переходный этап(Others, typically economists, respond by arguing that so-called sweatshops are simply a stepping stone on the path of economic and eventual human development.A.Rezvov); способ; опора; трамплин(I see this job just as a stepping stone to better things. (Cambridge Dictionary)diyaroschuk)
средство для улучшения положения(Taras); дорожка, выложенная из камней(для преодоления препятствия Taras); средство для достижения цели(тж. stepping stones • Do you view your colleagues as stepping-stones? – Вы рассматриваете своих коллег только как средство достижения цели? • This job is a stepping stone to better things • Education is a stepping stone to a good job • Modelling is seen as a stepping stone to a career in moviesTaras); камни для перехода(large stones placed in a shallow stream etc., on which a person can step when crossing)