Where Work Meets Life™ with Dr. Laura

Dr. Laura welcomes Kelly Campbell, a Trauma-Informed Leadership Coach, keynote speaker, and author of the book Heal to Lead, to the podcast to talk about “the new TLC”, Trauma, Leadership, and Consciousness. Kelly was a successful CEO who sold her business in 2016 after a personal deep dive to learn who she was without the title of CEO. Her journey now, as she shares with Dr. Laura, is all about helping people heal unresolved trauma so they can lead from a place of wholeness.  

Kelly differentiates between ‘big T’ and ‘little t’ trauma by definition but she identifies that the continuous nature of ‘little t’ trauma erodes a sense of self over time and that all trauma is deeply impactful. It is both big and little T trauma, often unaddressed, that prevents leaders from being able to lead with compassion. Dr. Laura and Kelly explore the themes in her book, Heal to Lead, and why she was first moved to write the book. With powerful insights, famous examples, and a true understanding of what is needed for healing, Kelly’s message resonates powerfully with Dr. Laura and anyone who hears this episode.

“So the impetus for writing this book was, wow, I think I've landed on something in this correlation between trauma, unresolved trauma, unintegrated trauma in particular, and leadership style, leadership efficacy. And why is no one talking about this? So between the work that I was doing and my first-hand experience and my training, I was like, okay, well, if that book doesn't exist, I think it's time to write it.” Kelly Campbell

Watch this episode on Dr. Laura’s YouTube channel

About Kelly Campbell:

Kelly L. Campbell (they/she) speaks and writes about trauma, leadership, and consciousness— ”The New TLC.” The author of Heal to Lead (Wiley, April 2024), Kelly is a Trauma-Informed Leadership Coach to emerging and established leaders who know they are meant for more. Kelly’s vision is for more than half of humanity to heal its childhood trauma so that we may reimagine and rebuild the world together. 

Resources:

Website: KLCampbell.com

Substack: KellyLCampbell.substack.com

“Heal to Lead” by Kelly L Campbell 

Kelly Campbell on Instagram

Kelly Campbell on LinkedIn 

Kelly Campbell Leadership Quiz

Healing Resources: MyHealingMenu.com

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura talks with artist Tresa Gibson in Tresa’s Calgary studio about overcoming adversities and listening to the call to live an authentic life. Tresa Gibson has been an artist for over twenty years, painting with oil on canvas in bright, vibrant colours with a lot of texture. She shares some of her life stories with Dr. Laura, including some of the struggles she overcame, and explains how art, combined with business acumen and problem-solving skills, helped her realize her most genuine life.

Tresa understood she would somehow be in business at a young age but without knowing exactly how. As an adult, she took some art classes and stumbled into her love of painting and her true passion in life. While life threw many challenges in her path, including a very difficult health diagnosis for her son, Tresa’s love of art never wavered. She tells Dr. Laura that while the path she walked looked different than she had expected, she heard the “whisper” in her ear and realized her duty in life was to heed that call. Tresa’s passion for painting, her steely resolve when faced with challenges, and her openness to listening to her intuition make for a truly inspirational story.   

“... similar to when you get in your car to drive home from work, it's a route that you drive all the time, so you're driving along in the car. You're not really consciously thinking ‘I have to turn right here, I have to turn left here.’  You're kind of just doing it. You're in a natural sort of meditative state as far as the drive home. And then you can think of other things. Well, when I'm painting a painting, I kind of open up that same way and I go into sort of an open, natural groove, and the painting just comes through me.” Tresa Gibson

Watch this episode on Dr. Laura’s YouTube channel

About Tresa Gibson:

Recognized for her unique impressionist style that balances colour and depth, Tresa’s work has been described as a simultaneous sense of order and chaos. She has been a thriving self-taught artist for over 14 years specializing in oil on canvas. 

Born on the west coast in Victoria, Tresa moved around at a young age, to Britain and then to Calgary which she calls home. She runs a successful fast-paced studio in Calgary and her art can be found in collections throughout the world. Walk into her studio on any given day and there will be paint flying, music playing, and an abundance of laughter! 

