#111 - From the CIA to Storytelling: Tessa Robinson on Leadership, Resilience, and Service

Tessa Robinson is seasoned communicator and storyteller with a rich background in public service and the military community joins Martin Foster on Passing The Torch. 

They discuss the importance of storytelling, the challenges of navigating bureaucracy, and Tessa's leadership philosophy shaped by her experiences. 

Tessa shares personal anecdotes about her family life, her work with military spouses, and the impact of community connections. 

The conversation also touches on her series, The Deployment Diary, which offers a candid look at military family life, and concludes with reflections on legacy and the joy of living authentically.

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Quick Episode Summary:

Tessa Robinson shares leadership, storytelling, and resilience from remarkable experiences.

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SEO Description:

Join Martin Foster as he interviews Tessa Robinson, award-winning author and storyteller, about leadership, authentic storytelling, and impactful mentorship.

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🌟 Torch Takeaways and Key highlights:

• Everyone has a story, and the most important stories are often the ones that aren’t being told.
• Leadership means seeing—and appreciating—the people who keep things moving forward, whether they’re in the spotlight or behind the scenes.
• Vulnerability, authenticity, and mentorship are powerful gifts: give them and seek them.

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Tessa's Resources: 

➡︎ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ttrobinson/

➡︎ Website: https://recurrent.io/

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Episode Mentions:

Jed Bartlet

Recurrent

Justin Jefferson

USAA

Shania Twain

We Are The Mighty

Katherine Torres-Pummill

Curtez Riggs

Mark Harper

David Gale

Jessica Manfre

Thom Tran

MilSpouse Fest

The War Zone

Task and Purpose

Casey Woods

Lauren Hope

Charlynda Scales

President Bush

Maya Angelou

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Quote to open episode:

"Decisions are made by those who show up." – Jed Bartlet from West Wing 

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Chapters:

00:00 Dancing, Stress, and Super Bowl

04:25 Storytelling Through Animated Design

10:21 Leadership's Most Important Question

13:02 Burnout, Transition, and Gratitude

14:43 Passion for Supporting Military Spouses

18:57 Storytelling's Power in Leadership

21:49 Embracing Imperfection and Authenticity

25:43 Surround Yourself with Inspiring People

30:59 The Power of Mentorship

32:08 Support Through Life Transitions

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Full Summary

In this engaging episode, host Martin Foster welcomes Tessa Robinson, the Director of Partnerships for Military and Defense and Science and Technology at Recurrent Ventures. The episode kicks off with a reflection on the importance of storytelling, drawing from both Tessa Robinson’s experience and love for “The West Wing,” as well as her personal background as an award-winning author, communicator, and former CIA instructor.

Martin Foster and Tessa Robinson dive into what makes life great for her right now, touching on the return of “The West Wing” to Netflix, her two teenagers, and exciting work at Recurrent. They discuss Tessa Robinson’s journey from working at the White House, disaster response with FEMA, dancing with NFL star Justin Jefferson, and her passion for innovative partnerships.

A large part of the conversation revolves around the power of storytelling, both in business and in life. Tessa Robinson explains how she started Story Shorts Production to help entrepreneurs communicate their stories concisely and memorably. They explore her evolution from loving politics to focusing on the policy and service side of government, including insightful anecdotes from her time at FEMA and the CIA, and how those experiences shaped her leadership philosophy—especially the importance of appreciating and caring for the people around you.

Mentorship, connection, and the impact of authentic storytelling are recurring themes. Tessa Robinson shares powerful moments from her involvement with We Are The Mighty, the Military Influencer Conference, and MilSpouseFest—highlighting the real-life impact these initiatives have on military families and communities, even saving lives through connection.

The conversation also touches on vulnerability, overcoming perfectionism, and prioritizing mental health, reflecting on how these lessons have shaped Tessa Robinson as a leader and writer. Fun, lighthearted moments include a “name game” where Tessa Robinson speaks warmly about peers and friends, and she shares what her own TED talk might be (the power of karaoke!).

The episode closes with Tessa Robinson’s thoughts on legacy, mentorship, and leaving a positive mark—emphasized by her favorite Maya Angelou quote about the importance of making others feel valued.

Overall, the episode is a heartfelt blend of personal stories, career wisdom, and encouragement for listeners to show up, support one another, and share their authentic selves with the world.

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I appreciate all of you. - MF