Imposter Syndrome with Mike Sealy

Jennifer conducted a podcast interview with Mike Sealy, a former senior leader at companies like Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft, who now runs a coaching business called Zinc Global focused on inclusive leadership and helping people overcome imposter syndrome. Mike defined imposter syndrome as the persistent belief that success isn't truly earned, explaining how even high-achieving professionals experience it due to perfectionism, self-criticism, and comparison with others. He discussed practical strategies for managing imposter feelings, including redefining success as progress rather than perfection, tracking evidence of competence, and normalizing mistakes as learning opportunities. Mike also shared specific recommendations for leaders to create environments that reduce imposter syndrome through modeling vulnerability, praising effort and strategy, providing specific feedback, encouraging healthy risk-taking, and creating psychological safety. The interview concluded with Mike promoting his book "Mindset Unlocked" which addresses imposter syndrome and growth mindset concepts, and he shared his personal experience of facing imposter feelings during a leadership program where he was the only Black leader among 60 participants.LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/in/sealymikeMINDSET UNLOCKED: How Leaders, Learners, and Dreamers Crush Self-Doubt and Unlock True Potential via Amazon https://a.co/d/00aWUd8aBook a discovery call - https://calendly.com/mike-sealy/discovery-call