Thriving at Work: Why Challenge, Authenticity, and Ownership Fuel Growth

In this powerful episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files, Carly Pepin shares a refreshing perspective on what it truly means to thrive at work, and it’s not about ease or comfort. It’s about embracing challenge, speaking up, and aligning your role with what genuinely energizes you.

Carly breaks down why the idea of “surviving” in your job is a red flag and how burnout, overwhelm, and miscommunication often come from mismatched roles, ignored feedback loops, and outdated systems. Drawing from her early career experiences and her work as a leadership and behavior specialist, she explains how the path to fulfillment isn’t through perfection, but through purposeful risk-taking, quality conversations, and environments where feedback, autonomy, and clarity are valued.

You’ll learn why avoiding challenges makes them grow larger, how honesty with your manager can shift entire cultures, and why high performers are often underutilized simply because no one asked what they really want. Carly also talks about how to use feedback as data, why transparency unlocks influence, and how to know when it’s time to walk away from a role that no longer serves you.

This episode is essential for anyone feeling stuck, undervalued, or uncertain if they’re in the right role. It will help you recognize whether your work environment supports your growth or stifles it, and give you the tools to start the conversations that lead to real change. Whether you’re in a startup or a corporate team, this conversation will help you move from surviving to thriving without needing to change who you are.

Listen to the full episode below: