From Impostor to Icon: Overcoming Doubt and Leading with Strength

-
Speaker : DR. CLAIRE MUSELMAN
-
When : Friday, September 12, 2025
-
Time : 01 : 00 PM EST
-
Add To Calendar
Refer a Friend
Dr. Claire Muselman is a nationally recognized expert in workers'
compensation strategy and leadership development. As the Co-Director of
the Master of Science in Leadership Program at Drake University and COO
of WorkersCompensation.com, Claire blends academic insight with
real-world experience. With over 20 years in the industry, she brings a
unique perspective that emphasizes empathy, communication, and
operational excellence. Her dynamic style and strategic mindset make her
a sought-after speaker, consultant, and educator across the insurance,
risk, and leadership sector.
In this dynamic and empowering session, we dive into the psychology behind impostor syndrome and explore how it affects even the most accomplished professionals. You will learn the difference between impostor moments and chronic impostor syndrome—and how each shows up in behaviors like over-preparing, minimizing contributions, procrastinating, or hesitating to speak up.
Using a blend of neuroscience, coaching psychology, and leadership development, we will uncover the root causes of these experiences and explore how to shift your internal narrative. You will learn how to:
- Recognize when impostor patterns are activated in real-time
- Understand the biological stress responses that exacerbate self-doubt
- Rewire habitual thinking patterns through evidence-based strategies
- Move from performance-based worth to identity-based leadership
- Redefine success in ways that align with your values and strengths
This session also explores how organizational culture can either reinforce or reduce impostor syndrome. We will examine how feedback, performance reviews, leadership modeling, and psychological safety impact how people experience their worth at work. You will gain tools to lead by example—whether you are managing people or influencing from within your role.
Through reflective exercises and real-world examples, you will build the emotional literacy and strategic thinking needed to stop shrinking and start showing up. We will offer prompts to help you map your growth, identify allies, and build practices that reinforce your value beyond external validation.
You will also learn how to use your own story as a leadership tool. Storytelling is more than just a communication strategy—it is a reclamation of voice and power. When you can speak your truth without minimizing or deflecting, you set a powerful example for others to do the same. You will explore how to tell your leadership story with clarity and strength, rooted in your lived experiences and personal insight.
We will dig deeper into the brain science behind impostor syndrome—what happens neurologically when we feel like we’re not enough—and how we can work with our nervous systems to shift our responses. You will learn simple, proven practices that support nervous system regulation and mindset resilience, even in high-pressure or highly visible situations.
This session will also address what it means to lead from identity rather than insecurity. You will walk away with a new framework for redefining leadership not as a title, but as a lived expression of your values, voice, and vision. From setting boundaries and asking for support to celebrating your strengths unapologetically, this session is about liberation.
Finally, we will co-create a next-step action plan to help you integrate what you have learned. Whether it’s establishing a new affirmation routine, joining a peer network, or redefining your metrics for success, you will leave with clear, aligned steps to put your learning into practice.
This is not about achieving perfection. It is about embracing your humanity and your wholeness as you lead. When you show up from that place—grounded, courageous, and clear—you don’t just overcome impostor syndrome. You become iconic.
Areas Covered
- The neuroscience and psychology of impostor syndrome
- How identity, culture, and bias intersect with impostor experiences
- Cognitive reframing and self-coaching strategies
- Building internal validation and unshakable self-trust
- Moving from survival mode to empowered leadership
Who Should Attend
- Emerging and established leaders
- Women and underrepresented professionals
- HR and DEI practitioners
- Coaches, mentors, and talent developers
- Anyone ready to own their voice and leadership
Why Should You Attend
If you have ever questioned whether you belong in the room—or felt pressure to shrink your accomplishments to fit others’ comfort—this session is for you. Impostor feelings don’t discriminate. They show up in executives, rising stars, technical experts, and team leaders alike. And when left unaddressed, they hold back innovation, impact, and personal fulfillment.
You might find yourself over-preparing for every meeting, hesitating to speak up even when you have valuable insight, or discounting your own achievements. These behaviors are common—and exhausting. Impostor syndrome isn’t a personal flaw; it’s often a learned response to environments that reward perfectionism, competition, and external validation.
This session offers a chance to shift the narrative. We will help you name and normalize impostor experiences while challenging the internalized beliefs that keep you stuck in cycles of self-doubt. You will learn to identify when these patterns are triggered, understand the neuroscience behind your brain’s stress response, and explore actionable ways to build self-trust.
We will also dive into the broader systems that sustain impostor syndrome. Cultural expectations, gender norms, racial bias, and organizational structures all play a role in how impostor feelings manifest and persist. This session does not just ask you to change your mindset—it helps you lead from a place of power while navigating the real dynamics that shape your experience.
Expect to engage in practical exercises that help you:
- Uncover your leadership origin story and how it influences your self-perception
- Reframe fear and doubt as signs of growth, not weakness
- Anchor into your values to create a grounded, authentic leadership identity
- Set boundaries with your inner critic and choose more empowering narratives
You will walk away with more than insight—you will leave with a toolkit. Whether you are in a season of transition, preparing for a promotion, or simply tired of dimming your light, this session will show you how to own your brilliance without apology.
This is about showing up fully, leading boldly, and rewriting the rules you were never meant to follow in the first place.
Topic Background
Impostor syndrome is more than self-doubt—it’s a silent career killer that affects high performers across industries, roles, and experience levels. It whispers that your success is luck, your confidence is a façade, and that it’s only a matter of time before you’re “found out.” This session turns that narrative on its head. By exploring the neuroscience of self-perception and the psychology of leadership identity, we’ll unpack the roots of impostor syndrome and provide a bold new framework for leading with authenticity, strength, and visibility.
-
$160.00
-
