We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Miriam Simon a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Miriam, 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.
I don’t believe in imposter syndrome. I believe it takes us time to evolve into new roles. We are all becoming the next version of ourselves at a faster rate because change happens so much faster than before. We are also carrying versions of ourselves from past experiences that may be hindering our current and future selves so we not only learn but begin to unlearn too.
We must grant ourselves permission to be fully ourselves in order to truly accomplish freedom. I had realized my challenges weren’t coming from other people, or systems, but was coming from the way I perceived myself. The lens from which I saw situations was blurred for a while because I was new and eventually the path becomes clear the moment you recognize each level is another uncomfortable win. Uncomfortable is the price to reach the next step of our becoming.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Miriam Simon is someone who leads with heart. At my core, I’m deeply dedicated to my family, an advocate for others, and a giver by nature. I’m emotional, passionate, and fully invested in the work I do because it’s personal. I don’t just believe in people, I feel them, and I fight for them.
A defining moment in my life happened when I survived a shooting that took the life of a close friend. We were both shot at, and I lived. That experience fundamentally changed me. From that day forward, I knew I had been given a second chance at life, and with that came a responsibility. Giving up was no longer an option. Everything I do now is rooted in that understanding that life is precious, and we are here for a reason.
To become the leader and creator I am today, I had to unlearn invisibility. For a long time, I learned how to hide parts of myself to survive. Letting go of that habit, of diminishing or staying quiet, was essential. I realized that flourishing wasn’t just about me. It was about creating space for others to do the same.
In simple, human terms, my work is about helping people live the life they actually want. I help them free themselves from judgment, reconnect with their inner power, and remember who they are beneath expectations, titles, and fear.
What makes my work especially necessary right now is that we’ve forgotten how to be human with one another. Too often, people are reduced to credentials, theory, or productivity, while their lived experiences are dismissed. I believe our experiences are knowledge. It doesn’t matter where you went to school or how much theory you can quote, when we lead human-first and honor people’s realities, we find real ways to help each other grow.
The core problem I see in leadership and culture is division, external and internal. Society has fractured us so deeply that many people are divided within themselves. That’s where my work as the creator of the Undivided Leader framework comes in. We are all carrying split identities in one way or another, and leadership begins when we learn how to bring ourselves back together.
My brand intentionally blends multiple worlds because I am not just one thing and neither are the people I serve. Our backgrounds, identities, and experiences shape our perspective, and that perspective is a strength. When we allow people to be whole, they lead better, connect deeper, and create more meaningful impact.
What people most often thank me for is my honesty. They tell me I’m real, raw, and unafraid to speak the truth. They appreciate that I advocate for them and help them move to the next level, not just professionally, but personally.
Right now, I’m most excited about building and launching my Undivided Leader program and framework. I know people are searching for this work. I know they’re waiting for it. Alongside that, I’m developing workshops that bring leaders back to the basics of human connection, especially in a world increasingly shaped by AI and technology. While those tools matter, they should augment our humanity, not replace it.
If someone discovers me through this article, I hope they feel empowered and seen. And at this stage of my life and career, boldness means having the audacity to be yourself. The audacity to say what you want. The audacity to choose differently than what’s been chosen before.
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, three qualities and areas of growth that had the greatest impact on my journey: resilience, courage, and self-acceptance rooted in identity awareness.
Before I ever thrived, resilience and persistence were what helped me survive. I learned early on to just keep going, to not quit. That meant trying, failing, trying again, and learning what worked and what didn’t. Resilience wasn’t glamorous, but it was necessary. It protected me during moments when giving up would have been easier, and it propelled me forward because persistence eventually creates momentum.
Courage was another essential quality, but it was one I had to consciously build. Courage showed up most clearly through boundary-setting and learning to speak honestly, even when it was uncomfortable. As an LGBTQ+ woman who deeply loves her wife of nearly twenty years, I was forced to develop courage early especially when that love wasn’t accepted by my own mother. Advocating for myself, my relationship, and my truth taught me that many people don’t say what they really think because they fear judgment. But when we live that way, we stop being present and fully alive. Learning to set boundaries and speak from truth changed how I show up as a leader and as a human.
