Being an Impact Guru is Doable with Esther Stanhope

Being an Impact Guru is Doable with Esther Stanhope

From Productive Joy by Dr. Christie McMullen

June 9, 2026 · 30 min · Season 1 · Episode 291

About this episode

Dr. Christie McMullen interviews Esther Stanhope about overcoming imposter syndrome and enhancing visibility at work.

Today on Productive Joy, Dr. Christie has a very special guest, Esther Stanhope. An author, personal impact coach, and former BBC producer who has interviewed major celebrities and was recently diagnosed with ADHD. They discuss imposter syndrome and Esther’s “voice of doubt,” which she names “Cynical Cyril,” plus a story about interviewing George Clooney that highlights how even famous people are only human. Esther explains how she spent years behind the scenes and now helps leaders—especially women, diverse talent, and technical professionals—become more visible at work without “showing off,” emphasizing the difference between sharing value and self-promotion. She and Dr. Christie also talk about her book, Visibly Brilliant (following Goodbye Glossophobia on public speaking) as a guide to gaining recognition, promotions, and opportunities through presence and contribution. They discuss productive joy, and Esther talks about being productive in a flow state, and shares practical habits like gratitude, yoga, and simple routines to reset on hard days. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Meet Esther Stanhope 01:08 Imposter Syndrome and VOD 02:43 George Clooney Storytime 04:39 From Behind…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Christie McMullen

Guest: Esther Stanhope

Topics covered

  • imposter syndrome
  • ADHD
  • visibility at work
  • personal impact coaching
  • productive joy
  • self-promotion vs sharing

Keywords

  • imposter syndrome
  • ADHD
  • visibility
  • personal impact
  • productive joy
  • gratitude
  • yoga
  • self-promotion

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Visibly Brilliant, Goodbye Glossophobia

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