We recently connected with Constance Howard and have shared our conversation below.

Constance, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

“Not another woman”…those were the words that came to me as I sat in a TV news conference room listening to yet another unrealistic request/demand. I can’t even tell you what the topic was. All I know is that in that moment, I would stand my ground and decide my fate without fear! A bold, courageous decision when I look back on it. Fear, in all its forms dominated my life until that moment. The fear of whether I would succeed as defined by family, friends and society; fear of what others would say or think; fear of not being enough paralyzed me.

It took me forty years to get to that decision.

I started a career in TV news in the 1980’s in Ames, Iowa, when there were very few African Americans on TV and even fewer as journalists in the mainstream media. Ames was probably the most unlikely place for a native New Yorker. But there I was as a graduate student in the journalism department.
With grit and grace from God, I clawed my way up in broadcast news. I worked all over the country for major media companies. I became one of the few African Americans to head a TV news department.

Along the way, I picked up an unhealthy dose of the impostor syndrome; that feeling that even with all of my success, I wasn’t good enough. I felt I didn’t deserve the Emmys and other awards I had received.

I convinced myself that any success I had was because of luck, not my ability or skills. The impostor syndrome insured that worked long hours, obsess over every detail of every report, acquiesce to decisions and requests no matter the cost to myself. Bottom line, I believed everyone around me was smarter, talented and deserved their seat at the table but not me!

Philosopher, and poet Rumi said, “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” That is how I felt when I learned of the impostor syndrome and realized, I wasn’t alone. Millions of women suffer in silence, miss out on promotions and opportunities and increased income because they falsely believe they are not as smart, talented or as gifted as others around them.
That day in the conference room, my mission was born and passion ignited! “Not another woman” should live with the impostor syndrome!

Constance, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a former TV news journalist and executive turned executive coach on a mission to help women recognize the impostor syndrome.

I’ve worked in all kinds of TV newsrooms across the country on many levels and I’ve experienced the challenges of being a woman in a male dominated industry. I’ve advised, mentored and yes coached women on career development & growth and how to survive difficult environments.

However, it wasn’t my knowledge and expertise inside a newsroom that was the tipping point to becoming an executive coach. Instead it was my experience recognizing and dealing with the impostor syndrome that sparked my passion to help women gain control over their mindsets and lives.

Women come to me when they’re at the top of their professional game but feel empty inside, exhausted from trying to live up to the standards of their family, friends, social media. They’re tired of comparing themselves to their colleagues and coming up short. They regret not pursuing significant career opportunities and promotions because they didn’t feel worthy and. most of all they’re tired of wearing a mask that hides who they truly are and want to be.

While some coaches have only studied the impostor syndrome, I’ve lived it. I’ve climbed the corporate ladder only to end up unfulfilled and numb from a routine life that had no real ups or downs; just like many of my clients.

I developed a three phase transformative program based on my life experiences and study.

In this program women break free from uncertainty and self-doubt and take the audacious step to dream and achieve unstoppable confidence.

First phase: clients identify their impostor thoughts, behaviors and triggers, the devastating impact it has on their lives and the people around them,
Second phase: clients develop a disruptive plan that challenges those behaviors and thoughts.
Third phase: Retrain your brain to support and sustain significant and lasting change.

I’ve used this program to help many women go from feeling like an impostor to having unstoppable confidence.

My client Toni Garbo is an excellent success story.
Ms. Garbo was a TV news executive for the top rated Fox station in Cleveland, Ohio. During the pandemic, she was laid off. Ms. Garbo came to me because she was struggling to find another job. She feared no one would hire an older manager; that she would not be able to keep up with younger workers or the technical demands of a job. Her fears paralyzed her. One day when we were schedule to work on her resume, Ms. Garbo was busy cleaning her house.
I immediately knew she was procrastinating because she was afraid of getting started on her job search.

Using my program, we identified her impostor behavior (procrastination) and I developed a program that specifically addressed Ms. Garbo’s fears. Currently, she is Executive Director of Community Outreach for a multi million dollar car dealership and back to earning six figures.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In 2008, I made my first attempt at changing careers. I resigned from my position as News Director at the ABC station in Baltimore, Maryland and launched a career in real estate. At first, sales were going well but that changed as the economy declined. It became harder for seasoned realtors to complete transactions and nearly impossible for rookies like me.

As the economy worsened, I chose to believe things would get better and with hard work, marketing and prayer, I would be okay. That didn’t happen and by the time I accepted reality, I had gone through my financial reserves, 401 plan and I was flat broke.
I had to declare bankruptcy. I lost my house in foreclosure, had to sell my car and some clothes to get money just to survive.
Most of my furniture was given away or stored by family and friends. I went from living in a four thousand square foot house on two acres of land to a small room.
Financially I went from making a six figure salary to making 7.50 an hour folding towels in a small tennis gym.

Everything in me wanted to give up and I must admit, for a while, I did give up. But I’m a fighter and very resilient.

Eventually I was able to find a TV news job. However, instead of working in a major market, I was a mid-level position in a medium market making less than 50k a year..
It didn’t matter because at my core, I believed in my skills and talents. Within a year, I became director of the department and a year after that I moved into an executive position in a top ten TV market.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I started my TV news career with high hopes of becoming a network reporter. I imagined myself working all over the country. I started in a small market in the mid-west. But soon, received offers from other stations around the country, but never in a major market like New York city.

Fortunately, while at a very good station in North Carolina, I had an opportunity to produce a newscast and I loved it. (Producers are the people who oversee the entire broadcast.) Producing sparked my passion and imagination. I excelled in ways I never would have as a reporter so I made a shift. That pivot allowed me to grow and develop; and it created a foundation on which I built a 40 year career.

I learned several valuable lessons from that pivot:
1. no matter what career you have, you must be able to honestly evaluate your skills and talents
2. know when to reach out for help and advice.
3. have a strong inner circle of people who have your best interest at heart and will tell you when you are wrong.
4. be able to tell the difference between good feedback and noise.
5. know that there are no substitutes for hard work.
6. know when to let go for something better    

Contact Info:

• Website: constancehowardllc.com
• Instagram: @itsconstancehoward
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/constancehoward2012?paipv=0&eav=AfaKmNz7FYpOoefs-s-XBxF8TDE8K61c4CglVaXhNrz57V2-K1MX-gG86hT75bWfoPU&_rdr
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/constancehowardexecutivecoach