The NeuroLeadership Edge

Step Down to Level Up with Karan Mehta


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Topics Covered:
  • Mental fitness in the face of uncertainty
  • Reframing ego, fear, and status drops
  • Team leadership through unexpected change
  • Habit stacking: meditation, sticky notes, and self-talk
  • Manifestation vs discipline: how belief + action rewires your brain
  • Emotional regulation under stress

 

Timestamps:

00:00 – Why “step downs” are often level-ups
02:45 – Karan’s story: from India to Canada to McDonald's to executive leadership
06:20 – When COVID crushed the plan—and what came next
08:55 – Neuroscience reset: double inhale + floor grounding
10:45 – Positive self-talk and sticky note mindset hacks
13:20 – What to do when your brain spirals
14:40 – Why the mind only needs certainty + control
17:10 – Leadership under pressure: how Karan leads his team through change
19:30 – Claire’s 3-step neuroscience hack for managing change
20:10 – Rapid fire Qs: habits, podcasts, and leadership influences
22:15 – Listener challenge: reframe your own “step down”
24:00 – Final words from Claire and Karan

 

What you’ll learn:

  • How to reframe career “setbacks” as strategic stepping stones
  • Neuroscience-based resets to shift your mindset under pressure
  • What to say to your team when plans change unexpectedly
  • Karan’s personal story of moving countries, surviving COVID job loss, and turning it all around
  • How daily meditation, positive reinforcement, and sticky notes helped him train his brain for success
  • Claire also shares a 60-second neuroscience reset tool and challenges listeners to reframe their own “step down” moments.

 

Mentioned in This Episode:
  • McDonald's (Karan’s transitional role)
  • Uber Eats (Karan’s former company)
  • George Brown College (post-grad)
  • Podcast by Mo Gawdat: “Transforming Yourself Starts With Your Thoughts”

 

Follow Claire on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

Follow Karan on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karanmehta22/

 

🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?

Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠

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The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

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The NeuroLeadership EdgeBy Claire Hayek