Transcript

Hello listeners, today I speak with Dr. Gary Roberts-Walker (they/them), an Assistant Professor at National University and a global educator who teaches and presents around the world. Dr. Gary recently delivered a keynote in Ghana on a topic that resonates deeply with so many of us: Imposter Syndrome.

Whether you’re a parent, therapist, teaching assistant, teacher, or school leader, many of us who support neurodivergent and disabled students experience moments of self-doubt or feel like we aren’t “enough.” It’s something we rarely talk about openly, yet it impacts how we show up for the students and communities we care about.

That’s why this conversation is so important. Today, Dr. Gary helps us unpack what Imposter Syndrome really is, why it shows up, how to recognize it in ourselves, and what we can do to move through it with honesty and compassion. So now…onto the show

Lori Boll: Hello, Dr. Gary. Welcome to the podcast.

Dr. Gary: Thank you so much, Lori. It’s such an honor and pleasure to be here with you today. When you reached out for the topic of this podcast, I was so excited to do it. So I’m really excited to be here with you.

Lori Boll: I can’t tell you how interested I am in today’s conversation, because this is a topic near and dear to my heart, something that I experience quite often. So let’s get going. To begin with, tell us about your recent keynote speech on imposter syndrome in Ghana and what inspired you to focus on this topic.

Dr. Gary: Well, you’re in good company because I, too, deal with imposter syndrome as well, and we’ll get into that a bit later. My inspiration to do the keynote speech happened when Dr. Geraldine “Gigi” Darko and the Darko family invited me to Africa. They were putting on a legacy leadership conference at the Cape Coast University, and Dr. Gigi was one of my doctoral students at National University.

She looked at the literacy rates in Ghana and invited me to go to Africa to speak to students that were earning their degrees. Most of them were becoming teachers. Teachers carry a big responsibility, and with that responsibility, imposter syndrome can creep into one’s mind. I wanted to empower and encourage the students to recognize when imposter syndrome is creeping in and how to deal with it. So that was the genesis of why I wanted to talk about imposter syndrome.

Lori Boll: That’s really great. And did you have a nice trip to Ghana?

Dr. Gary: Oh my gosh, I loved it. I fell in love with the Ghanaian people. I visited Dr. Gigi, and the family took us to the Cape Coast Castle, the slave castle, which was really heavy but very educational. I came back a changed person, as you could imagine.

Lori Boll: For listeners who may not be familiar with the term, how do you define imposter syndrome?

Dr. Gary: That’s a great question, and I love that you asked how I define it. I’ll start there first, and then I’ll share Merriam-Webster’s definition.

For me, imposter syndrome is the persistent belief that your success is undeserved, even when there is clear evidence that you earned it. You earned that spot at the table. You earned that position.

And Merriam-Webster’s definition is a psychological condition characterized by persistent doubt concerning one’s abilities or accomplishments and by the fear of being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of ongoing success.

In my speech, I had the students look at the word itself. “Imposter” as a fraud, a person trying to get over on somebody. And “syndrome” as connected to symptoms, and symptoms connected to a condition. So I talk about it as a condition: the condition of having this fear that you’re going to get found out, that you’re trying to be something you’re not.

It can show up like an internal thought: “I fooled them. Any minute now, somebody is going to find me out. They’re going to realize I don’t have the skills or the success to be here.” It’s really interesting to listen to your inner voice and recognize if you experience imposter syndrome.

And my sister and I used to say, growing up, “fake it till you make it.” And it worked well. But I think that was a key sign we had imposter syndrome. We just didn’t have the language to label it.

Lori Boll: Thanks. Well, let’s talk about the symptoms or signs. What do we see?

Dr. Gary: Sure. I like to break it down into five categories.

First, you explain away your success. If you’re saying things like, “I just got lucky to get this position,” or “I just got lucky to be on this podcast today,” you’re explaining away your success instead of standing grounded in it. Know what you’ve learned, and move forward confidently.

Second, you have a fear of being found out. That’s the “imposter” part. You may think your supervisor or dean is questioning everything you do, but often that’s internal chatter. It may not be true.

Third, you have difficulty accepting praise. This is a big one. I had a doctoral student who wrote their Chapter Two, the literature review, and I told them it was well written, especially for a first attempt. They responded, “Well, it was just my rough draft.” That’s minimizing and saying the bar is low.

I stopped them and said, “Let’s reframe that. Take the praise. Hear what I’m saying. Say thank you. And then say, ‘Wait until you see my next draft.’” They repeated it back, and I said, “Great.” It’s noticing the internal chatter and reshaping it.

Fourth, you constantly compare yourself upward. Oprah once said she’s interviewed the most powerful, successful people, and when the camera stops, they lean in and ask, “Oprah, how did I do?” People seek validation, even at the highest levels.