Tresa is best explained as a fiery ball of energy & enthusiasm who throws herself with abandon into every facet of her life. Her art is an expression of her personal beliefs of optimism and spirituality. It illustrates the moments of enlightenment and positivity that we all seek.  

Tresa is highly dedicated to giving to her community by participating in many fundraising efforts yearly. Her connection to others, in all occupations, fuel her excitement to express herself on canvas.  

Resources:

Website: TresaGibson.com

Instagram: @TresaGibson

Facebook: Tresa Gibson Artist Studio

Email: [email protected]

Missing Children Society of Canada

Gems for Gems

Mark Groves

“Bittersweet” by Susan Cain

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura revisits the topic of toxic bosses with in-depth information about the differences between a difficult boss and a toxic boss. In conducting studies and reading research on toxic bosses for the book she’s writing, Dr. Laura has gathered an immense amount of knowledge on identifying, differentiating, dealing with, and surviving toxic bosses. In this episode, she illustrates how a difficult boss is not necessarily a toxic boss and why this difference matters.

One of the main differences Dr. Laura points to is that while a difficult boss can be unpleasant to work with, they are manageable and can be navigated. A toxic boss, however, is not a sustainable person to work for as they are incredibly bad for mental health, physical health, and career progression. Dr. Laura breaks down all the ways we can differentiate between a difficult and toxic boss through their personal styles of management, levels of micromanagement, whether they communicate poorly or with dishonest and manipulative intentions, and how it feels when working with them. This episode expands our understanding of toxic bosses and adds more information to our knowledge bank so that toxic bosses can be more readily identified and, hopefully, avoided.

“And the biggest difference, really, is that you can find ways to manage a difficult boss, and you cannot do so with a toxic boss. A toxic boss is really damaging to your engagement, your productivity and your wellbeing.” Dr. Laura

About Dr. Laura:

Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.

Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018.

Resources:

Where Work Meets Life™Episode 83 | Managing Your Boss: How to Succeed, Thrive, or Know When to Leave with Mary Abbajay

“Managing Up: How to Move Up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss” by Mary Abbajay

Dr. Laura on LinkedIn

Where Work Meets Life™ on YouTube

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Content Warning: This episode contains frank discussions about child sex trafficking. We encourage you to care for your well-being as you listen to and share this episode about the all-too-real danger of human trafficking. 

Dr. Laura welcomes a return guest alongside a new expert in this challenging and vitally important episode on child sex trafficking. Alan Smyth, Executive Director of Saving Innocence (based in LA) and co-author of “MEN! Fight For Me”, returns to the show along with new guest Conroy Kanter, President of KK Ranch Productions and Producer of the movie Trafficked. Their conversation lifts the veil of secrecy on the issue of child sex trafficking, revealing how close to home it is and the current efforts to raise awareness of the tragic reality of this heinous crime.

Alan Smyth reveals that his celebrated book, “MEN! Fight For Me”, written with the collaborative efforts of trafficking survivors, is now in audiobook form for even wider distribution. Conroy Kanter shares how her 2017 film, Trafficked, starring Ashley Judd and Patrick Duffy, is currently available to watch on Amazon Prime. Alan and Conroy readily share their knowledge with Dr. Laura. Awareness of the grim reality of child sex trafficking is necessary in order to combat the continuing spread of the criminal practice. To that end, everyone who hears this conversation is offered an opportunity to acknowledge the present danger of the issue and act by sharing these resources and protecting children with foreknowledge.    

“There's a trafficker, and then there's a trafficked victim, to coin your movie title. And all of that is exploitation. There's certainly exploitation that isn't yet trafficking, but when that third-party trafficker, controller, is forcing someone to be somewhere and receiving money for some sort of sexual, you know, exploitation or effort, then it becomes trafficking. And it's usually, according to the definition, through force, physical force, oftentimes violent force, sometimes lethal force, fraud or coercion.” Alan Smyth

“And [trafficking] is not something that you just want to say, oh, that happens in another country far far away. It happens right here!” Conroy Kanter

About Alan Smyth:

Alan Smyth is married and a father of two children and one grandchild. He is the Executive Director for Saving Innocence, an anti-human trafficking agency based in Los Angeles California.

