In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files, we explore whether to pursue an MBA. My guest this week is Ellin Lolis, founder of Ellin Lolis Consulting and a career coach who’s spent more than a decade helping professionals tell their stories, clarify their goals and navigate the competitive MBA admissions process.

Ellin shares her journey from working behind the scenes in admissions to building a thriving global consulting practice. Together, we unpack how to decide if an MBA really fits your goals, when it can open doors and when it might not be the best use of your time and money. Ellin also shares practical advice on shaping a clear career narrative, what admissions teams truly look for and how to avoid common traps like over-credentialing to fill a confidence gap.

About My Guest
Ellin Lolis is the founder of Ellin Lolis Consulting, one of the most successful MBA admissions firms in the world, with a 98.9% success rate helping applicants get into programs like Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton.

But her work goes far beyond résumés and test scores. Ellin is a master of storytelling, helping ambitious professionals find the clarity, confidence, and voice they need to land their dream MBA—and build meaningful, purpose-driven careers afterward.

A passionate writer turned entrepreneur, she’s built a seven-figure business by doing things differently: leading with honesty, prioritizing depth over polish, and redefining what leadership can look like.

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Connect with Ellin:
Websites: www.ellinlolis.com and www.myadmitcoach.com

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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:

Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
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Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:
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Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6

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Schedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session

Connect on LinkedIn:
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Website:
https://kimmeninger.com

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about burnout, not just feeling tired or having a hard week, but the deeper, chronic exhaustion and self-doubt that so many high achievers experience but rarely name. My guest this week is Alison Campbell, founder of unBurnt and a former senior corporate leader who turned her own health crisis into a mission to help others recover from and prevent burnout.

Alison shares her journey from fast-paced corporate roles in finance, retail, and tech to the moment she landed in the ER, the wake-up call that changed everything. Together, we unpack what burnout really is (and isn’t), how to recognize its unique signs and why exhaustion, cynicism and self-doubt often travel together. We also explore practical ways to shift from constant reactivity to proactive self-care, including Alison’s simple but powerful stressor scan exercise to bring clarity and agency back to your week.

About My Guest
Alison Campbell is the Founder of unBurnt - a company on a mission to eliminate workplace burnout with modern and measurable solutions. Aimed at improving resilience across teams and helping employees build sustainable micro-habits to reduce chronic stress, unBurnt is tackling the global burnout epidemic with a fresh and innovative approach.

Prior to founding unBurnt, Alison had nearly twenty years of corporate experience across Finance, Ecommerce and HRTech. In her last corporate role, she was the Chief of Staff and Head of Strategy & Analytics at a $1B global company. But after years of accepting exhaustion & overwhelm as normal, a health scare became the catalyst to change course.

Now, Alison is combining her operational experience with expertise as a Certified Health & Wellness Coach to reimagine how we work, lead and live. With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by professionals in fast-moving organizations, unBurnt delivers workshops, training and coaching interventions to unblock friction and help companies thrive.

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Connect with Alison:
Website: www.getunburnt.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-campbell-3035b63/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/get_unburnt

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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:

Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/challenge

Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroup

Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6

Join the Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadinghumans

Schedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session

Connect on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/

Website:
https://kimmeninger.com

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about charisma, and not the slick or manipulative version we sometimes imagine. My guest this week is Milam Miller, leadership development and sales consultant and author of The Charisma Craft: A Modern Leadership Guide to Enhance Your Riz Factor.

Milam shares how his own journey from Texas football to New York sports to European soccer and now entrepreneurship taught him that charisma is not an inborn trait but a skill we can all develop. We dig into the ABCs of charisma (Authenticity, Boldness, Curiosity), why confidence is quiet and deeply human and how kindness and decency fuel true influence and connection.

About My Guest
Milam Miller personifies healthy charisma. His optimistic outlook and zest for life allow him to engage with audiences in an authentic way that inspires bold action and fierce courage.

BCK – “Be Confident and Kind” – was a private mantra that Milam created to serve him in the corporate world. Over the course of his career in sports & entertainment, Milam negotiated more than $100MM in commercial revenue for all of the organizations he proudly represented. From the red carpet of The ESPY Awards in Los Angeles to the desert dunes of Doha, Milam has built deep relationships through his study of soft skills and genuine care for people.

Milam’s mental health severely suffered in a fully remote senior leadership role during the isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. After seeking out help from coaches and therapists, Milam realized he was living out of alignment. In 2022, he stepped back into his power to launch BCK and serve leaders desiring to create stronger teams and drive better results.

What was once a personal philosophy is now a public movement to positively transform the future of work. BCK does this by teaching charismatic leadership principles on how to influence, motivate, persuade others.

Milam speaks to and coaches Executives, Senior Leaders, and Managers, alike. He also facilitates workshops for Fortune 100 companies, such as Amazon and Google. His subject matter is culturally relevant, topical, and most all, engaging & fun.

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Connect with Milam:
Website: https://beconfidentandkind.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milam-miller-bck/
The Charisma Craft: https://shorturl.at/2gMPL

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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:

Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/challenge

Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroup

Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6

Join the Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadinghumans

Schedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session

Connect on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/

Website:
https://kimmeninger.com