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TERN Talks

TERN Talks

Written by: Tina Fox
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College builds your knowledge. Mentorship shows you how to use it.

Hosted by Tina Fox, award-winning entrepreneur and founder of TERN Mentoring, TERN Talks isn’t a pep talk about enhancing your resume. It’s about what really happens when you step off campus and into the real world — the messy, beautiful reality check no syllabus could possibly cover.

On the show, Tina talks with business leaders, educators, university alumni, and entrepreneurs who remember exactly what it felt like to have a freshly-printed diploma and no clue how to navigate the world outside of academia. They share wins, stumbles, and the small choices that became pivotal career moments, along with the relationships that helped them along the way. You’ll also hear the behind-the-scenes stories of how mentors appeared at unexpected times and how those moments shaped long-term success.

If you’re a college student, TERN Talks is here to help you build the mindset to navigate not just the start of your career, but any stage within it. Tina and her guests will leave you with clarity, confidence, and the courage to ask better questions. They reveal practical ways to turn class projects into real-world experience, network with purpose, and overcome the fears that can often hold so many graduates back. You will learn how to make meaningful connections, manage setbacks, and translate classroom learning into real-world problem-solving.

If you’re a university alum or professional, this is your invitation to give back — not for nostalgia, but for the version of yourself who needed a mentor. Tina calls this “Quantum Giving” — the idea that one generous act, one meeting, one conversation, can echo far beyond what you see. Mentorship doesn’t just lift students; it strengthens communities and organizations alike.

University leaders, professors, and alumni directors will find fresh ideas for turning mentorship into practice. These conversations show that the best learning doesn’t stop at graduation, and strong mentorship programs increase alumni engagement and student ROI.

Tina brings her full story: corporate leader, entrepreneur, mother, alumna, and lifelong learner. Through TERN Mentoring, she has built bridges between generations, connecting young people with leaders who care about more than job titles. Her belief is simple: mentorship isn’t a single moment; it’s a continuous, shared journey of learning, doing, and giving back. Through the podcast, Tina demonstrates how small gestures of guidance and encouragement can create long-lasting impact. Each episode reminds listeners that growth is iterative, mentorship is reciprocal, and today’s guidance can shape someone’s tomorrow.

TERN Talks is for anyone standing on the edge of what’s next — your first job, a career leap, a pause for family, or deciding to mentor someone else. It’s for the dreamers, the doers, and anyone looking for real-world advice delivered with authenticity and heart.

Tune in for real stories, surprising lessons, and perspectives that will help you see your path more clearly. Expect moments that challenge your thinking, inspire you to act, and leave you reflecting long after the episode ends.

Join Tina in conversations that lift the next generation of professionals and leaders. Get on this ride of an infinite, powerful cycle of learning, doing, and giving back.

Join the community at ternmentoring.com and follow TERN Talks wherever you get your podcasts.

Copyright 2026 | All Rights Reserved | Tina Fox
Careers Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • Deep Dive Into CSU’s Leadership Seminar
    Apr 28 2026

    What is it like to be nominated and be part of the Sonny Lubick Leadership Seminar at Colorado State University? Tina Fox gets first-hand thoughts and in-depth insights about this program from nine of its current participants. In this roundtable discussion, she chats with Faith Dodge, Emily Ho, Rhys Travis, Arden Houck, Ally Bartels, Cameron Loew, Patrick Macholl, Ava Lee, and Rachel Turner, together with Department Chair & Associate Professor of Management Dr. Liz Karam. Together, they explain everything they have learned from the program, from leading with purpose and intention to the importance of embracing your most authentic self. They also define leadership and success in the context of today’s digital age, when nonstop tech innovation and rapid work reign supreme.


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    39 mins
  • A Lesson On Uncertainty From a Colorado State Classroom
    Apr 21 2026

    After a guest lecture in an entrepreneurship class at Colorado State University, Tina Fox stayed behind to talk with students who approached her with a mix of gratitude, curiosity, and relief. What she heard was the same thread running through every campus she visits: uncertainty about networking, about majors, about what comes next. In this solo episode, Tina unpacks the "upper duck, under duck" truth: nobody actually has it all figured out. She walks through a simple practice for moving forward anyway: stop, breathe, and take the simplest next step. She also makes the case for why "yes" and "no" are both gifts, why "maybe" is the real trap, and why the fastest way for a college student to start building a network is to walk into a professor's office hours.

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    9 mins
  • Mentorship For The Future: Bridging Generations, AI, And Human Potential With Kate Byrne
    Apr 14 2026

    What does mentorship look like when the future is unclear—and constantly changing? In this episode, we sit down with Kate Byrne—founder of Women Advancing, advisor, and civic leader—to explore how mentorship must evolve in a world shaped by AI, rapid change, and uncertainty. Kate shares why traditional advice is becoming obsolete—and why modern mentorship is really about helping others navigate ambiguity, think critically, and find their voice. From bridging generational gaps to fostering real human connection in a digital-first world, this conversation dives into what it truly takes to guide the next generation into careers and realities that don’t even exist yet. If you’re a leader, mentor, or student trying to make sense of the future—this one is for you.


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    1 hr and 8 mins
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