“I’m Not an Imposter. I’m Just New(ish).”
Shhh.
They call it Imposter Syndrome. But I’m not sure that’s what this is.
I’m not an imposter. I’ve done some cool stuff across my career. I’ve held senior roles, led big teams, delivered complex projects, and had some genuinely scary moments - like disagreeing with the CPO and CEO about ExCo succession in front of the Board. (I held my nerve, and it paid off.)
So it’s not that I don’t know what I’m doing.
But this new context? That’s what’s different. I knew who I was as a permanent employee. I knew the rules, the power structures, the systems. I knew how to prepare, how to navigate politics, how to lean on my team. And I always knew the salary was landing at the end of the month.
That gave me confidence - even when I doubted myself.
But a few years ago, things changed.
As I moved higher up the org chart, I discovered what happens when the new boss arrives and starts drawing new lines. Early in my career, restructures just meant I moved teams or titles. But this time, it was different.
“It’s not you. We value you. If you’re happy to take a smaller role, we’d love for you to stay. We’re just bringing someone in above you. You’ll like them. I’m sure you’ll work well together.”
Lots of “we.” But we both knew it meant “me.”
I was stunned. And if I’m honest, it broke something in me. I stayed a while. Then left.
I thought I’d learned the lesson - but I just ended up repeating the pattern. That time, it was:
“It’s not us. It’s you.”
Which hits different. It shook my confidence. Badly.
So, Why Share This?
Because now I’m in a new chapter. I’m six months into working for myself - as a coach, a consultant, a business owner. And while I’m excited… I’m also scared. Some days I feel like I’m making it up as I go.
I don’t have a back catalogue of client case studies. I don’t have a pre-packaged product. I don’t have a 5-step method or glossy pitch deck.
What I do have is 25+ years of real experience - in leadership, talent, learning, and change - and the ability to partner with people and organisations to help solve their problems.
But shhh… don’t tell anyone: I’m still figuring out how to use it.
What I’m Learning
Every day, I’m drawing from things I took for granted. Old programmes, ideas, and wins that shaped how I think. I’m learning to trust that they still matter. That people want the thinking behind them. That my value isn’t in having all the answers, but in asking better questions, building better solutions - with you.
I’ve been proud to:
Design and deliver global succession and talent strategies across complex, matrixed businesses
Build high-impact learning platforms at scale (35,000+ learners per month at BT)
Lead teams, nurture people, and hold things together during messy transitions
Challenge assumptions and bring clarity when it matters most
And now? I’m bringing all of that into my client work - including a major leadership development programme I’m currently co-designing. It’s bold, disruptive, and grounded in everything I’ve learned… plus a little help from my AI sidekick Ferris.
So No, I’m Not an Imposter.
I’m just new(ish).
A beginner - with nearly 30 years of experience.
If any of this lands with you - if you’re in a transition, trying to figure out what you bring, or looking for someone to help make sense of the mess…
I’d love to work with you - as a consultant, solving leadership and talent challenges together. Or as a coach, creating space for you to explore what comes next.
Because chances are, you’re not an imposter either.
You’re just learning how to bring all of you to this next chapter.