Alan has responsibility for Direct Services and Business Operations.

Alan recently collaborated on a book with numerous survivors of Human Trafficking entitled MEN! Fight For Me. It’s a book for everyone but with a special emphasis on the male audience. You can learn more about this book at www.fightforme.net

Website: SavingInnocence.org

Book: “MEN! Fight For Me” by Alan Smyth and Jessica Midkiff

Audiobook: “MEN! Fight For Me Audiobook” by Alan Smyth and Jessica Midkiff

About Conroy Kanter:

Conroy Kanter, President and Founder of KK Ranch Productions, Inc. nestled in the sunny heart of Malibu, CA, is a dynamic force in the world of film and activism. An accomplished producer, actress, speaker, and advocate, Conroy’s dedication to storytelling with purpose shines through her work. Currently steering the post-production journey of the highly anticipated Romantic Comedy, “Days When The Rains Came,” Conroy’s creative vision weaves tales of life, loss, and the enduring search for love. Her past endeavors include thought-provoking independent dramas like “Trafficked,” which premiered at the United Nations, igniting crucial conversations about human trafficking. Another gem in her portfolio, “A Million Loves In Me,” stands tall as Malaysia’s most celebrated film, garnering accolades worldwide.

Beyond the silver screen, Conroy is revered as a captivating speaker, harnessing her platform to advocate for social justice causes and empower audiences globally. Her unwavering commitment to combating human trafficking has earned her prestigious awards and widespread recognition. Driven by the transformative power of film, Conroy channels her passion into every project, striving to provoke thought, evoke emotion, and inspire positive change. With each endeavor, she reaffirms her belief in the inherent ability of storytelling to reshape perceptions and illuminate paths toward a better world.

Website: KK Ranch Productions
Movie: Trafficked

Resources:

Episode 25 | Calling All Men to Action: Let’s End Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking! – Part 1

Episode 26 | Calling All Men to Action: Let’s End Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking! – Part 2

Watch Trafficked on Amazon Prime

Find “MEN! Fight For Me” on Amazon

Canada: Human Trafficking Hotline / phone: 1-833-900-1010

America: National Human Trafficking Hotline / phone: 1-888-373-7888

European Commission: National Hotlines

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura welcomes Brigid Schulte, journalist, think tank program director, keynote speaker, and author of the best-selling book, Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time. Brigid is currently the Director of the Better Life Lab and her latest book Over Work: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life, focuses on how our lives can improve by examining overwork.  She and Dr. Laura discuss what contributes to overwork and how we can make meaningful changes in work in terms of policy, gender equality, and cultural attitudes and behaviors. 

The notion of overwork is not exclusive to Western cultures and in researching Over Work, Brigid spent time in Japan and other countries in addition to studying American work attitudes. In Japan there is a word for when people die from overwork: karoshi. Brigid wants to understand what drives people to overwork and how change can be made at a cultural level. She describes the symptoms and ultimate results of overwork with Dr. Laura and their discussion examines why all work should be good work, rewarded with a liveable wage and dignity in whatever job is being done. This episode digs deep into why we value working too much instead of valuing the work itself and how it contributes not just to our personal gain but to the common good and shared prosperity.    

“I argue that we need to think much differently about what work is, that work is not only what we do for pay, it is also all of the unpaid work of care and home that women have mainly done for generations … We need to consider that work. But we also need to be thinking about the contributions we make to our communities, to our society, and thinking about reclaiming the sense of why we work, not necessarily for personal enrichment or GDP growth or the stock market.” Brigid Schulte

About Brigid Schulte:

Brigid Schulte is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author. She was a staff writer at the Washington Post and Washington Post magazine for nearly 17 years, and part of a team that won the Pulitzer Prize. In addition to the Post, her work has appeared in, among other places, the Atlantic, the Boston Globe, The Guardian, Slate, Time, CNN, The Toronto Globe & Mail and Quartz. She has been quoted in numerous media outlets and has appeared on numerous TV and radio programs including NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, BBC World News, and NPR’s Fresh Air, Morning Edition and On Point.