Fifth, you avoid new opportunities. If a leader offers you an opportunity and you don’t take it because you don’t feel ready, that may be imposter syndrome affecting your decisions. It’s fascinating.

Lori Boll: Thank you. How can anyone tell if imposter syndrome is affecting confidence, performance, or sense of belonging?

Dr. Gary: You can tell by listening to the internal chatter. If you feel like an outsider, that can show up as imposter syndrome. Even when you do belong somewhere, you may look around the room and feel like you don’t.

This happens to many people who feel like the only one in the room. You might wonder, “Do I belong here?” or “Am I performing a role rather than inhabiting it?” You might think other people are the real experts and you’re pretending.

Another way it shows up is when you’re in a meeting and you have something to say, but you don’t speak up. The internal voice says, “Don’t say anything. They’ll think you’re foolish. They’ll think you’re a fraud.” And you stay quiet.

Some people also say, “Well, I just have my master’s degree.” That kind of language matters.

Lori Boll: I’ve had people share that with me: feeling like they’re not enough because they don’t have “doctor” in front of their name. What would you respond to that?

Dr. Gary: I’d reframe it: take the word “just” out. Say, “I have my master’s degree,” confidently. You can respect someone else’s expertise and still not minimize your voice.

I also think about nurses. People say, “I’m just the nurse.” No, you are the nurse. You are the registered nurse. Speak to yourself that way and project that confidence outward.

Lori Boll: You are the podcast hostess.

Dr. Gary: With the mostest.

Lori Boll: There you go. What steps can people take to begin overcoming imposter syndrome or managing it when it shows up?

Dr. Gary: You need to own the moment and name the moment. Reframing is key. Say: “This is imposter thinking. This is not evidence.” In fact, there’s usually evidence you are not an imposter.

I also recommend mirror work. When you hear the chatter, find a mirror, look into your eyes, and speak out loud. It changes the internal narrative. Say three to five wins: “I earned my degree. I belong at the table.” Spend five to ten minutes doing that.

You can also speak it aloud to someone safe. Have an accountability partner. Before coming on today, I called my accountability partner, Dr. Broderick, and we talked about my goals for the podcast. My husband is another person I talk to, even though he humbles me sometimes.

Another important step is acting before you feel ready. Confidence usually follows action, not the other way around. Practice builds confidence, and then you show up and perform the skill.

Lori Boll: Those are very practical. My version of mirror work is journaling. I write down: “I have done this. I am experienced in this,” to remind myself that I can do it.

Dr. Gary: I love that. And it connects to what I call the power of five. If you want to level up, surround yourself with five people who have what you’re trying to become.

When my mentor, Dr. Lori Hoffman, told me I should get my doctorate, imposter syndrome hit hard. But I applied my own technique. I reached out to PhD holders and built my power of five. They coached me and helped me get there. I encourage my doctoral candidates to do the same.

Find five people who can help you do the work. And as you said, make sure they’re trustworthy.

Lori Boll: As a parent, I can say: parents are constantly worried about whether they’re doing enough and whether they understand their child’s disability deeply enough. Being around other parents helps, but you’re right: it needs to be a trusted group, because judgment can still exist even among people with similar lived experiences.

Dr. Gary: Thank you for sharing that. I learned from you as well.

Lori Boll: If someone is listening today and struggling with imposter syndrome, what’s one message of encouragement you’d like them to hold on to?

Dr. Gary: Anything is possible. I learned that phrase in Thailand, working with tour guides while teaching English. People ask, “Are we going to see a baby elephant?” and the answer is, “Anything is possible.” They keep possibility open.

If imposter syndrome is moving from internal chatter into roadblocks, know you’re in good company. Surround yourself with the power of five, with trustworthy people. Put the phones away and create a safe space to be honest, to be wrong, and to grow.

It takes a village. I saw that in action in Ghana, including visiting rural villages and an elementary school where Dr. Gigi and her family opened a library. It reminded me that community matters.

Lori Boll: Thank you, Dr. Gary, for your time today, for giving us hope, and for sharing such helpful information. I know many of our listeners will return to this conversation.

Dr. Gary: Thank you so much. It’s been a privilege and an honor. And I want to add a disclaimer: I’m not an expert in imposter syndrome. These insights are based on my lived experiences and partnering with my AI coach.

We also invite educators from the Addis community to join our SENIA watch parties, which builds local capacity and shared expertise.

Lori Boll: Is there anything else you’d like to share about ICS?

Renee Foster: One unique aspect is our elementary innovative hub model. Each grade level has an EAL or learning support teacher embedded—not isolated. This allows every student access to Tier 2 interventions and personalized learning.

This model extends into middle and high school, supporting strong collaboration. We’re still learning and growing, but our human resources allow us to truly practice responsible inclusion.

Lori Boll: Thank you, Renee, for sharing your work and your school.

Renee Foster: Thank you for having me.