IMO: You Can Never REALLY Beat Imposter Syndrome (But You CAN Outsmart It!)

In this episode of IMO: The Alex Show, Alex interviews Laura Maginess, the founder of Glasglow Girls Club, a thriving women-only Facebook community with over 45,000 members. Laura shares her entrepreneurial journey, starting from her role as a marketing manager at Fake Bake to creating a safe, supportive online space for women.

Key takeaways include:

• Laura’s transition into community building and how Glasglow Girls Club became a massive online and offline network for women.
• Strategies for moderating a large online group and ensuring a safe space for women to connect and grow.
• Laura’s candid thoughts on imposter syndrome and how personal growth played a pivotal role in her leadership journey.
• Insight into how social media impacts women’s empowerment and the unique challenges it presents.
• Upcoming events from the Glasglow Girls Club, including their signature brunches, book clubs, and social networking opportunities.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in creating inclusive, impactful communities and balancing business growth with personal development.
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About Laura Maginess
Director at Glasglow Girls Club and The Glow Club - Connecting smart businesswomen across Scotland via a community designed to support members with business growth. Winner of Global Leader of Year + Woman of influence
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www.glasglowgirlsclub.com
Glasglow Girls Club | Facebook
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Headshot is @shotsbysherrie (Glasgow based)

Find Alex on her website at http://studiosequin.com/ or on Instagram at http://instagram.com/studiosqn/.

Transcript

Episode Summary: In the very first episode of the IMO Podcast, host Alex talks to Laura Maginess, founder of the Glasglow Girls Club (GGC), a thriving online community of over 45,000 women. Laura shares her journey, from her childhood in Glasgow to becoming a community leader and business owner. She highlights the importance of creating safe spaces for women, the ups and downs of building a successful business, and how she overcame imposter syndrome.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Birth of the Glasgow Girls Club:
   • Laura created Glasglow Girls Club in 2016 to give women a space to connect and feel safe.
   • The idea for the group came from her love for chat rooms during the early internet era, but she wanted to avoid the unsafe elements by making it women-only.
   • With no prior experience in community leadership, she launched the group with 800 members in just three days through word-of-mouth and personal invites. It has since grown to a massive online community.
2. From Chat Room to Leadership:
   • Initially, Laura didn’t see herself as a leader, but through the community, she learned about leadership, confidence, and responsibility.
   • The transition from casual conversations in the group to organizing in-person events like speed networking and brunches helped Laura and the GGC evolve.
   • By 2018, she turned the group into a business with two membership tiers: the Business Club and the Social Club.
3. Creating a Business Club:
   • Laura took the leap to leave her marketing job and focus on growing GGC full-time. She didn’t initially plan to launch a business club, but she realized how lonely it can be as a business owner.
   • The Business Club is thriving, giving female entrepreneurs a place to network, learn, and grow together.
4. Lessons on Running a Community:
   • Moderation: Managing a community of this size is a full-time job, and Laura stresses the importance of having strict rules and clear guidelines to maintain safety and positivity.
   • She advises those running large groups to bring on help early, have backup admins, and implement structured rules for behavior and content to maintain the group’s integrity.
   • GGC faced challenges with trolls, bots, and even hacks (like the time Laura was accidentally kicked out of her own group), but having systems in place helped keep things under control.
5. Imposter Syndrome and Personal Growth:
   • Laura speaks candidly about facing imposter syndrome, especially when thrust into public speaking or leadership positions she didn’t initially feel qualified for.
   • What helped her overcome these feelings was focusing on helping others, seeing the positive impact of her work, and continuously learning.
   • She emphasizes that personal growth is a lifelong process, and staying connected to her purpose helped her push through doubt.
6. Balancing Life as a Community Leader:
   • Balancing her personal time with running such a large group was difficult, but having a solid team allowed her to take breaks and unplug when needed.
   • She set up systems like stepping away from admin duties during holidays, which helped her avoid burnout.
7. Managing Health Topics and Sensitive Issues:
   • With such a large community, sensitive topics like health, mental health, and trauma naturally arise. Laura brought on a counselor to help moderate difficult posts, ensuring that members who needed serious support could be directed to appropriate resources.
8. Social vs. Business Club:
   • GGC offers both a Social Club and a Business Club to cater to women from all walks of life. The Social Club offers events like brunches, walks, and book clubs, while the Business Club is a networking and learning hub for female entrepreneurs.
9. Community, Memories, and Materialism:
   • Laura and Alex discuss the importance of focusing on experiences over material possessions, especially when raising children.
   • Laura, like Alex, emphasizes creating memories and being present in life rather than focusing on material gains. She teaches her daughter the value of moments and memories over things.
10. Final Thoughts on Personal Development and Mindfulness:
    • Laura believes in constant self-awareness and personal development. She highlights the importance of knowing when to step back, take care of yourself, and fill your own cup.
    • Both Alex and Laura reflect on finding balance between being social and introverted, discussing the importance of self-care, boundaries, and managing energy.

Key Quotes:

• "If I could create a chat room just for women, I would, because I want it to be a safe space.”
• "The driving force for me has always been the positive impact we can have on other women.”
• "You don’t grow a community without taking responsibility for the people in it."
• "If you’ve got a goal, you need to timeline it, brainstorm it, or else it won’t happen.”

Lessons for Listeners:

• Leadership comes from experience, not titles: Laura didn't see herself as a leader until she had to step up for her community.
• Build a community with rules and structure: Clear guidelines and help from others are essential to maintaining a positive and safe online space.
• Never stop learning: Whether it’s to overcome imposter syndrome or stay on top of new trends, continuous learning is key for any entrepreneur.
• Prioritize experiences over possessions: Memories, relationships, and community are far more valuable than material things, a message Laura emphasizes in both her personal life and her business.

Upcoming Events: Laura mentions GGC’s exciting upcoming events, including a Queen Bee brunch (a nod to Beyoncé) and more social and networking events for members. The GGC community continues to thrive, offering a mix of social and business support for women.