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What if the drive that made you successful is the same thing holding you back? What if the ten-year-old version of you is still running the show in the boardroom?
In this episode of Highest You, Kate King speaks with Ruban Shanmugarajah, CEO of Baby Shop, the iconic Landmark Group omnichannel retailer with over 53 years of heritage across the Middle East and beyond. With 18 years in executive leadership at Landmark Group, Ruben has built a people-first culture rooted in trust, humanity, and sustainable performance.
From surviving a South London playground as a child who could not speak English, to leading one of the region's most recognised retail brands, Ruben shares how the survival patterns forged in childhood drove his success but eventually became its ceiling.
๐ง Key Themes: โ Why calm is not the same as slow, and how stillness actually accelerates leadership โ How a childhood survival pattern was quietly running his boardroom decisions โ Why people-first culture is the true competitive advantage in retail โ The difference between compliance and commitment in teams โ Intentional vulnerability vs dumping on your team โ Why the shift from having answers to asking questions changed everything โ Leading with humanity: behind every KPI is a human story
This is an honest, reflective conversation about what sits beneath leadership performance, not corporate theory. It is for leaders ready to look at the patterns driving their success and ask whether those patterns are still serving them.
If you are navigating growth, imposter syndrome, or the pressure of leading at scale, this episode is a reminder that awareness and acceptance are where everything starts.
๐ Listen now and subscribe for more real, soul-led leadership conversations.