In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about creating workplaces where people can thrive. My guest this week is Josh Block, executive advisor and author of People Matter at Work.

Josh shares the story of becoming president of his family's business at age 29 and the lessons he learned from stepping into a role he didn't feel fully prepared to lead. We explore how curiosity, humility and a willingness to rely on the strengths of others helped him navigate uncertainty and grow as a leader.

In our conversation, we discuss why leadership is less about having all the answers and more about helping others succeed. Josh introduces his powerful "gardens versus gold mines" metaphor and explains why leaders must choose whether they want to develop people or simply extract value from them.

We also talk about the importance of maintaining a non-anxious presence during challenging times, the shift from a "me" mindset to a "we" mindset and the role curiosity plays in building stronger teams. Finally, Josh shares his perspective on the unique questions women often bring to leadership conversations and why creating space for different perspectives leads to better outcomes.

About My Guest
Josh Block is a seasoned business leader and entrepreneur passionate about building cultures where people thrive—at work and in life. A graduate of Taylor University, Josh began his career by founding a service company in Muncie, Indiana, focused on creating employment opportunities within the city’s urban core. That early experience cemented his belief in the power of people-first, purpose-driven work.

In 2011, Josh and his wife, Lacey, moved to Lansing, Michigan, where he assumed the role of president at Block Imaging, a family-owned company at the time and now an affiliate of Siemens Healthineers and CommonSpirit Health. Block Imaging provides refurbished imaging systems, parts, and service to healthcare providers worldwide, empowering them to provide a second chance at life for imaging equipment and patients. Under Josh’s leadership, Block Imaging has grown from fifty to more than four hundred team members globally, becoming a model for trust-driven culture and people-powered performance.

In 2018, Josh launched Cube Mobile Imaging to offer mobile imaging solutions across the United States, helping to expand access and reduce patient backlogs. He also speaks and coaches on leadership, organizational culture, and identity.

Outside the office, Josh brings the same energy to his personal life. He enjoys wakesurfing, paddleboarding, and golf, and has competed in triathlons ranging from sprint to 70.3 distances. A few of his favorite indulgences include Cheetos, Cherry Coke, and Cap’n Crunch—and he is known for a legendary waffle recipe.

He and Lacey have been married for twenty-three years and live in Lansing with their two children.

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Connect with Josh:
Book: https://www.amazon.com/People-Matter-Work-Fostering-Everyone/dp/1637635044
Website: https://peoplematteratwork.com/

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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:

Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
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In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about the ordinary moments that shape who we become and why so much of leadership, growth and human connection happens in the spaces we often overlook. My guest this week is Kurt Bush, leadership coach and co-founder of Brimstone Coaching Group.

Kurt shares his nonlinear journey from manufacturing to ministry to leadership coaching and reflects on why growth often comes from embracing uncertainty rather than trying to control it. We explore the pressure leaders feel to always appear confident and capable, especially during times of rapid change and instability, and why so many people quietly carry overwhelm, anxiety and self-doubt while trying to support everyone around them.

In our conversation, we discuss the importance of self-awareness and how moments of regret, discomfort or emotional reaction can become opportunities for growth when approached with curiosity instead of shame. Kurt also shares practical ways leaders can reflect more intentionally on how they show up in everyday interactions and why empowered action matters more than perfection.

We also talk about burnout, hustle culture and the growing need for rest, reflection and joy in a world that constantly rewards productivity. Kurt shares his perspective on creating “counter systems” that help leaders stay grounded and emotionally healthy while supporting others through difficult challenges.

Finally, we explore the idea that most of life happens in ordinary moments and why those moments often offer the greatest opportunities for transformation, connection and meaningful impact.

About My Guest
Kurt Bush is a certified Internal Family Systems Practitioner, trauma-informed coach, and co-founder of Brimstone Coaching Group. With a background spanning corporate leadership, pastoral ministry, and coaching, Kurt helps leaders break free from self-doubt, embrace authenticity, and lead with confidence. Having overcome his own struggles with imposter syndrome, Kurt is passionate about guiding others through transformational growth and into authentic leadership. Through Brimstone’s unique E + R = T approach (Encounter + Reflection = Transformation), Kurt equips individuals and teams to move from exhaustion and frustration to clarity and wholeness. He is also the co-author of “Live Fully. Lead Authentically. The Surprising Link Between Self-Awareness and Your Impact” in which he and his coaching partner explore leadership, personal growth, and breaking through barriers.