Brigid’s first book, Overwhelmed: Work, Love and Play When No One Has the Time, about time pressure, gender and leisure, was a New York Times bestseller, named a notable book of the year by the Washington Post and NPR, and won the Virginia Library award for literary nonfiction.

She has spoken all over the world about time, productivity, the causes and consequences of our unsustainable, always-on culture, and how to make time for Work, Love and Play by rethinking how we work so that it’s effective, sustainable and fair. She is currently the director of the Better Life Lab, the work-family justice and intersectional gender equity program at New America, a nonpartisan think tank.

She lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband, Tom Bowman, a reporter for National Public Radio, and their two children. She grew up in Portland, Oregon and spent her summers with family in Wyoming, where she did not feel overwhelmed.

Resources:

Website: BrigidSchulte.com

Podcast: Better Life Lab

“Over Work: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life” by Brigid Schulte

LinkedIn

“Dying for a Paycheck” by Jeffrey Pfeffer

Healthy Work Campaign

Karoshi Syndrome

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura reflects on the past four years as she welcomes everyone to Season Five of Where Work Meets Life™. In looking back through nearly one hundred episodes, she reiterates her desire to help people and organizations thrive, find career fulfillment, and advocate for a better world. What, then, does Season Five hold for us? Dr. Laura gives a glimpse into the future and the pressing issues she will continue to research and pursue as well as those she is revisiting to shine more light on.

Employee mental health concerns, burnout, and overwork are increasing in young workers and Dr. Laura’s first guest of the new season, Brigid Schulte, wrote a book called “Over Work: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life” to address exactly these issues. Dr. Laura will continue to focus on growth and evolution, discussing the importance of overcoming trauma for leaders with author Kelly Campbell (“Heal to Lead”) and finding meaning in life with artist Tresa Gibson. She also revisits a terrible and difficult subject matter that nonetheless requires us all to look at unflinchingly: exploring the reality of human trafficking with producer Conroy Kanter and author Alan Smyth. Season Five will bring a wealth of insight into toxic bosses and their equally toxic leadership, as well as career fulfillment and how to thrive in this challenging but beautiful world. 

“So this is a warning call for organizational leaders to really double down on investing in your culture and your leadership development. And employee wellbeing declined despite a lot of talk about the importance of mental wellness; the talk is not leading to action. It's not changing things.”  Dr. Laura

About Dr. Laura:

Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.

Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018.

Resources:

“Overwork: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life” by Brigid Schulte 

“Heal to Lead: Revolutionizing Leadership through Trauma Healing”t by Kelly Campbell 

Tresa Gibson

“Men! Fight For Me: The Role of Authentic Masculinity in Ending Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking” by Alan Smyth and Jessica Midkiff

Trafficked - produced by Conroy Kanter

Dr. Laura on LinkedIn

Where Work Meets Life™ on YouTube

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura’s exploration into the topic of toxic bosses continues in this episode. During her extensive research on the subject of toxic bosses, she learned a great deal that she is compelled to share and is writing a book based on her findings set to publish in 2025. Her research is continuous and each insight she gains is passed on to listeners in these solo episodes. This time Dr. Laura instructs on how to identify three specifically brutal types of toxic bosses, detailing how they operate and what they are looking to gain.

The first persona Dr. Laura identifies is that of a dishonest manipulator. Bosses of this type are inherently dishonest people and create an environment of mistrust in their team due to chronic lying. The second persona of a toxic boss is that of a great divider. This type prefers to cause dissension and conflict in their teams by pitting people against each other. And the third persona identified is the unethical corrupter. This boss lacks integrity to the point of corruption. They’re not just dishonest, they’re corrupt and unethical. Dr. Laura breaks down the mindset and actions of each type of toxic boss, explains how they will attack and undermine us, and gives straightforward advice on how to handle their toxicity. 

“People are not at their best when they're reporting to a toxic boss. In fact, it depletes their energy. It depletes their creativity and innovation. They live in a state of fear with high anxiety, and their self-esteem and confidence get eroded over time.”  Dr. Laura

About Dr. Laura:

Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.

Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018.

