9 to 5 Imposter

Interview with Priyanka Karan: You Belong in the Room

Priyanka's story travels across every dimension of imposter syndrome simultaneously: gender, culture, socioeconomic background, immigration, perfectionism, and the specific weight of being first. She grew up between two worlds, never fully belonging to either. She earned scholarships to one of Atlanta's most elite private schools while shopping at thrift stores. She walked into a stem cell research lab with zero biology background and taught herself. She managed teams of people twice her age before anyone thought to ask whether she was qualified. In this conversation, Priyanka talks about the moment she stopped performing and started belonging. About letting excellence be your currency. About setting boundaries not as self-protection but as a form of professional respect. And about the daily practice she returns to every morning, looking herself in the mirror and saying the words most high achievers find hardest to believe: You belong. You are enough. You deserve what you have.

Interview with Jillian Richardson: Finding Your Voice and Owning It

What does it look like to build a professional brand without sounding like everyone else, especially when AI is making the noise louder than ever? Jillian Richardson has figured it out. Known for her "make LinkedIn weird" philosophy, Jillian is a LinkedIn creator, coach, and professional writer who helps people stand out through authenticity rather than performance. But behind the bold content strategy is a story your more familiar with, the freelancer who second-guessed her pricing, the solopreneur who didn't have a model for what confidence was supposed to look like, and the creator who learned that saving your wins is just as important as chasing the next one. In this episode, Andy and James sit down with Jillian to explore how imposter syndrome shows up in solopreneurship, why hiring a coach to surface your blind spots might be the most underrated leadership move, and how to build a presence online that actually feels like you, without performing for an audience that may be quieter than you think. Whether you're navigating self-doubt in a crowded digital landscape or trying to find your voice without losing yourself in the process, Jillian's story is a masterclass in authentic visibility.

Interview Carla Carter: A Candid and Powerful Look at Being a Trailblazer

In this episode, we sit down with Carla Carter, a highly successful patent attorney who shares a candid and powerful look at being a trailblazer. As the first female attorney hired by her law firm, Carla discusses the immense social pressures of representing an entire demographic and how that weight transformed from a burden into a relentless motivation to break institutional molds. We explore her journey of navigating high-stakes legal environments while combating imposter syndrome, and how her desire to exceed every expectation paved the way for a career defined by both professional excellence and the creation of new paths for those following in her footsteps. Whether you're navigating your own "first" or seeking to understand the drive behind transformative leadership, Carla’s story offers a masterclass in turning societal pressure into a catalyst for significant, lasting impact.

Interview Sanford Long: An Executive Mindset in Strategic Problem Solving

How do you lead when the stakes are high, the systems are complex, and the path forward hasn’t been paved for you? In this episode, we sit down with Sanford Long, an executive whose leadership philosophy was forged in the heat of a changing America and refined at the highest levels of global telecommunications. Sanford takes us back to his roots in post-integration Mississippi, sharing how growing up in that pivotal era shaped his perspective on resilience, community, and the necessity of strategic excellence.  We trace his remarkable rise through the ranks of AT&T, where he ascended to the role of Vice President by moving beyond the "technical fix" to master the broader architecture of strategic problem-solving. Sanford pulls back the curtain on the mindset required to navigate a Fortune 500 giant, emphasizing his commitment to a principle centered on enabling and empowering the team beneath him rather than simply being the smartest person in the room. This conversation is a masterclass in shifting from individual contributor to executive leader, proving that true power lies in the ability to lift others up.

Interview with Brandon Bischoff: Building a Career Beyond the Mask

In this episode of the 9-to-5 Imposter, hosts Andy and James welcome Brandon Bischoff, a seasoned IT professional whose career journey from a help desk in to a senior cybersecurity leader offers a refreshing look at professional evolution. Brandon shares his personal history as a "latchkey kid" of the '90s, exploring how early independence fostered a habit of "consolidating boxes", fitting into various religious, professional, and social personas to find belonging. He introduces a powerful perspective on high-stakes roles like IT, law, and medicine, noting that while professionals are often expected to have all the answers, true mastery lies in knowing how to problem-solve and "fake it" effectively through recognition. Tune in to hear Brandon’s take on the ultimate opportunity to shed the masks, embrace authenticity, and realize that, in the end, everyone is just figuring it out as they go.