Imposter syndrome. Self-doubt. That persistent voice whispering “you’re not good enough.”
We’ve been told it’s a personal flaw—something women need to fix with mantras, pep talks, or another “confidence workshop.”

Here’s the truth: imposter syndrome isn’t a female failure. It’s a systemic symptom.
Workplace structures, biased feedback, and impossible standards engineer self-doubt—and then blame women for not overcoming it.

In this episode, I sit down with Hannah Rogers, HR powerhouse and women’s leadership advocate, to dismantle the myth of imposter syndrome and expose the real confidence conspiracy.

We cover:
– Why imposter syndrome is more about systems than psychology
– How biased feedback loops fuel self-doubt
– The hidden cost of rewarding confidence theater over competence
– Why “flexible” work often comes with rigid, unspoken expectations
– What real support looks like—from sponsorship to psychological safety
– Practical ways women can reframe self-doubt into self-advocacy
– How leaders can create cultures that build women up instead of wearing them down

Why this episode matters:
Every time we label women’s confidence gap as a personal flaw, we let broken systems off the hook. This conversation challenges the narrative, reframes self-doubt, and demands workplaces that recognize brilliance over bravado. If you care about retaining talent, building equity, and leading with integrity, this one’s for you.

Guest Bio:
Hannah Rogers, MCIPD, is a seasoned HR leader and advocate for reimagining women’s leadership in the workplace. With a career spanning organizational design, leadership development, and talent strategy, she’s passionate about dismantling the systemic barriers that hold women back. Her work shines a light on the invisible pressures women face—and how organizations can create environments where they don’t just survive, but thrive.

Why she matters to you:
If you’ve ever felt like your confidence was questioned more than your competence, Hannah’s insights will feel uncomfortably familiar—and powerfully validating. She brings candor, depth, and practical strategies for leaders and women alike who are ready to rewrite the rules.

Learn more about Hannah: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-rogers-mcipd-97bb5685/

Host Bio:
Kate Ball is an international talent strategist, bestselling author, and unapologetic Bullshit Exorcist on a mission to torch performative HR and take down corporate nonsense with a smile. With 20+ years spent shaking up culture, leadership, and talent strategy at giants like Amazon, Expedia, and Cision, she now runs Sparkle & Sass Consulting—helping brave companies and bolder leaders stop playing nice and start doing better.

On The Culture Chronicles, Kate calls it like it is: no jargon, no fluff, and definitely no beige. Just sharp minds, spicy takes, and real talk about what’s broken at work—and who’s bold enough to fix it.

This isn’t your HR department’s podcast. It’s the one they hope you never find.

Learn More About Kate: ⁠www.sparkleandsassconsulting.com⁠
Connect on LinkedIn: ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/kateball1/⁠
Follow on Instagram: ⁠www.instagram.com/the_culturechronicles/⁠
Explore The Culture Chronicles Book Series: ⁠www.amazon.com/author/kateball

Too often, we glorify the myth of the “self-made” success story. The lone wolf who pulls themselves up, figures it out alone, and makes it to the top without help.

Here’s the truth: no one gets there by themselves. Mentorship, collaboration, and sponsorship are the real engines of growth—and it’s long past time we dismantle the solo-success narrative.

In this episode, I sit down with Melony Menard to unpack the transformative power of mentorship. We explore what true mentorship looks like, how it differs from sponsorship, and why everyone—regardless of title—deserves access to growth.

We cover:
– Why the self-made success story is a limiting myth
– How mentorship and sponsorship differ—and why both matter
– The distinct roles of managers vs. mentors
– Why mentorship should be mutually beneficial, not one-sided
– How to prioritize time for effective mentoring
– The role of cohort mentoring in building community and fun
– Why asking the right questions is often more important than having all the answers
– How legacy in mentorship isn’t about titles—it’s about who grows because of you

Why this episode matters:
A culture without mentorship is a culture without growth. If your organization still leaves mentoring to chance—or reserves it only for a chosen few—you’re missing one of the most powerful levers for development, retention, and future leadership.

