Today’s guest is Dr. Bob Sornson. Bob is an educator, author of over two dozen books, someone who appreciates live music, and possesses a magnetic sense of humor. He is also the Founder of the Early Learning Foundation, which is dedicated to helping schools and parents provide every child with an opportunity to achieve early learning success, laying the foundation for lifelong success. This is Bob’s story.

This week, we're heading to our quarterly strategic deep dive, so we’re revisiting an episode that highlights big first meetings. Whether it’s your first time in a strategy planning meeting or you’re facing a boardroom of seasoned leaders, the unspoken rules and quiet influence dynamics can feel overwhelming.

In this Third Fork rewind, hosts Tansley Stearns and Ryan Brown revisit what it was like to be the new voice at the table, reflect on what still resonates today, and offer timeless advice to help young professionals enter high-stakes meetings with confidence and clarity.

If you're new to the room or mentoring someone who is, this one’s still for you.

Brave Strategy Horizons: Slam Poetry Is Just the Start.

To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page.

Today’s guest is Dr. Mona Hanna. She is compassionate, loves puzzles, possesses a contagious sense of humor, and passions for holistic children’s health and changing the world. Mona is also the is the Associate Dean for Public Health and C. S. Mott Endowed Professor of Public Health at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and the founding director of the Pediatric Public Health Initiative, an innovative partnership of MSU and Hurley Children's Hospital in Flint, Michigan. This is Mona’s story.

This week on Third Fork, Tansley Stearns and Ryan Brown tackle the delicate art of handling unsolicited advice. Tansley emphasizes the power of starting with a question instead of a statement, encouraging listeners to remain open and curious. Ryan advises assuming the best intentions behind the advice, helping to foster a more constructive dialogue. Together, they share practical strategies for receiving, coping with, and acting on feedback, ensuring that every piece of advice becomes a valuable learning opportunity. Tune in to discover how to turn unsolicited advice into a tool for personal and professional growth.

It's a Sign: Be Bold. Be Epic. Be the Best in Governance.

To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page.

Today’s guest is Najah Bazzy. She is visionary, justice focused, strategic and possesses a great sense of humor. Najah is also an RN, an internationally recognized healer, humanitarian and interfaith leader who left a six-figure salary as a critical-care nurse to build Zaman International. The Metro-Detroit based non-profit empowers marginalized women and children to break the cycle of extreme poverty. In 2019, she was recognized as a Top Ten CNN Hero highlighting Zaman’s growth from a grassroots team of volunteers to a world-class organization with a global reach that has helped more than 5 million people in 20 countries since 2010. This is Najah’s story.

As young professionals, keeping close attention to mental health is essential. In this episode, Ryan and Tansley share their personal commitment to mental health and offer advice on how to prioritize it for ourselves and our teams.