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Connect with Kurt:
Website: https://www.brimstonecoachinggroup.com/
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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:

Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
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Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6

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Connect on LinkedIn:
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Website:
https://www.kimmeninger.com

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about loneliness, emotional suppression and the growing need for spaces where men feel safe to be fully human. My guest this week is Stefanos Koutsoumpis, men’s coach and facilitator of online men’s groups focused on emotional well-being, connection and personal growth.

Stefanos shares his own journey of struggling with emotional awareness and social connection as a young man and explains why so many men feel pressure to appear strong while quietly carrying stress, shame and self-doubt. We discuss the challenges men face in opening up emotionally, why feeling heard can be so healing and how men’s groups create opportunities to practice vulnerability, communication and deeper connection.

Finally, we explore the ripple effect of emotional well-being and why supporting men’s mental health benefits everyone. Stefanos also shares his perspective on curiosity, connection and creating healthier conversations in an increasingly polarized world.

About My Guest
Stefanos Koutsoumpis is a Men’s Life Coach dedicated to helping men in their 30s-40s who feel stuck, disconnected, or unfulfilled despite outward success.

Through one-on-one coaching and his monthly men’s groups, Stefanos provides men with a sense of connection, accountability, and community.

With a background in mindfulness and a passion for supporting men through life’s challenges, Stefanos brings a grounded, approachable style that empowers men to move from stress and self-doubt toward clarity and authentic fulfillment.

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Connect with Stefanos:
Free Guide: 5 Simple Ways to Feel Happier & More Fulfilled Today - Without Changing Your Job
Website: https://www.mindfullife.coach/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfullife_coach/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581813320351
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MindfulLifeCoaching

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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:

Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
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Connect on LinkedIn:
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Website:
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In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about building a career in a time when the rules of work are changing faster than ever. My guest this week is Sam Alvita, founder of Work Rewritten and Director of Learning Design at MasterClass.

In our conversation, we explore why today’s career paths no longer offer the same predictability they once did and why adaptability is becoming one of the most important professional skills. We discuss the shortening “skill horizon,” the importance of learning how to learn and how to think about career planning in a world where five- and ten-year plans feel increasingly unrealistic. Sam also shares why discomfort and impostor syndrome often accompany growth and how reframing uncertainty can open the door to new possibilities, creativity and career fulfillment.

Finally, we talk about proactive career management, including how to stay prepared in an unpredictable market and strengthen your network through relationship building.

About My Guest
Sam Alvita is a writer, learning design leader, and future-of-work strategist exploring how ambition, adaptability, professional identity, and career growth are evolving in the AI era.

She is the creator of Work Rewritten, a publication exploring career reinvention, leadership, AI, and the changing realities of modern work through essays, workshops, and public conversations. She also serves as the Director of Learning Design at MasterClass, she created and launched MasterClass Certificates, AI-first, multi-course learning programs developed in collaboration with organizations including Microsoft, NVIDIA, Google X, and the Navy SEALs.

Sam writes and speaks about how professionals navigate uncertainty, identity, and career growth in rapidly changing industries. She is currently writing a forthcoming book about ambition, identity, and navigating change in modern careers.

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Connect with Sam:
Website: https://www.workrewritten.com

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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:

Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
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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:
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Schedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session

Connect on LinkedIn:
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Website:
https://www.kimmeninger.com

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about burnout, workaholism and the pressure high achievers put on themselves to constantly prove their value. My guest this week is Amy Leneker, leadership consultant, self-described “recovering workaholic” and author of Cheers to Monday.

Amy shares her personal journey through two major experiences with burnout, including the physical and emotional warning signs she missed along the way. We explore the connection between impostor syndrome, people pleasing and overachievement, and why many professionals struggle to separate external expectations from the pressure they place on themselves. Amy also reflects on the painful realization that changing jobs alone doesn’t solve burnout when the underlying patterns follow you wherever you go.

In our conversation, we discuss the importance of self-awareness, support systems and redefining identity beyond work. Amy shares how therapy, coaching and intentional recovery practices helped her reconnect with herself and rethink how she approaches success and leadership. We also talk about the role organizations play in creating healthier cultures and why shared responsibility matters when addressing stress and burnout at work.

Finally, we explore Amy’s research on stress and joy in the workplace, including the three biggest drivers of joy at work: meaning, mattering and momentum. Amy explains why joy is far more than a “nice to have,” how emotionally intelligent leaders still need to look inward and why taking care of ourselves creates a ripple effect for the people around us.

About My Guest
Amy Leneker is an optimistic, joy-seeking, recovering workaholic. She's also a leadership consultant who has helped over 100,000 leaders and teams – including those at Fortune 100 companies – lead with less stress and more joy. Her soul goal? To help one billion people do the same. With over 25 years of leadership experience – including a decade in the C-suite – Amy understands the soul-crushing toll of burnout because she's lived it. Twice. After surviving her own brush with burnout, Amy became determined to help others succeed without sacrificing their joy, their health, or their weekends. A first-generation college student, Amy earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees while working full-time and later raising a family. She has studied leadership at Yale, neuroscience at the NeuroLeadership Institute, and stress resilience at Harvard Medical School.

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Connect with Amy:
Website: https://www.amyleneker.com/
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Cheers-Monday-Surprisingly-Simple-Method/dp/1394388802

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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:

Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
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Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:
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Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6

Join the Facebook group:
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Schedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session

Connect on LinkedIn:
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Website:
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In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files, we explore why uncertainty feels so uncomfortable for so many of us and how we can build a healthier, more productive relationship with it. My guest this week is Scott Stirrett, author of The Uncertainty Advantage.

Scott shares how his own experiences navigating major career risks, leading a national nonprofit and managing anxiety during the pandemic shaped his thinking about uncertainty. He explains why our brains are wired to fear the unknown, why many people would rather know a bad outcome than face uncertainty and how building “risk-taking muscles” helps us become more resilient over time.

In our conversation, we discuss the concept of anti-fragility, the hidden risks of staying too comfortable and why action is often the best antidote to anxiety. Scott also shares practical strategies for strengthening confidence, including creating a “hype document” to track wins and reconnect those successes to moments of uncertainty and growth. Finally, we explore the impact of AI on the future of work, why learning to learn is becoming one of the most important professional skills and how self-compassion helps us navigate change more effectively.

About My Guest
Scott Stirrett is an entrepreneur, author, and advocate for young people. As Founder and CEO of Venture for Canada, he's raised $80M+ to support entrepreneurial talent, backed by RBC, TD, Scotiabank, and the Government of Canada. His work has been featured in Forbes, The Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, CBC, and BNN Bloomberg. He is also an Ashoka Fellow, former Goldman Sachs analyst, and committed to helping people navigate uncertainty with clarity and compassion.

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Connect with Scott:
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Uncertainty-Advantage-Launching-Career-Change/dp/1459753224
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottstirrett/
Website: https://www.scottstirrett.com/ and https://ventureforcanada.ca/
Past podcast appearances: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1xarZbEJGnncpUs3AlPE4e?si=umdVGEaeRBu_DOrek3ma-A&pi=hqkWxSVGQHyeE

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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:

Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
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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:
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Schedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session

Connect on LinkedIn:
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Website:
https://www.kimmeninger.com

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about the pressure high achievers put on themselves and the fears that often drive that pressure beneath the surface. My guest this week is Brendan Cournane, attorney, endurance athlete and author of Seeking Serenity.

Brendan shares stories from his decades in law, including the decision to close a major deal on the same day his daughter was born because he feared being seen as unavailable or less committed. He reflects on how stress, expectations and the need to prove ourselves can shape the choices we make at work and in life.

In our conversation, we explore the connection between fear and overachievement, why asking for help feels so difficult for many professionals and how self-awareness helps us respond more intentionally under pressure. Brendan also shares why he believes harmony is a more useful goal than balance. Finally, we discuss the role expectations play in impostor syndrome and why understanding our motives, fears and core values is essential to finding greater clarity, steadiness and fulfillment.

About My Guest
Brendan Cournane is a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and world-class endurance coach with over 35 years of expertise. After finding his path to recovery in 1989 and discovering the transformative power of running through qualifying for the 100th Boston Marathon in 1995, Brendan learned that mindfulness practice and being true to oneself are integral to achieving happiness and success. He believes and practices the philosophy that “Happiness is a present attitude, not a future condition.”

As Chairperson of the Chicago Bar Association Committee on Lawyer Well-Being and Mindfulness and Co-President of the Mindfulness in the Law Society, Illinois Chapter, Brendan specializes in helping professionals facing stress, transition, and burnout. He has been a training coach for charity marathon teams participating in races around the world, including Chicago, Marine Corps, Disney, Dublin, Rome, Paris, London, Stockholm, Berlin, Tokyo, and Antarctica.

Through his professional development coaching practice, speaking engagements, and training programs, Brendan offers his lived experience, strength, and hope as a catalyst for others seeking to live healthy, fulfilling lives while maintaining balance in even the most challenging times.

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Connect with Brendan:
Website: https://www.coachbrendan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brendan-cournane-professional-development-coaching

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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://www.kimmeninger.com