Purpose-Driven Leadership: How Suzanne Rath Turned Trauma Into a Clinic That Cares Differently

Suzanne Rath never planned to start a business. But a near-fatal cycling accident changed everything—how she worked, how she healed, and how she would eventually lead. What began as a personal injury became the foundation for one of the most values-led physiotherapy clinics in regional Australia.

Today, Wellness Embodied is a multidisciplinary practice based in Cairns. It's known not just for its clinical care, but for its cultural leadership. Suzanne is also an executive coach and speaker, working with women in healthcare leadership to build what she calls endurance leadership—a model that prioritises purpose, energy, and clarity over burnout and badge-wearing.

This article is about what happens when your leadership philosophy isn’t something you read—it’s something you lived through.

From Injury to Insight: The Catalyst for Change

Twelve years ago, Suzanne was cycling home from one of three physio jobs in Sydney when a car pulled across her path. “I hit it with my face,” she says.

Her jaw fractured in multiple places. Her teeth were wired shut for weeks. She bled from her ears. But the hardest part wasn’t the pain—it was everything that followed.

“I couldn’t concentrate. I couldn’t go out for dinner. If someone was speaking on one side of the table, I couldn’t hear or process anything on the other. I had this constant headache and light sensitivity, and no one could really tell me what was wrong.”

Despite being a physio with postgraduate qualifications in sports medicine, it took Suzanne months to get a diagnosis: post-concussion syndrome.

“I had to navigate the whole thing myself. Find my own team. Chase answers. Coordinate care. And at the same time, I was caught in a CTP legal process that made me feel like a commodity. I kept saying to myself, ‘This is not my new normal. I’m not settling here.’”

It took her two years to return to private practice.

Building a Clinic on Purpose and Values

The accident didn’t just knock her out physically. It changed her relationship to leadership.

“I knew what it felt like to be a patient. To not be heard. To be treated as a case, not a human. And I never wanted my clinic to run that way.”

Wellness Embodied was born from that vision—a space where care is coordinated, communication is intentional, and every client is treated as a whole person, not a shoulder or a spine.

She didn’t want a physio factory. She wanted a purpose-driven business that offered high-quality, multi-disciplinary care in a way that was ethical, sustainable, and—above all—human.

👉 Read more on purpose-driven practice principles

From Burnout to Boundaries: Learning the Hard Way

After rebuilding her clinical career, Suzanne found herself leading a growing team. But a few years in, she hit another wall.

“I had built the vision—but I wasn’t living it. I’d trained myself to be a good manager, but it drained me. I was still involved in every decision, I was people-pleasing, I was running around fixing everything. It was like my old injury, just in business form.”

That’s when she started doing the real leadership work—coaching, strategy, vision planning. She shifted out of day-to-day management and started designing a culture that didn’t depend on her.

Today, her role is focused on high-level strategy, values, and leadership—not micromanagement. Her calendar includes extended breaks, micro-rests throughout the day, and time for creative and strategic thinking.

“This isn’t hustle culture. I don’t glorify burnout. I believe in having energy left over for your team, your family, and yourself.”

Leading with Endurance: A New Philosophy

Endurance leadership is the model Suzanne now teaches in her coaching and speaking work. It’s built on three pillars: vitality, alignment, and connection.

• Vitality is about energy management—not just time management. That means building in rest, recovery and intentional breaks—not waiting until you crash.
• Alignment is about reconnecting to your own values and vision. Many clinic owners say they want a lifestyle practice but end up building something that owns them.
• Connection is about building meaningful relationships—with your team, with your clients, and with the wider community.

“Most of us are running ultra-marathons when a regular marathon would do,” Suzanne says. “We don’t need to push harder—we need to build smarter. That starts with knowing where you’re going, and making decisions that match that vision.”

👉 Explore Teal-inspired leadership

Her Business Runs on Clarity—Not Just KPIs

At Wellness Embodied, staff don’t just hit productivity numbers—they participate in charity goal-setting, cultural initiatives, and monthly self-reflections tied to both business and personal growth.

The clinic donates through the B1G1 model, where every new client triggers a micro-donation to a cause chosen by the team.

“We used to have a points-based system where hitting your weekly goals meant the clinic would donate to a charity of your choice. Now we’ve expanded it into something more fluid—small, constant actions that create a ripple of impact.”

She also shares stories like the one from her time volunteering in Uganda—where nurses would record a dangerously high blood pressure but take no action because they didn’t understand clinical reasoning.

“That’s a metaphor for a lot of workplaces,” Suzanne says. “People doing the task, but with no connection to why it matters.”

Her Coaching Clients Are Clinic Owners Like You

Suzanne now works with other purpose-driven leaders in healthcare—especially women who are running businesses with 10+ staff and want to scale with clarity, not chaos.

“I don’t work with people who are still in the weeds doing 40 hours of treatment per week. My sweet spot is owners who have the bones of a good business—but want to move into a role that fits their strengths.”

That might mean shifting out of treating, hiring a second-in-command, or reworking their calendar to focus on culture and strategy instead of admin and drama.

“Some of the most talented leaders I’ve worked with had just lost their spark. But once you help them reconnect to purpose, it all clicks again.”

What Physio Owners Can Learn From This

• Your personal story matters. If you’ve been through burnout, injury or adversity, don’t hide it. It might be your superpower.
• Recovery builds resilience. Suzanne didn’t bounce back. She rebuilt over years—and leads better because of it.
• Boundaries are a growth strategy. You can’t scale what exhausts you.
• Purpose is your filter. If a decision doesn’t align with your purpose, it’s a no.

Final Word: Resilient Leaders Aren’t Born — They’re Built

Leadership isn’t about pushing through—it’s about building something that reflects your values and protects your energy. Suzanne’s journey reminds us that recovery and purpose aren’t separate from business—they’re what make it sustainable.

“You don’t need to run an ultra-marathon to be a great leader. You just need a clear vision, strong boundaries, and a team aligned to your values.” – Suzanne Rath

If you’re ready to lead with more clarity and less chaos, here’s where to start:

Want to go deeper? Explore our Circle Community or book a free strategy call to explore coaching options tailored for values-led clinic owners.