74: Why It's Not You, It's the System with Leila Ainge

Leila Ainge is a British Psychological Society accredited psychologist, doctoral researcher and podcast host whose work sits at the intersection of identity, trust and working life. Her research explores how online communities shape the experience of freelancers and independent workers, with a particular focus on belonging, psychological safety and the systems that influence confidence and participation. In this episode, Leila shares the anxiety-fuelled exit from a corporate career that led her into business, why she believes imposter phenomenon is a far more accurate term than imposter syndrome and what her doctoral research into online communities is revealing about belonging, internalised misogyny and the deeply unglamorous truth about why women hesitate to talk about profit. It is a conversation that will leave you questioning how many of the stories you tell about your own limitations were ever really yours to begin with. 💡 "*It's not your mindset, it's a conditioned mindset that has been handed down to you by people who've told you to be quiet and not expect too much.*" — Leila Ainge In this conversation, we explore: ✨ The anxiety that built and built in a male-dominated corporate role until it came to a head over something as simple, and as telling, as needing permission to use the toilet ✨ Why Leila's entrepreneurial journey began with no grand plan, no product idea and no business model, just a decision that she could not stay where she was ✨ The moment a single role model on a Women in Leadership course, a mature student with a child who completed her doctorate, changed what Leila believed was possible for herself ✨ Why the corporate world so often makes midlife women feel invisible, and how stepping outside of it can feel disorientating even when it is exactly the right decision ✨ The difference between imposter syndrome and imposter phenomenon, and why naming something a phenomenon rather than a syndrome shifts the responsibility from the individual to the system ✨ The origins of imposter phenomenon research in 1979 and why it was never really about something being wrong with the women in question ✨ What Leila's doctoral research into online communities is uncovering about belonging, psychological safety and the surprising ways in which women reproduce the very systems they left corporate life to escape ✨ The research into internalised misogyny in women business owners, including the discomfort many feel around discussing profit, self-promotion and pricing even in spaces designed to support them ✨ Why identity does not need to be fixed, niched or consistent, and how the concept of scaffolding liminality offers a much healthier way to think about who we are as we move through different seasons of motherhood and business ✨ The advice Leila would give her eight year old self about the confidence she would lose and eventually rebuild, and what that reveals about the shrinking so many women experience on the way to adulthood About the Guest: Leila Ainge is a British Psychological Society accredited psychologist, doctoral researcher and host of the podcast Psychologically Speaking. Her research explores belonging, psychological safety and identity within online freelance and business communities, and she is known for reframing imposter syndrome as imposter phenomenon, a shift shaped by context, culture and power rather than individual failing. Alongside her academic work, Leila consults with authors, creatives and small businesses on psychology-led research and communication. She is a mum navigating her own ongoing journey through identity, entrepreneurship and midlife. You can connect with Leila at leilaainge.co.uk, on Instagram and LinkedIn and listen to her podcast Psychologically Speaking wherever you get your podcasts. About The Host: I’m Victoria Phipps – a Mum of two, analogue family photographer, personal brand photographer, educator, charity co-founder, marketer and now podcaster! 🎙️ I was raised by a nurturing Mother and an entrepreneurial Father and have inherited traits from both, so the tension between ambition and motherhood is one I grapple with on a daily basis! I’m fascinated to hear the stories of other women on a similar path, who are striving to build thriving businesses whilst being present for their children. It's a tough juggle, but I hope the conversations shared on this podcast help Mums in business feel less alone and inspired to keep going in pursuit of their dreams. Head to the Mum Means Business Podcast website for full show notes. I would love to hear your thoughts on the topics discussed in this conversation, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @victoriaphippsmbe or @mummeansbusinesspodcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5* rating and review!