Leadership Coach #199: AJ Lauer on DEI & Facing the Imposter Within

In this engaging episode of The Coaching Podcast, Dr. AJ Lauer, EdD, brings a fresh and practical perspective to leadership, inclusion, and coaching cultures. With over 20 years of DEI experience, AJ defines what diversity, equity, and inclusion really mean in the workplace and shares actionable strategies to create environments where people can truly thrive. We discuss hiring considerations, how to handle difficult conversations, and the power of asking good questions — like “And what else?” — to unlock deeper thinking. AJ also shares insights from her new book, My Monster Mungo: A Story About Imposter Syndrome, which uses relatable characters, humour, and engaging illustrations to reframe the dreaded imposter syndrome into something you can understand, name, and work with.

About AJ Lauer, EdD – Leadership Coach

With over two decades of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work, 10+ years developing the future science and technology workforce, and multiple publications on DEI in STEM, Dr. AJ Lauer is a leading expert on workforce development in science and technology fields. Dr. Lauer regularly coaches professionals at the executive level on how to create more inclusive and productive workplaces. Her 1:1 clients have held leadership roles at Amazon, Stitch Fix, The Ohio State University, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and the American Meteorological Society.

Her new book, My Monster Mungo: A Story About Imposter Syndrome, uses relatable characters, humor, and engaging illustrations to present a fresh new way to think about the dreaded imposter syndrome — your Imposter Monster.

Connect with AJ:
Website: https://www.thrivingibis.com
Author of My Monster Mungo: A story about imposter syndrome 
Take the From Saboteur to Sidekick: Working With Your Imposter Monster course