Meet Julie Haagenson

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Julie Haagenson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Julie below.

Julie , so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

The primary way I have overcome imposter syndrome is by changing the way I think about it. I have experienced it at various stages in my life, but most strongly as I became an entrepreneur. After years of being an educator, it was a big identity shift to start my own business. When I discovered that 75% of women executives experience imposter syndrome, I went on a deep dive into the research on the topic and started to develop tools and strategies for myself which would later become the steps I use to teach others about the phenomenon.

I learned that the two doctors that originally coined the term didn’t want it to be called a syndrome at all. Instead they called it imposter phenomenon to clarify that it was not a mental health diagnosis. I started to notice my “imposter story,” the automatic negative narrative I tell myself in the face of uncertainty or change, and started to challenge it and reframe it. And I built myself a supportive network to learn from. I joined a business accelerator program that included mentorship from local entrepreneurs, I reached out to my community of women who had the skills I needed to grow my business, and I started to write myself a new narrative that is centered in my core values. Now I run workshops for women entrepreneurs and business leaders to help lead them through this process.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I founded New Pathways Coaching & Consulting after spending the majority of my career as an educator. Coming out of the pandemic, I witnessed 3 things that inspired me to start the business. First, there was a huge rise in overwhelm, stress, and burnout in the adolescents and adults I was working with. Second, people were feeling disconnected and isolated from one another and craving connection and belonging. And third, there seemed to be no roadmap for how to reintegrate back into community with one another.

I started with the principles I had learned as a Montessori educator: inquiry based experiential learning, that fosters critical thinking, self awareness, and autonomy. I began to study and research everything I could find on neuroscience and brain based strategies for addressing stress, and combined what I learned with my passion for cultivating community and culture. And these practices became the foundation of my business.

My work has expanded from working one-on-one with individuals to serving teams and organizations as a leadership coach and facilitator. I also work as a consultant to educators and schools helping them implement programs that support engagement and increase wellbeing. My favorite thing is connecting people and helping them with align their values so they can lead with authenticity, creativity, and purpose.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Authenticity- One exercise I do with all of my clients is have them identify their core values. I think that imposter syndrome, stress, and burnout are amplified when we are not acting in alignment with our own values. When I am not acting authentically, it kicks up my imposter story. I use my values as a compass to help me re-center so I can make purpose driven decisions, set boundaries, and be the kind of person I want to be.

Empowerment- I believe that I can have the biggest impact through empowering others. My work centers around the idea of distributive leadership, which involves activating and empowering others to recognize their strengths and engage in their own growth and development so they can expand their influence within their own communities and organizations.

Collaboration- Although I am a solopreneur, I think one one of the most important things I have learned about myself is that I work best in collaboration with others. I really value competence, but my definition of the word has changed. I used to tell myself I had to do it all on my own, but now I know that competence is more about knowing the resources you need and finding the best people to support you in the areas where you are less experienced. Having a network is key for me.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

My professional story has its roots in my family story. My family life was steeped in what would later become the foundation of my values and beliefs for my business. The way my parents lived their lives had the most impact on me.

My mom grew up on St.Thomas, a tiny island in the Caribbean, deeply rooted in culture and tradition. She took a bold leap to relocate to the continental US when she married my dad. Growing up, it was common for our entire neighborhood to gather at our house. What I admire about my mom is that she took the time to observe people around her. She paid attention to what type of snack or music they liked and she’d have for them the next time they came by. There were people who had lived on our street for decades who hadn’t met until they came to her gatherings at our house. She fostered a sense of culture and belonging in every community we were a part of.

My dad modeled hard work and competence. In addition to having a strong work ethic he was a hobbyist. From HAM radio, to home brewed beer, to wrapping my ankles for soccer practice, my dad was constantly teaching himself new things he was passionate about. And he always started by researching the best and the brightest in the field, to build a foundation of knowledge from experts as the starting point for his own expertise. He too, took a bold leap in midlife, switching from his career in the restaurant business to entrepreneurship as a computer consultant.

What I took from each of them was they each had a critical moment where they took a risk to disrupt the life they were living to strive for the life they wanted. Their courage inspired me to become a tenacious learner and researcher like my dad, and an observer of people and culture builder like my mom.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.new-pathways-coaching.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jhaagen74/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-haagenson

Image Credits

1. Joey Chernila
2. Whitney Doherty
3. Devin Shea
4. Julie Haagenson
5. Susan LaCombe