At LeanTaaS, our mission to transform healthcare operations with AI is powered by the people behind the technology. Mission in Motion is a blog series that introduces the team members whose expertise, creativity, and personal journeys inspire the work we do every day.
In honor of Black History Month, we are thrilled to feature Marcus Lee, an Account Executive on our newest solution, iQueue for Surgical Clinics. Marcus brings an entrepreneurial spirit to building something new, and a deeply personal sense of purpose to expanding access to care.
In this conversation, Marcus shares his reflections on the month, what motivates him, the role models who shaped his path, his commitment to improving access to care for all people, and the advice he’d offer to young professionals from underrepresented backgrounds in healthcare technology.
Tell us about your role at LeanTaaS and what you enjoy most about the work.
Marcus Lee: I’ve been with LeanTaaS for just about a year now. In my role, I focus on helping ambulatory surgical clinics optimize efficiency with surgical scheduling and increase case volumes by using iQueue for Surgical Clinics.
It’s very scrappy, which is what I love about it. iQueue for Surgical Clinics is one of LeanTaaS’ newer AI-driven solutions, and from day one the team was clear: there’s a big opportunity to build something new, solve real operational challenges for surgical clinics, and expand access for a whole new audience within healthcare.
That means every day looks a little different, in the best way. I love the entrepreneurial feeling of building something from the ground up and watching it grow.
In honor of Black History Month, we’d love to hear about the people who shaped your journey. Who were your role models, and how did they influence you?
ML: Honestly, my mother and my father. They were entrepreneurs over 40 years ago, starting their own business that’s still thriving today – a childcare center in the Oak Park area of Chicago.
My mom started it because she wanted to be able to care for me and my siblings instead of bringing us to daycare every day. It began with just me and two or three other kids, and eventually it grew to over a hundred. It’s still operating today, and it’s well known in the community.
Because of what my parents built, they were able to provide a life for me and my brothers and sisters where we could do things like travel outside the country from a very young age.
More than anything, they taught me that you can do anything if you put your mind to it, no matter what you look like or what the case may be. Anything is possible.
How do you personally celebrate or reflect during Black History Month?
ML: My joke is that Black History Month for me is every day.
How I reflect on Black History Month is by intentionally looking at the past, and where Black and Brown people have been, and by doing deeper research into the many areas where Black and Brown communities have made a major impact, not just on Black history, but on American history as a whole.
How does the meaning of this month connect to your chosen career path and the work you choose to do every day?
ML: When I focus on how far we have come, one thing I often reflect on is the level of support and collective effort it’s taken within the culture and community to get to where we are today. That same idea of support and lifting one another up ties directly into my personal mission.
I have the opportunity to help people every single day in my role, and it goes beyond just individuals on Zoom calls. When you step into practices and see who is truly being impacted, you realize these are patients who are sick and in need of care, and we are genuinely helping expand access and improve quality. Being able to contribute in that way and play a part in saving lives is incredibly meaningful.
From your perspective, how does the month connect to LeanTaaS’ broader mission and purpose?
ML: LeanTaaS is really focused on eliminating inefficiencies and unlocking capacity – in hospitals, infusion centers, and now in surgical clinics. To me, what that means is that our mission is to expand access to care.
And honestly, that aligns with my personal mission. I want to provide better care access not only to Black and Brown people, but to anyone who needs help.
I equate better access to healthcare with better access to life. If I can extend an olive branch to someone, that makes my day. Those small olive branches can lead to a better future for anyone.
What exhilarates you to come to work as your full self?
ML: Honestly, the people around me. This organization is filled with the most authentic people. And because everyone is so authentic, it encourages me to be my authentic self and to show up as who I am and be proud of who I am.
LeanTaaS is a great place to work and be a part of.
What work are you most proud of?
ML: This answer is a little different, but I’d say it’s becoming a father. I have a two- and three-year-old. They’re amazing. Seeing them every single day reminds me to slow down. It reminds me of what’s really important about life: life itself.
Starting a family is probably the best decision my wife and I ever made. It’s something that makes me get up every day and continue to be my best.
What are your future career goals?
ML: My goal is to be a CEO of a Fortune 500 company one day. I’ve always been in leadership positions. I played sports – football – and even in business I’ve been an entrepreneur myself.
To me, leadership means being able to help people. And I think that’s the highest level of being able to help someone in the business space – helping organizations meet one mission.
What words of wisdom would you share with young professionals exploring careers in health tech, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds?
ML: I would say networking is the key, and just being fearless.
By fearless, I mean putting yourself out there: reaching out to people on LinkedIn, going to conferences, pursuing internships – whatever it is. You’ll be amazed how far you can get just by asking for help. I’ve had people reach out to me on LinkedIn, and I’m always open to connecting them with what I know or taking a 15-minute call.
There’s also a saying I live by from Confucius: “He who says he can, and he who says he can’t, are both usually right.” To me, that means there’s nothing you can’t do if you put God first and put your mind to it. The biggest thing is you have to believe in yourself, because if you don’t, no one else will.
Follow Marcus on LinkedIn for more great insights.
