Guest bio:

Dr. Richard Orbé-Austin is a psychologist and a founding partner of Dynamic Transitions Psychological Consulting LLP, a career and executive coaching consultancy. Dr. Orbé-Austin has worked in the field of diversity, equity, & inclusion and executive coaching for over 15 years.

He was the Founding Director of NYU’s Graduate Student Career Development Center. Prior to his tenure at NYU, Dr. Orbé-Austin served in a variety of leadership roles, including as the Chief Diversity Officer at Baruch College-City University of New York and as President of the NY Association of Black Psychologists.

In his practice, Dr. Orbé-Austin works with executives, senior leaders, and mid-career professionals to identify their best-fit career options, advance their career goals, and strengthen their leadership skills. He also regularly consults to academic institutions, corporations, and nonprofit organizations on issues related to leadership, career development & transitions, diversity, equity, & inclusion, anti-racist practice, burnout, impostor syndrome, communication, and conflict.

We cover a range of topics in today’s episode with Dr. Richard Orbé-Austin. Does that name ring a bell? We chatted with his wife and business partner, Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin, last season (part 1 and part 2!)

There are many factors at the intersection of toxic workplaces, imposter syndrome, and DEI. For example, do I have imposter syndrome or does my boss? Or rather, is my discomfort due to the fact that this is a toxic workplace?

And further, how does my identity play into all of this? No matter the answer to these questions, at the end of the day, work should not be hazardous to our health. Dr. Orbé-Austin shares the US Surgeon General’s formal definition of a toxic workplace, tools for overcoming your imposter syndrome, and what DEI actually means in this illuminating conversation.

What we will explore in this episode:

• How the pandemic allowed us to have more expansive conversations about toxic workplaces and burnout.
• What your imposter syndrome can tell you about your environment.
• The signs that your boss might have imposter syndrome.
• Managing up and modeling boundaries.
• How does a remote work environment impact imposter syndrome?
• What is double impact imposter syndrome?
• Masking (or “covering”) pieces of your identity at work.
• The first step that leaders need to take to shift company culture.

Where to find Dr. Richard Orbé-Austin and his work: Website and LinkedIn Profile Books: Own Your Greatness & Your Unstoppable Greatness