Third Fork
Each week, Tansley Stearns and Ryan Brown, longtime executives and friends, approach the unspoken rules of executive circles and tribes. Together, they provide insights to young professionals making their way into rooms dominated by Gen Xers and Millennials and make the perfect landing.
Third Fork
You Don’t Need All the Answers to Innovate
In this episode of Third Fork, Tansley and Ryan explore how young professionals can be powerful catalysts for innovation, not by having all the answers, but by asking the right questions.
From legacy systems that “have always been done that way,” to processes crying out for a fresh look, innovation often begins with a simple but profound curiosity: “Why do we do it this way?”
Ryan reflects on the value of healthy skepticism and how the boldness to question the status quo can unlock possibilities others may no longer see. Tansley shares why insight, rather than instant solutions, is where early-career professionals can shine. Even without deep expertise, asking better questions and noticing what others overlook is an invaluable contribution.
Whether you're a young leader finding your voice or a seasoned professional hoping to invite new thinking into your work, this episode is a reminder: innovation doesn’t always start with knowledge; it often starts with noticing.
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