Resources:

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura welcomes Oscar Trimboli, award-winning author, podcast host, and global expert on listening, to the show to talk about listening and how our inability to listen properly is hurting us at work and beyond. Oscar worked extensively in marketing and technology in his career and has a lot of experience in consulting with organizations, all of which give him great insight into the way people listen, or don’t listen, to each other and how to change that.

Oscar traces his work in listening back to a boardroom in 2008 where he was challenged by the CEO’s statement to him: “If you could code how you listen, you could change the world”. He explains that the difference between hearing and listening is action. His new book, How to Listen, addresses research on the subject of listening as well as guidance into listening to what is said and not simply our interpretations of what we hear. Dr. Laura and Oscar discuss different ineffective listening styles that people often fall into and Oscar’s tips on how to improve listening. Oscar’s insight will resonate with everyone who hears this episode and challenge us to really listen, and not just hear, what he’s saying. 

“So please just be conscious that you can improve your listening simply by asking people one extra question, or simply by knowing that the word listen and the word silent have exactly the same letters. So if you just wanted one tip from our conversation today, that would be it. … Therefore just be silent just a little bit longer and you'll be surprised. That breath they've taken doesn't mean they've finished what they're saying. They're just collecting their thoughts.” Oscar Trimboli

About Oscar Trimboli:

Oscar Trimboli is an author, host of the Apple award-winning podcast Deep Listening and a sought-after keynote speaker. Along with the Deep Listening Ambassador Community, he is on a quest to create 100 million deep listeners in the workplace.

Through his work with chairs, boards of directors, and executive teams, Oscar has experienced first-hand the transformational impact leaders can have when they listen beyond words. He believes that when leadership teams focus their attention and listening, they will build organizations that create powerful legacies for the people they serve – today and, more importantly, for future generations.

Oscar is a marketing and technology industry veteran working for Microsoft, PeopleSoft, Polycom, and Vodafone. He consults with organizations, including American Express, AstraZeneca, Cisco, Google, HSBC, IAG, Montblanc, PwC, Salesforce, Sanofi, SAP, and Siemens. He is the author of how to listen – discover the hidden key to better communication – the most comprehensive book about listening in the workplace, Deep Listening – Impact beyond words and Breakthroughs: How to Confront Assumptions

Oscar loves his afternoon walks with his wife, Jennie, and their dog Kilimanjaro. On the weekends, you will find him playing Lego with his grandchildren.

Resources:

Website: OscarTrimboli.com

Oscar Trimboli Podcast: Deep Listening - Impact beyond words

“how to listen: discover the hidden key to better communication” by oscar trimboli

Oscar Trimboli on LinkedIn

“The Square and the Tower: Networks and Power, from the Freemasons to Facebook” by Niall Ferguson

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura welcomes Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier, leadership psychologist, executive coach, and author, to the show to tackle the issue of resilience. Resilience is a quality that increases our ability to handle stress and bounce back from setbacks with greater ease. But how do we identify healthy ways to develop resilience and to tap into it when needed? How can it assist our work performance? Marie-Hélène answers these questions in her new book “The Resilience Plan: A Strategic Approach to Optimizing Your Work Performance and Mental Health” and shares key insights in this episode. 

In working with her clients through executive coaching and in her speaking work, Marie-Hélène would hear feedback about how helpful her knowledge of resilience was. That led her to write this book so she could share the message with a greater audience. Resilience, according to Marie-Hélène, is the skill we need to hone to deal with the chronic demands at work and life in general. In her book, she walks us through analyzing the demands on our time and how to create a strategic plan to strengthen our resilience through action. The ideas that Dr. Pelletier shares are uniquely positioned to help us survive increasing patterns of burnout and her ideas can be tailored to each of our individual needs. 

