What if imposter syndrome isn’t about you—but about a system designed to keep women small?

In this powerful episode of Risky Conversations, I speak with Sara Dean—keynote speaker, certified facilitator, and executive coach—to unpack the truth behind imposter syndrome, why women are socialized to doubt themselves, and how reclaiming self-trust changes everything.

Sara shares her journey from personal trainer to executive coach for leaders at Amazon, Microsoft, and beyond, weaving in stories of speaking up at work, helping women shed the need to “shrink,” and building a leadership brand rooted in authenticity instead of performance. 

Together, we address anger as a valid leadership tool, the essential role of HRT in restoring balance and focus for professional women over 35, and how to ask better questions that open new possibilities.

If you’ve ever felt like you had to “do more” just to belong—or wondered how to stand firmly in your own power—this conversation will resonate deeply.

Mentioned in the podcast: 

• Sara Dean's website: saradean.com
• Shameless Leadership podcast: saradean.com/podcast
• Sara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks/
• Jamie Lee's website: www.jamieleecoach.com 
• Connect with Jamie Lee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leejieunjamie/

Timestamps:

0:00 – Meet Sara Dean: Leadership Coach & Speaker

1:09 – Risky Conversations: Speaking Up at Work

7:18 – From Fitness to Executive Coaching

10:44 – What Is a Leadership Brand (and Why It Matters)

17:53 – Client Story: Humor Changes the Room

23:35 – The Truth About Imposter Syndrome

33:00 – Anger, HRT & Reclaiming Self-Trust

48:14 – Final Takeaways & Where to Find Sara

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