How can executives build authentic confidence and overcome self-doubt—without losing clarity?
Kip Knippel, President & CEO of KIP Search, joins Felicia Shakiba to share actionable strategies for navigating imposter syndrome, embracing risk, and leading with grounded confidence. Drawing on decades of executive leadership experience, Kip explains how mentorship, direct communication, and self-awareness help leaders—especially women in male-dominated environments—build resilience and executive presence.
This episode explores how leadership maturity, disciplined decision making, and clear C-suite strategy shape confident leadership at the top. Kip breaks down how confidence is built through practice—not performance—and how organizations can cultivate cultures where leaders grow through trust, feedback, and accountability. The conversation highlights how business process automation and digital transformation support scale, but authentic leadership remains the decisive driver of value creation.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Project Tease
02:56 The Nature of Confidence
06:02 Imposter Syndrome and Its Impact
08:51 Personal Experiences with Confidence
11:58 The Role of Confidence in Leadership
14:52 Practical Tips for Building Confidence
17:25 The Importance of Practice in Interviews
18:47 Gender Differences in Self-Criticism
19:38 Patterns in Executive Self-Perception
21:08 Coaching Women in Leadership
22:58 Diversity in Leadership Roles
25:01 Identifying Fake Confidence
26:30 The Impact of Gender on Communication
28:08 Women Judging Women
30:42 Overcoming Scarcity Mentality
31:41 Building Confidence Through Risk-Taking
34:05 The Role of Mentorship in Confidence Building
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