“Then you may have had people around you that tell you, oh, you're so resilient, we can give you anything and it always works. And then they'll start calling you the rock, the rock of the team, the rock of the family. And so you get to a point where you buy it, you associate with that idea. It feels like it's an identity. And that's a trap because we know from research [that] resilience is not a personality trait. It's a state.” Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier

About Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier:

Throughout her career in business management and psychology, Dr. Pelletier has spearheaded the dialogue on the crucial issues of leadership resilience and work performance. Drawing on her extensive background in corporate, insurance, governance and public sectors, she brings an international perspective and unique expertise on leadership. She is a practicing leadership psychologist and executive coach with over 20 years of experience and holds a Ph.D. and an MBA from the University of British Columbia. Marie-Hélène is a Member of the Global Clinical Practice Network of the World Health Organization and past Director on the boards of the Canadian Psychological Association and the International Association of Applied Psychology. She has presented, authored and co-authored a number of industry and academic publications and has won numerous academic and industry awards. In 2024, Dr. Pelletier published her award-winning book, The Resilience Plan: A Strategic Approach to Optimizing Your Work Performance and Mental Health.

Resources:

Website: DrMarie-Helene.com

Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier on LinkedIn

“The Resilience Plan: A Strategic Approach to Optimizing Your Work Performance and Mental Health” by Marie-Hélène Pelletier, PhD MBA

Sarah Marquis books

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Dr. Laura welcomes Dr. Lynn Imai, a Registered Psychotherapist, Clinical Director at Canada Career Counselling, and Assistant Professor of Organizational Behaviour at Ivey Business School, to the show to talk in-depth about careers and career changes. Lynn works at the national psychology practice Dr. Laura founded, and the conversation with Lynn digs into practical and psychological insights, delving into how to change, choose, and assess careers.

Dr. Lynn Imai understands the uncertainty that can accompany a major career change as she did one herself, pivoting from being a full-time professor teaching global leadership at a business school to being a registered psychotherapist with a career counselling focus. The expectations, pressures, and anxieties of such a move inform much of how she relates to clients. She and Dr. Laura discuss what not to do when choosing a career and how to manage the worry that comes with navigating a drastic change in one’s career. This episode serves as a starting point for anyone who wants to start on a new career path or is just beginning to decide what their career journey will look like. 

“I do think that the traditional career path [of] climbing the ladder is breaking apart a little bit in society and you see a lot of people taking career breaks or changing their careers, doing nontraditional work, you know, shared work gigs, coming back in from retirement. But what's interesting is, psychologically, people still tie their self-worth to the traditional notions of success, like money, prestige and title and those things. And so a lot of my work is helping them undo what they've learned.” Dr. Lynn Imai

About Lynn Imai:

Lynn Imai, Ph.D., is a Registered Psychotherapist and Career Counsellor in Toronto. Many of Lynn’s clients, when they first come to her, are at a critical point in their lives. They are questioning their careers and asking themselves why they do what they do. They are often feeling unfulfilled, purposeless, and stuck between the pain of staying where they are in their careers, and the pain of dealing with the confusion, overwhelm, stress, and anxiety of figuring out what comes next.

Lynn’s approach to career counselling draws on psychotherapy, which helps her clients manage difficult emotions and develop deep self-awareness, while at the same time, focusing on making strategic, informed decisions with practical action planning. In addition to career counselling, Lynn provides psychotherapy on personal issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, low confidence & self-esteem, relationships, and interpersonal issues. Lynn draws from a variety of evidence-based psychotherapy modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT).

Outside her clinical work, Lynn is a recognized expert on organizational behaviour, workplace effectiveness, culture & diversity, and global leadership. As a former professor at Ivey Business School (Western University), Lynn’s research and teaching have focused on how individuals can develop as global leaders in workplace contexts such as cross-cultural negotiations, global virtual teams, and strategy consulting in emerging markets. Lynn’s research has appeared in top-tier academic journals, and both her research and teaching have garnered national press coverage.

Personally, Lynn is a “third culture kid” who grew up in Japan, the U.S., Canada, and Belgium, and brings a multicultural perspective to therapy. She obtained her Hon. BSc. in Psychology from the University of Toronto—Trinity College, and her M.Psy. in Clinical and Counselling Psychology from Adler Graduate Professional School. Lynn also has graduate degrees in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Maryland—College Park.

Resources:

Website: CanadaCareerCounselling.com

Lynn Imai on LinkedIn

Lynn Imai at Ivey Business School

“Evolution to Purpose: Choosing a Life of Authenticity with Work” by Bryan Hong PhD

The Happiness Lab podcast

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology