Imposter Phenomenon - The Human Perspective - with Dr Katie Ford

Series 2 of Work Truths: Off the Record is all about the Imposter Phenomenon — and I'm starting with a powerful conversation with Dr Katie FordKatie has no less than 27 letters after her name, as well as ‘Dr’ before it. Yet her story is a powerful reminder that imposter feelings don’t disappear just because someone has the qualifications, the experience, or the external success.In our conversation, Katie opens up about what it really felt like to be the ‘clever one’ at school, then suddenly feel out of place, average, and at risk of being ‘found out’. She shares how those feelings shaped her career, how burnout and shame fed the cycle, and what it took to begin changing her relationship with herself.What I loved most about speaking with Katie is that this isn’t a story about magically overcoming self-doubt. It’s about listening to ourselves more honestly, understanding where imposter thoughts come from, and learning how support, self-compassion, and psychological safety can change everything.Guest InformationDr Katie Ford BVSc(Hons) CertAVP(SAM) PGCert MSc FRCVSDr. Katie Ford is widely regarded as one of the veterinary profession's leading thought leaders in the space of wellbeing, imposter phenomenon and what it actually means to be human in a high-demand career.She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, holds a Master's degree in Emotional Wellbeing, and is trained across multiple coaching modalities including somatic and trauma-informed practice and CMI Level 7 leadership. In 2020, she co-founded Vet Empowered alongside Claire Grigson, a coaching and professional development company built by vets, for veterinary professionals; they are trusted by large corporations to support their graduate schemes and colleagues.Katie is an international keynote speaker who has taken the stage at some of the world's largest veterinary conferences, most recently in Canada. She facilitates international team builds and works with major organisations and universities.In 2023 she received the RCVS Inspiration Award. In 2024 she was named Bright Minds Wellness Champion, voted for by over 2,000 of her peers. In 2025 she was awarded her Fellowship for Meritorious Contributions to the profession.Katie's Social Links:@katiefordvet https://www.instagram.com/katiefordvet https://www.facebook.com/katiefordvethttps://www.linkedin.com/in/katiefordvet/ www.katiefordvet.comResearch Referenced:The Impact of Self - Efficacy and Perceived Organizational Support on the Impostor Phenomenon. American Journal of Management. 15. 23-29. Tackling Impostor Syndrome Individually and Institutionally: A Longitudinal Impostor Syndrome Curriculum for Pediatric Residents. Academic Medicine 97(11S):p S140, November 2022.Buffering Impostor Feelings with Kindness: The Mediating Role of Self-compassion between Gender-Role Orientation and the Impostor Phenomenon. Frontiers in Psychology, 8."Overcoming the Fear That Haunts Your Success" - The Effectiveness of Interventions for Reducing the Impostor Phenomenon. Front Psychol. 2020 May 15;11:405.