How Getting Fired Sparked a Purpose Driven Social Enterprise with Merry Korn

Getting fired can punch a hole straight through your identity, especially when your career has been the proof that you’re “doing fine.” Mary Korn’s story cuts through that illusion. She had the title, the money, and the corporate ladder momentum, yet privately felt misaligned and depleted. Then she gets fired from a job she took in desperation and suddenly has to answer the scariest question of all: what now, with kids to support and no clear runway?We dig into what actually helped her reinvent her career, beyond feel-good slogans. Mary shares how career coaching and skills testing clarified her direction, and how a disciplined approach to informational interviews and outbound outreach created real opportunity. One surprising moment on a walk points her toward medical associations, and that focus becomes the first traction in a business she’s building from scratch. If you’re navigating job loss, imposter syndrome, or a career pivot, you’ll hear practical moves you can copy and mindset shifts that make them possible.From there, Mary’s path becomes purpose-driven entrepreneurship. She builds a for-profit social enterprise that grows to 1,300 employees across 30 states, creating meaningful work for disabled veterans, people with disabilities, military spouses, and others facing employment barriers. We also talk about scaling through government contracts, what it’s like to sell the company you love, and how she’s learning to market herself as she prepares to publish her book, "Fired to Inspired."Subscribe for more stories of identity reinvention, share this with a friend who’s in a tough career moment, and leave a review with the biggest insight you’re taking away.Send questions or commentsFor more information and insights from Beyond Expertise, visit https://podcast.ericdickmann.com/Be sure to check out Eric's other show, The Virtual CMO podcast.