Welcome back to The Unworthy Leader Podcast! In this powerful episode, host Kendra Dahlstrom sits down with Stephen Burke, a former aerospace engineer turned executive and team coach, to explore the often unspoken truths of leadership—imposter syndrome, emotional intelligence, and the messy, beautiful path to authentic leadership.
This episode is a masterclass in navigating self-doubt in high-performance environments. From Silicon Valley to boardrooms everywhere, leaders are expected to have it all figured out—but Stephen challenges that narrative and invites us to embrace the parts of ourselves we often hide.
Key Topics:
🧠 Imposter Syndrome Unpacked: Stephen defines imposter syndrome as that persistent internal voice whispering, “You’re not good enough.” He shares how this feeling shows up in leadership and how he’s personally worked through it.
🚀 From Aerospace to Coaching: Learn how Stephen left a successful aerospace career to pursue coaching, driven by a desire for purpose, alignment, and healing. His story reflects how personal transformation fuels professional impact.
🧘 Being vs. Doing: Kendra and Stephen explore the balance between action and presence. In a world that rewards output, Stephen offers a refreshing take on how slowing down and tuning in can unlock deeper leadership power.
🏢 Systems & Cultures: They also tackle how organizational systems can either support or suppress authenticity and innovation—and what it takes to create psychological safety within teams.
💬 The Power of Conscious Leadership: By embracing imperfections and leading with emotional intelligence, Stephen demonstrates how conscious leadership isn't just about performance—it's about presence, purpose, and people.
Redefine Leadership with Us
If you’re a leader navigating self-doubt, working in high-pressure environments, or striving to build an authentic and innovative culture, this episode is for you. Stephen’s perspective will leave you feeling empowered to lead with heart, not just hustle.
👉 Subscribe to The Unworthy Leader Podcast and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it! Let's redefine leadership through authenticity and resilience.
Connect with Stephen Burke - LinkedIn
🧠 Curious what’s driving your leadership—inner wisdom or imposter thoughts?
Take our free self-assessment to uncover whether you're leading from grounded emotional intelligence or quiet self-doubt.
👉 Take the quiz now
Note: This quiz is for self-reflection and informational purposes only. It is not a diagnostic tool or substitute for professional mental health care.
2025 Copyright of The Unworthy Leader Podcast and Kendra Dahlstrom Leadership, LLC
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.