Tansley Stearns: Purpose, Courage, and the Story Behind Choose the Bear

Tansley Stearns, president and CEO of orsa credit union, joins Nathan Whitaker for a conversation about purpose, courage, financial agency, and the responsibility of leaders to expand what their organizations believe is possible. Tansley shares how orsa’s work with survivors of domestic and economic abuse grew from charitable support into a broader commitment to help women make choices on their own behalf. She explains the thinking behind the Choose the Bear movement, the importance of listening to survivors, and why financial services can become tools for safety, independence, and hope. Nathan and Tansley also discuss the shame often associated with money, the power of optimism, the value of authentic leadership, and how a compelling purpose can change the way employees understand their work. For Tansley, uncommon impact means more than giving back. It means building impact directly into the organization’s strategy, products, culture, and future. Learn more about Tansley and orsa’s work: Choose the Bear: https://orsacu.org/community-impact/choose-the-bear Grow and Give: https://orsacu.org/savings/grow-and-give Tansley’s podcasts, newsletter, and other work: https://tansleystearns.com/storytelling About Nathan Whitaker Nathan Whitaker is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, former NFL executive, Super Bowl champion, leadership speaker, and executive coach. Learn more: https://www.nathanwhitaker.com Subscribe for new episodes of Uncommon Impact every Thursday. Uncommon Impact explores the people, experiences, and principles that shape extraordinary leaders and teams. More episodes of Uncommon Impact: https://nathanwhitaker.com/podcast/