Guest Bio:
Melony Menard is a business leader, mentor, and advocate for building cultures of growth and collaboration. With a career rooted in leadership and coaching, she’s passionate about dismantling outdated success myths and creating accessible pathways for development at every level. Melony’s work demonstrates how mentorship creates not just stronger individuals, but stronger organizations.

Why she matters to you:
If you’ve ever believed that mentorship is a luxury—or that success should be earned “alone”—this episode will make you rethink everything. Melony offers a candid, practical look at how mentorship can transform careers, communities, and culture itself.

Learn more about Melony: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melony-menard-mba/

Host Bio:
Kate Ball is an international talent strategist, bestselling author, and unapologetic Bullshit Exorcist on a mission to torch performative HR and take down corporate nonsense with a smile. With 20+ years spent shaking up culture, leadership, and talent strategy at giants like Amazon, Expedia, and Cision, she now runs Sparkle & Sass Consulting—helping brave companies and bolder leaders stop playing nice and start doing better.

On The Culture Chronicles, Kate calls it like it is: no jargon, no fluff, and definitely no beige. Just sharp minds, spicy takes, and real talk about what’s broken at work—and who’s bold enough to fix it.

This isn’t your HR department’s podcast. It’s the one they hope you never find.

Learn More About Kate: www.sparkleandsassconsulting.com

Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kateball1/

Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_culturechronicles/Explore The Culture Chronicles Book Series: www.amazon.com/author/kateball

Too often dismissed as “feel-good” extras, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are actually untapped engines of culture, innovation, and retention. In this episode, I sit down with Anna Ettin—known across the industry as the godmother of ERGs—to unpack why it’s long past time to give these groups the budget, backing, and strategic voice they deserve.

This isn’t about cupcakes in the break room or yet another heritage month panel. It’s about recognizing ERGs as powerful business drivers—and building the governance, funding, and executive alignment that transforms them from side-of-desk projects into real centers of influence.

We cover:
– Why ERGs are more than community—they’re culture strategy in action
– Funding, governance, and recognition models that actually work
– How storytelling makes ERGs impossible to ignore at the executive table
– The risk of inequity when ERG leaders go uncompensated
– Why fun matters: engagement is about energy, not obligation
– How to build a roadmap that keeps ERGs sustainable, visible, and impactful
– The role of consistent communication in scaling belonging

Why this episode matters:
If your company still treats ERGs like an afterthought, you’re leaving culture, innovation, and retention on the table. This episode is your wake-up call: give ERGs the resources and recognition they deserve—or risk watching your best people walk.

Guest Bio:
Anna Ettin is widely recognized as a pioneer and thought leader in the ERG space. With decades of experience building, scaling, and advising ERGs across industries, she’s earned the reputation as the godmother of ERGs for her ability to turn grassroots communities into organizational powerhouses. Anna’s expertise bridges strategy and storytelling, helping leaders understand not just why ERGs matter, but how to structure and sustain them for long-term business impact.

Why she matters to you:
If you’re struggling to prove the business case for ERGs—or if your employees are leading them without recognition or support—Anna brings the playbook you need. Her perspective will challenge you to stop treating ERGs as a checkbox and start seeing them as the culture-shaping, retention-driving engines they truly are.
Learn more about Anna: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-ettin-7054ab1/⁠

Learn more about the Global ERG Network: https://globalergnet.com/

Host Bio:
Kate Ball is an international talent strategist, bestselling author, and unapologetic Bullshit Exorcist on a mission to torch performative HR and take down corporate nonsense with a smile. With 20+ years spent shaking up culture, leadership, and talent strategy at giants like Amazon, Expedia, and Cision, she now runs Sparkle & Sass Consulting—helping brave companies and bolder leaders stop playing nice and start doing better.
On The Culture Chronicles, Kate calls it like it is: no jargon, no fluff, and definitely no beige. Just sharp minds, spicy takes, and real talk about what’s broken at work—and who’s bold enough to fix it.
This isn’t your HR department’s podcast. It’s the one they hope you never find.
Learn More About Kate: ⁠⁠www.sparkleandsassconsulting.com⁠⁠
Connect on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateball1/⁠⁠⁠
Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/the_culturechronicles/⁠⁠⁠
Explore The Culture Chronicles Book Series: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/author/kateball⁠⁠⁠