Meet Katie Smith

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Katie Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Katie, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I’m not sure I ever called it that. When I experienced this, it was more about being and building confidence. Confidence is something you develop through experience and by creating an internal framework that allows you to work with your mindset and behavior.

For me, that began early in my twenties. I started a spiritual practice, and life conditions forced me to become resourceful and resilient. I was raising a hearing-impaired daughter, teaching her how to speak, and navigating life as a single mother of two. There was no choice but to rise to the challenges in front of me.

I found Kundalini Yoga and meditation early on and created a daily practice—one I still maintain more than 30 years later. I even raised my kids with it. When they were young, I told them spirituality had to be part of their lives—it was either church or yoga and meditation. We explored different churches, and they chose yoga and meditation, so I taught them every week.

The breathwork, mantras, chanting, and physical practices supported all of us in building confidence and courage. They helped us step into our fears, acknowledge ourselves, and learn to love who we are. Over time, that inner work builds a muscle.

Imposter syndrome, in my experience, is rooted in weak self-acknowledgment and self-love. We live in a collective that constantly focuses on what’s wrong or not good enough, and that mindset has created an epidemic of imposter syndrome.

With my current clients, I have them start an acknowledgment journal. Each week, they write what they want to acknowledge about themselves. When this practice is done consistently, something shifts inside—self-trust grows, self-criticism softens, and confidence begins to come from within.

Let’s begin acknowledging ourselves more—and the people we engage with at work and at home. This strengthens the muscle of self-love and builds confidence from the inside out.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I guide individuals, teams, and organizations in transforming resistance into practical frameworks for personal and professional success—especially during times of change. I teach clients how to convert challenges into forward momentum, fostering authentic alignment with greater ease.

I work with professionals and leaders to cultivate internal alignment in both their work and lives, so they can lead themselves, their businesses and families with clarity, confidence, and sustainability.

I’m especially excited about Inner Wisdom Circles—intimate groups of 6–9 individuals focused on building alignment, confidence, and resilience. These circles support participants in navigating change, strengthening self-trust, and becoming more intentional and strategic with their energy, thoughts, and presence.

In addition, I’m expanding my work through speaking and teaching, sharing these principles with broader audiences to support meaningful, grounded leadership and growth. I have also been thinking about offering something for parents along these concepts as well.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, there are three qualities that have had the greatest impact on my journey.

1. Self-awareness and the willingness to listen inward
Learning how to slow down, notice my internal landscape, and trust my inner signals changed everything. Instead of pushing through resistance, I learned to get curious about it. This awareness helped me make more aligned decisions, conserve energy, and move forward with greater clarity.

Advice for those early in their journey:
Build practices that help you hear yourself—journaling, reflection, time in nature, or guided conversations. Don’t rush to override discomfort; learn to interpret it. Self-awareness is a skill that compounds over time.

2. Comfort with uncertainty and change
Some of my most meaningful growth came when I stopped trying to control outcomes and focused on staying present and responsive. Developing resilience during periods of uncertainty allowed me to see change as a teacher rather than a threat.

Advice:
Expect change rather than waiting for stability. Practice staying grounded when things feel unclear. Start small—notice where you can loosen your grip and respond thoughtfully instead of reactively.

3. Strategic use of energy, not just effort
I learned that success isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters most, from a place of alignment. Understanding how my thoughts, emotions, and energy influence how I show up helped me lead with more ease and effectiveness.

Advice:
Pay attention to what drains you and what restores you. Be intentional about where you invest your energy. Alignment creates momentum; force creates burnout.

Overall, my advice is to trust that growth is not linear. Focus less on fixing yourself and more on understanding yourself. When you build alignment from the inside out, progress becomes more sustainable—and far more fulfilling.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Yes, I love collaboration—we over me is the mindset moving forward. I’m drawn to collaborators who complement my work, align with my values, and are genuinely interested in serving others in a grounded, honest way that builds resilience and internal alignment.

I value working with people who have done their own inner work over time and have integrated what they’ve learned into their lives, not just in theory but in practice.

And always, I’m excited by collaborators who help me grow—who challenge, stretch, and provoke my thinking in meaningful ways 🙂

Contact Info:

• Website: https://katiebsmith.com/
• Instagram: @katiebsmithcoach
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebsmith/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXccQc9PL0jnadWrt2gM4bQ
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/katiebsmith
• Other: Substack: https://substack.com/@theintegratedleader

Image Credits

The photos are of me and my kids as well as a client alter for an inner wisdom circle I facilitate.

I do not have pictures of clients as our work is confidential and I do not share client pictures.

Shelby Smith gets credit for photos – https://shelbysmith.us/