Beyond the Corporate Ladder

Artificial Intelligence is changing business faster than ever, but what does that really mean for leaders and HR professionals?

In this episode of Beyond the Corporate Ladder, Stephen Lee-Thomas sits down with Heather Mallette, Founder & CEO of The Decision Line, to discuss how AI is transforming Human Resources from a transactional department into a strategic business partner.

Heather shares why successful AI adoption isn't about replacing people, it's about empowering leaders, improving decision-making, and building organizations that are ready for the future.

From leadership development and organizational culture to trust, change management, and practical AI implementation, this conversation offers valuable insights for business owners, executives, HR professionals, and anyone leading teams through change.

[00:00] Introduction

[01:05] Meet Heather Mallette

[03:12] How HR Has Changed Over the Last 25 Years

[07:15] Why HR Deserves a Seat at the Leadership Table

[10:28] AI Will Redefine Leadership

[15:18] How Companies Should Adopt AI

[20:45] Organizational Readiness & Building Trust

[25:12] Career Growth Through Stretch Assignments

[29:42] The Future of AI, Leadership & Work

[32:15] Culture Is What Leaders Reward

[34:10] Where to Connect with Heather

Heather Mallette is the Founder & CEO of The Decision Line and a strategic HR leader with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations improve leadership, people operations, and business performance through thoughtful AI implementation.

LinkedIn: Heather Mallette

Apply to be a guest: Click here!

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:

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

[00:00] Introduction

Website: https://miraclesformercy.com

You can be my next guest speaker! How to apply:

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.

[00:00] Introduction

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.

[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!

What would you do if you had no plan, but knew your life needed to change?

In this episode of Beyond the Corporate Ladder, Stephen Lee-Thomas sits down with Dwight Dillon-Seminario, who shares his journey from professional musician to entrepreneur helping others build passive income and reclaim their time.

After a major life shift, Dwight made a bold decision, he quit without a backup plan and leaned into uncertainty. What followed was a decade-long journey of growth, rejection, and building a system that now helps others create more freedom in their lives.

This episode is a deep dive into action-taking, mindset, and what it really takes to reinvent your life.

00:00 Introduction

In Episode 7 of Beyond the Corporate Ladder, we talk leadership, growth, and multifamily real estate with Corey Muldrow, who has scaled his portfolio to over $100M+ in assets under management. Corey shares his journey from healthcare and anesthesia practice to becoming a full-time multifamily investor and operator alongside his wife, Candice.

What if your job isn’t as secure as you think and you’re building wealth in the wrong place?

In this episode of Beyond the Corporate Ladder, Stephen Lee-Thomas sits down with real estate investor John Todderud to break down his journey from software engineer to full-time investor.

John shares how he transitioned out of corporate life, built wealth through real estate, and created a lifestyle that gives him both time freedom and flexibility.

This is a grounded, practical conversation for anyone exploring life beyond a W2 job.

00:00 Intro & John’s lifestyle today

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What happens when you achieve success… and still feel empty?

In this episode of Beyond the Corporate Ladder, Stephen sits down with Randy Campadore, a high-performance coach for men in midlife, who shares his journey from building multi-million dollar real estate projects to losing it all… and ultimately rediscovering purpose.

Randy opens up about the “illusion of success,” the identity crisis many high-achieving men face, and why fulfillment doesn’t come from wealth, status, or external validation.

This conversation dives deep into mindset, belief systems, and the internal work required to redefine success on your own terms.

00:00 Introduction

Connect with Randy:

LinkedIn: Randy Campadore

In Episode 4 of Beyond the Corporate Ladder, we talk about leadership and growth with Johnny Lynum, who has scaled his portfolio through active investing and now helps high-net-worth investors transition into passive institutional real estate opportunities. Johnny shares his journey from serving over 20 years in the U.S. Air Force to becoming a full-time real estate investor and founder of Lynum Capital Partners. Discover why he transitioned from small rentals and fix-and-flips to multifamily investments and ultimately into helping investors leverage 1031 exchanges and alternative investments to grow long-term wealth.

In this episode of Beyond the Corporate Ladder, Stephen sits down with Justin Spillers, former real estate attorney turned full-time multifamily operator and co-founder of Real Estate Alpha.