EPS6 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Developing Future Leaders with Fiona Campbell

The amazing Fiona Campbell is with us today on Power in Diversity. Her career has been very diverse, going from air traffic control to hospitality to sales. She's a clinical hypnotherapy, an NLP trainer, an executive coach, and a corporate facilitator. As a certified NLP business trainer, Fiona is helping businesses with communication skills, leadership development, and sales training. KEY TAKEAWAYS One of the biggest breaks Fiona had in her career was getting into sales at Xerox without a university degree. The hiring manager said we can train you, you'll learn, you've already demonstrated how you can be organised, and the attitude you’ve demonstrated is what we’re looking for. If you’re telling yourself that you have imposter syndrome and feel like you’re not deserving of your success, then you should listen to Fiona’s advice on changing how you talk to yourself. Changing the way you think about yourself changes how you feel about yourself. recognise your successes, when you do something well, write it down and then when you feel like an imposter, read it. When a man is asked to do something in business, he'll normally say yes and do it. When a woman's asked to do something, she'll say, oh, well, I haven't done this, and I haven't done that. Women will start talking about all the things they can't do or that they haven't done before. They verbalise it to themselves, whereas the guys do it in their own heads. When you're in a leadership position, say yes and then find out how you're going to do it. Don't talk about everything you can't do. Talk about the things you can do. Something Fiona always says to leaders when succession planning is that they need to find out the people that want to be developed and grown. You pick the people that are putting their hands up. You cannot train in enthusiasm and motivation. You have to find those qualities in a person and develop the rest. BEST MOMENTS ‘It’s lifelong learning, nothing stops, and age does not matter.' ‘Stop telling yourself you're an imposter. Stop it. Stop putting that label onto yourself.’ ‘If you don't open your mouth in business and say what you've achieved, someone else is going to own it for themselves.’ ‘Get me involved in something I want. How can I help? How can I do this? Say to your manager, in two years' time, I would love to be in that position like you. How do I do it?’ ‘If you use language in a certain way, you can influence behaviour.’ EPISODE RESOURCES www.nlpbusinesscircle.com Fiona on LinkedIn ABOUT THE GUEST “I started my career in Air Traffic Control, moved into Hospitality and for many years worked around Europe running clubs and bars. I then transitioned into Sales and had been working in Dubai as a Sales Manager for Xerox in the late 80s when I got my big NLP 'WOW' moment. This is when I knew that I had stumbled on something special. My introduction to NLP was the catalyst to major life changes. I moved back to the UK and immersed myself in learning as much as I could about the way the mind works. I qualified as a Clinical Hypnotherapist, Life Coach, Business Performance Coach, NLP Practitioner, NLP Master Practitioner, Licensed NLP Trainer and finally, an NLP Business Coach Trainer. In 2001 I set up my own company focusing on helping others learn to use NLP techniques to help them become better Business Leaders and Coaches. I developed a range of NLP-based Corporate Communication, Presentation and Coaching courses. In 2005 I created my NLP Business Practitioner, NLP Business Master Practitioner and NLP Business Coach Programmes. I have been delivering these in the UK, UAE and India since 2020, and I now deliver most of my training online. As we are living in a time of complete disruption, the need for business leaders to develop the mental agility that NLP skills provide has never been greater. Having spent years refining the use of NLP for business and coaching, it's now my passion to train as many people as I can to use these amazing techniques to help others have more choices and lead the best life they can” PODCAST DESCRIPTION Power in Diversity Podcast is a space where professional women from diverse backgrounds, eager to grow as leaders, come to be inspired and gain wisdom from other leaders. As my guests share their journey, I hope that it will give you; an aspiring or established female leader; meaning to your journey, illuminating your path and equipping you with a greater understanding of how to carve and navigate your success pathway with greater ease. Power in Diversity Podcast is also designed to equip not only individuals but, crucially, organisations who must learn to create diverse and inclusive organisations practically and not merely as a tick box exercise; especially now in this ever-changing world, everyone’s diverse insight is vital to solving world issues. I hope that this podcast allows organisations to appreciate the real barriers female and ethnic minority groups face in stepping into leadership, barriers sadly I and many others have faced, and many continue to face. I’m proud to be British and proud of my African Heritage, my tribe, part of the Benin Empire. I feel blessed to be a woman. This is a non-judgmental space, but a space to learn and to become aware of the gifts and Power in Diversity. ABOUT THE HOST Dr Omo Akoje Okonkwo is a practising Cosmetic Dental Surgeon working in Private Clinics in Surrey. Her passion for empowering her patients and team led her to Transformational coaching to bring about significant change in others. Her many skill sets and ability to motivate people quickly opened leadership roles for her, including Director of Health care Projects and Clinical Lead and Senior Tutor at the prestigious King College Dental Hospital. Along her journey, she faced numerous setbacks despite her passion, academic background and experience. Notwithstanding, her passion for excellence and growth led her to embark on an MBA at the Renowned Warwick Business School. Her desire to empower women steered her to conduct qualitative research exploring Gender, Leadership, and Identity. Her findings revealed what she had always sensed, the leadership labyrinth for female and ethnic minority leaders that exists. It is now Dr Omo’s mission to educate and equip individuals, organisations, and countries on the necessity, mindset, and steps to create inclusion at all levels of society. CONTACT METHOD IG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.omo_uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-omo-okonkwo-65b8a542/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/omo.okonkwo