What happens when entrepreneurship becomes a vehicle for healing, empathy, and purpose?

In this episode of Beyond the Corporate Ladder, Stephen Lee-Thomas sits down with Shabana Serang entrepreneur, nonprofit founder, podcast host, and creator of the Mercy Mindset movement.

Shabana shares her deeply personal journey growing up as the daughter of immigrants, watching her father work tirelessly to build a better life, and how those experiences inspired her mission to “spread mercy with every bite.”

The conversation explores:

• Purpose-driven entrepreneurship
• Mental health and vulnerability
• Building businesses rooted in compassion
• The power of self-awareness and self-compassion
• Balancing motherhood, mission, and personal healing
• Using food as a force for community impact

Shabana also opens up about her own struggles with mental health, entrepreneurship, and learning to navigate life through mercy and transparency.

• Why healing and entrepreneurship can coexist
• How empathy can shape business leadership
• The real meaning of “mercy mindset”
• How purpose-driven businesses can create social impact
• Why vulnerability matters in leadership

[00:00] Introduction [01:12] Shabana’s immigrant family story [03:18] Healing through food and Mercy Mediterranean [06:02] Creating Miracles for Mercy [08:11] Entrepreneurship, sacrifice, and balance [11:07] Mental health, self-awareness, and transparency [15:08] Current projects and future vision [16:42] What mercy really means [17:45] Final thoughts and where to connect

Website: https://miraclesformercy.com

You can be my next guest speaker! How to apply: https://beyondthecorporateladder.com/podcast-guest-booking#section-FkxnSoB5Fv

What separates great leaders from average managers?

In this episode of Beyond the Corporate Ladder, Stephen Lee-Thomas sits down with senior healthcare executive Russell Meadows to discuss leadership, team building, decision-making, and navigating complexity in high-pressure environments.

Russ shares lessons from decades in healthcare leadership, including how he built high-performing teams, solved operational challenges, and led through massive organizational change. From Medicare operations to mentorship, this conversation is packed with practical leadership insights for professionals at every stage of their career.

If you’re leading people, growing your career, or trying to navigate complexity with confidence, this episode delivers actionable wisdom grounded in real-world experience.

• Why calm leadership creates better outcomes
• How strong leaders build trust-based teams
• The importance of delegation and accountability
• Lessons from healthcare leadership and Medicare operations
• How to simplify complexity during organizational change
• Why patience and mastery matter in career growth

[00:00] Introduction [01:22] Russell Meadows’ healthcare background [04:15] Solving problems through leadership [07:02] Building trust-based teams [10:15] Delegation and executive decision-making [14:20] Navigating healthcare industry changes [17:45] Leadership, retirement, and future planning [20:10] Advice for younger professionals [22:15] Final reflections and mentorship

Book a call here and let’s talk: Click me!

What happens when you’ve done everything “right” in your corporate career… but still feel disconnected from fulfillment?

In Episode 9 of Beyond the Corporate Ladder, Stephen Lee-Thomas sits down with Rachel Cotter Davis to explore leadership, burnout, organizational change, and the deeply personal journey of career reinvention.

Rachel shares insights from her experience as a senior director in change enablement and organizational effectiveness, discussing what it really takes to lead through uncertainty while staying authentic in high-pressure corporate environments.

This conversation goes beyond career strategy and into identity, growth, resilience, and redefining success on your own terms.

• How burnout often signals deeper career misalignment
• The emotional side of leadership transitions
• Why organizational change is ultimately about people
• How high performers redefine success beyond titles
• The role of authenticity in effective leadership
• Practical lessons for navigating reinvention and uncertainty

[00:00] Introduction

[01:42] Rachel’s corporate background

[05:10] Navigating leadership and organizational change

[09:28] Burnout and identity shifts

[14:06] Reinvention beyond corporate success

[18:45] Authentic leadership and vulnerability

[23:12] Building fulfillment outside traditional career paths

[27:01] Final advice for professionals in transition

Want to share your side of the story? Book a Call here!