The most transformative knowledge I gained was an understanding of identity and systems and how they shape the way we see ourselves and others. I eventually realized that I could be fully myself and still be accepted and loved. That understanding shifted everything. Living as an LGBTQ+ person in a world where judgment still exists can be painful, but I learned that I don’t have to internalize those narratives. When you protect your heart, mind, and soul, you can live according to your own beliefs while still allowing others to live theirs, without judgment. That awareness is what allowed me to lead with compassion instead of resentment.
For those early in their journey, I think one of the biggest mistakes is believing they can’t speak up or ask for what they want. Too often, people follow everyone else’s advice without pausing to ask themselves a simple but powerful question: What do I want? Learning to sit with yourself and listen is foundational.
One thing I wish I had developed sooner is presence. I spent a long time moving fast, always feeling behind, always trying to get further ahead. If I had learned to slow down earlier, I would have experienced more, loved harder, noticed more, and lived more fully in the moment.
For anyone who feels invisible, behind, or unsure of themselves right now, my honest advice is this: take it step by step. When you look at how far you’ve come, whether it’s from yesterday, last month, or five years ago, you’ll see that consistent effort compounds. As long as you keep showing up and working toward what matters, things do begin to work themselves out.
You don’t become powerful by stepping on others. You become powerful by accepting yourself.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
When I think about my parents together, the first thing that comes to mind is simple and honest: they had it hard. Really hard.
Despite everything, the most impactful thing my parents gave me was sacrifice and survival. They showed me what it meant to keep going when life gives you very little to work with. And just as importantly, they showed me what not to become. Their lives became a mirror that helped me choose a different path.
As an adult, what I respect most about my mother is that she never gave up on us. She was a mom first, always. She did everything she could to protect her children, even when she had no family here, very little support, and the weight of adulthood placed on her far too young. Watching her taught me what real strength looks like. My mother is the most resilient person I know. She survived on her own, learned how to navigate life in a new country, and carried the responsibility of raising a family with determination and love, even when it came at a great personal cost.
When I think about my father, what feels most true, without defending or condemning him, is that he didn’t truly understand love. His alcoholism, abuse, and eventual incarceration taught me how deeply unprocessed emotions can shape a life. He never learned how to deal with his feelings or how to navigate relationships, and that lack of support and tools had real consequences. At the same time, there’s an important part of him that’s often misunderstood: he was incredibly smart, strong, and deeply loved music. He played guitar, and there was creativity and tenderness there that didn’t always get space to exist.
Being brought to the United States at six months old changed the entire trajectory of my life. My parents both had only an elementary education, but that decision gave me opportunity, freedom, and the belief that possibilities could be unlimited. It gave me a different way of life, one where I could imagine more for myself.
My grandparents, my father’s parents, were my rock. They grounded us. They protected us. They worked hard, navigated a new country in their own way, and gave us stability when things could have easily fallen apart. Their presence played a huge role in shaping who I am as a leader today.
If I had to name the one thing my parents did that most impacted my life, it would be this: they chose opportunity. Even though they were young, even though life was complicated, they didn’t leave me behind. They could have, but they didn’t. They brought me here together, and that decision changed everything.
That impact shows up in how I lead every day. I don’t leave people behind, especially the young, the vulnerable, or the overlooked. Leadership, to me, means making sure no one gets forgotten.
My parents didn’t give me a perfect childhood, but they gave me my freedom and that changed everything.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.miriamsimon.online
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iammiriamsimon?igsh=MTJldmNrZDJ1cHJjaw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17gpkFd9Zq/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/miriam-simon-online
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@iammiriamsimon?si=WunqDqbDNPIO2hgh
Image Credits
Lean In Latinas Take Charge event; Passaic County Book Festival
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