, letâs have a confidential conversation. http://www.sherylkline.com/meetingÂ
Cheering you on always!
â Sheryl
Super Human Growth - an Interview with Shanna Goodell, Senior Director of Enterprise Learning & Talent Development at Druva
In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the pleasure of speaking with Shanna Goodell, Senior Director of Enterprise Learning and Talent Development at Druva, about her inspiring career journey and her vision for âsuperhuman growth.â
Shannaâs path was shaped by mentors who believed in her potential and opened doors that might otherwise have stayed closed. From her best friendâs parents encouraging her to pursue college, to mentors who introduced her to organizational psychology, to leaders who gave her early opportunities, Shanna embodies the ripple effect of empowerment.
Her career reflects resilience and innovationâespecially when she pioneered flexible work arrangements to balance motherhood with professional growth. At Druva, she now champions learning strategies that integrate cutting-edge AI with the human connection that truly drives growth. Shanna believes that curiosity, trust, and vision are the key ingredients for creating âsuperhuman teamsâ that achieve beyon...
đŻ The Imposter's Gift: Mind the Gap... and Move Through It (Part 2 to the 4-Part "Imposter's Gift" Series)
(Part 2 of 3 in âThe Imposterâs Giftâ Series)
World-class performers feel imposter syndrome too. The difference between them and everyone else?
They learn from the discomfort and get better because of it. They also perform with the end in mind.
Hereâs how:
- Visualize yourself as the confident, worthy, successful version of you.
- Identify the âgapâ between that version and where you are now.
- Take intentional action to bridge it.
When you honor the discomfort and reverse-engineer the path forward, imposter syndrome becomes clarity, courage, and yesâeven confidence.
Iâd love to hear your perspective. Whoâs the future version of you that already owns the room? If you imagined yourself already there, what one shift would help close the gap?
đ„ Watch the Part 2 video and share your perspective.
This is a 4-part series, so be on the lookout for additional posts in the week to come.
Cheering you on, always!
- Sheryl
Journey From Influence of Power to the Power of Influence - an Interview with Ekta Vyas, Ph.D, Chief Human Resources Officer from Keck Medicine of USC
In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the distinct honor of speaking with Ekta Vyas, Ph.D, Chief Human Resources Officer of Keck Medicine at USC, about her remarkable journey from navigating cultural transitions to becoming an influential leader in healthcare. We explored her philosophy on moving from the influence of power to the power of influence, and how clarity, resilience, and humility fuel true leadership.
Dr. Vyas shared her upbringing in India, her bold move to the U.S., and the challenges of rebuilding her career in a new country. An introvert at heart, she leaned on deep reflection, silent courage, and an unwavering commitment to doing whatâs right. She emphasized that leadership is not about positional authority but about the enduring impact you leave through your influence, character, and values.
She also revealed how spirituality, self-awareness, and resilience anchor her power, especially during adversity. Her message for leaders everywhere: seek no...
The Imposterâs Gift: Be the Observer, Not the Judge (Part 1 to the 4-Part "Imposter's Gift" Series)
As if itâs not bad enough to feel judged by others, we can be our worst critics.
When self-criticism dominates our internal dialog, such as "I am not qualified" or "I donât deserve/am not ready to be here". itâs our reality, and WE make it true.
What if instead of judging, we simply observed?
Try this shift:
đ Replace âI am not qualifiedâ with âI notice Iâm feeling unqualified.â
đ Then ask, âWhatâs my next best step?â
This small but powerful change from "I am..." to "I noticeâŠ" builds self-compassion, emotional agency, and momentum. Itâs not about fixing yourselfâitâs about meeting yourself with honesty and grace.
Whatâs your go-to self-talk when imposter syndrome creeps in? Have you tried reframing it with "I notice" instead of "I am"? Would love to hear how it works for you!
đ„ Watch the Part 1 video and share your perspective. This is a 4-part series, so be on the lookout for additional posts in the week to come.
Cheering you on, always!
--Sheryl
The Imposterâs Gift: How Feeling Like a Fraud Can Be Fuel (Introduction to the 4-Part "Imposter's Gift" Series)
Whether youâre an Olympian, executive, or rising leader, youâve likely felt like an imposter. I know I have! Itâs 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 itâs 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 itâs time to stop fighting this enormous battle and instead, with compassion, look for the wisdom in the feeling.
If you feel like you donât belong in the room youâve worked so hard to be in, donât worry. You have an ally.
Hereâs something that Iâve 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 lensâhearing both from an established executive leader and a rising star in the pipelineâon 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 onâeven 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 beliefâ...
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 todayâs ever-evolving business climate. Veena brings a deeply thoughtful and people-first approach to leadership, grounded in inclusion, continuous learning, and courage.
Veenaâs 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 isnât just a ânice to haveââitâs 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 Whatâs 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 awarenessâespecially for women who are the primary or significant breadwinners. With a personal journey that spans Wall Street, single motherhood, and pastry school, Bridgetâs 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 herselfâhigh-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 hadnât been aware of. That moment sparked a powerful mindset shift: from financial avoidance to intentional engagement. She now empowers women to do the sameâstarting 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 challengesâwhether complex or simpleâand the immense satisfaction she finds in identifying issues and crafting effective solution...
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