Imposter Syndrome, Success and Failure | Eva Valovska

MrJoe in Audio

Imposter syndrome. Hustle culture. Burnout. We hear these words often, but what do they really mean for high-performing leaders who constantly push themselves to the limit? In this episode, I sit down with Eva Valovska, CEO of Trust Women, to explore the hidden challenges behind success and the complex emotions that accompany it.

We start with imposter syndrome—something many leaders experience, but few openly discuss. Eva and I talk through the different ways men and women feel it, with men often seeing it as a sign of humility, while for women, it can be a much deeper issue tied to societal pressures and biases. We dig into how these feelings of inadequacy can be driven not just by our own internal thoughts, but by the very structures and environments we work in.

How does hustle culture tie into all this? We explore how the push to always achieve more, to work harder, and to be perfect often leads us down a dangerous path. It's a journey many of us have been on, including myself. We often confuse constant output and perfection with success, but as Eva so insightfully points out, this mindset only leads to exhaustion and feelings of unworthiness. The more we chase, the further we feel from true happiness.

Whether you’re a CEO, a leader in transition, or someone feeling the weight of imposter syndrome, this conversation will challenge the way you think about success. Are you chasing someone else’s definition of achievement? Are you listening to the "shoulds" that society places on you, or are you carving out your own path?

Show Links:

• Read more about how imposter syndrome might actually be a feature, not a bug: Imposter Syndrome Is A Feature, Not A Bug
• BBC article: Are You an Insecure Overachiever?
• Harvard Business Review: Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome
• The Confidence Gap: How to Overcome the Confidence Gap in Men and Women
• Book Recommendation: How to Do Less by Kate Northrup

How do you build trust with a C-suite leader who resists change?
Here’s the truth: you can’t coach someone who doesn’t want to change.
And that’s where trust begins (or breaks).
It reminds me of a joke: How many coaches does it take to change a light bulb?
Only one.
But the light bulb has to want to change.
So, here’s the challenge: are you coaching the behavior,
or are you coaching the belief behind it?

You can’t lead a business effectively if you’re constantly reacting to meetings and obligations. It gets emotional when you start shifting things around, but here’s the truth:

👉 You can’t make time—you have to take it.

👉 Prioritize what truly matters.

👉 Create space for strategic thinking, not just reacting.

Are you taking time for what moves the needle, or just filling your calendar?

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Videos for all these episodes are on my YouTube channel.
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