We recently connected with Dr. Treca Stark Bourne and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dr. Treca, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
The pursuit of purpose is a powerful endeavor. Research has suggested a link between having a sense of purpose and fulfillment. This became a central focus for me in 2022, after emerging from the global pandemic and reflecting on its impact on my life and health.
While I had a good sense of my passions (things I enjoy doing), a speaker at a conference that year made a distinction that resonated deeply. They explained that passion is about what you do for yourself, while purpose is about what you contribute to the world. This distinction clarified my path.
Thankfully, my purpose aligns with both my professional and personal aspirations. It centers on influencing efforts to develop healthy, inclusive, and effective individuals, teams, leaders, and organizations.
Identifying my purpose was a natural process of reflecting on how I instinctively dedicate my time and energy. Since joining my current health and human services organization in January 2019, my focus has consistently been on developing those who serve and contribute to those who serve individuals and families facing mental illness, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities, which aligns perfectly with our core mission.
Throughout my career, I’ve gravitated towards organizations that resonate with my purpose. Within my current role, I’ve orchestrated initiatives to develop talent, foster a culture of wellness and inclusion, and enhance the effectiveness of individuals, teams, leaders, and the organization itself.
This dedication extends to my personal life as well. I find myself naturally drawn to helping people navigate academic, career, and life goals. My desire to empower others stems from the unwavering support of my parents.
My mother, a dedicated special education teacher, believed in everyone’s potential and readily offered help to anyone who needed it. Her unwavering belief in me, coupled with my father’s strength in building relationships, instilled in me the importance of service. My father, to this day, connects with everyone he meets. Though we lost my mother in late 2021, her legacy lives on through the countless lives she touched and continues to inspire through me. It is because of them that I have discovered and continue to pursue my purpose.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My career has been dedicated to cultivating thriving people and places, through strategic talent development initiatives. Currently, I leverage my expertise at Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, Virginia’s largest publicly funded behavioral health provider. I’ve also contributed to talent development in professional services and higher education.
A hallmark of my work is spearheading impactful learning and development experiences. I designed programs like the CSB Leadership Institute and partnered with a wellness vendor to launch the award-winning LEAD WELL Program, which earned recognition from Fairfax County Government and industry publications. My credentials as a Certified Professional in Talent Development, 6 Team Conditions Master Practitioner, and Facet5 Accredited Practitioner further aid in delivering value for others and my organizations.
As a lifelong learner, I hold a Doctor of Education and a Master of Education (Morgan State University and University of New Orleans), following a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University New Orleans. My current focus is on empowering leaders to coach their teams toward peak effectiveness. My passion for fostering strong teams is grounded in my belief that they are essential to building positive cultures. This focus is further emphasized by my upcoming publication with the Association for Talent Development, which explores strategies to promote better team effectiveness.
While I am dedicated to my professional endeavors, I prioritize self-care and cherishing quality time with loved ones including, but not limited to, my husband and two dogs.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three core qualities and skills have fueled my journey: curiosity, lifelong learning, and resilience. As a Black woman raised in the Deep South, I’ve navigated challenges that questioned my education, experience, and even my place in the world. Yet, at just five years old, a powerful seed was planted by my mother. “You are just as good as anyone else,” she declared, a mantra that became the bedrock of my resilience.
A teacher by profession, my mother also instilled in me a deep love of learning. Curiosity became my constant companion, fueling a desire to delve deeper into every topic I encountered. This insatiable curiosity has not only enriched my life but also empowered me to live my purpose more fully. I strive to be both a source of knowledge and a seeker of it, a person who adds value to myself and the world around me.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Several years in my current profession have ignited a desire to broaden my expertise beyond traditional boundaries. Recently, I relocated within my state, seeking a fresh perspective while maintaining my valued role within my workplace. Fueled by my unwavering purpose and core values, I remain a relentless learner. This past fall, I even embarked on a journey to Ireland’s countryside to delve deeper into team coaching and effectiveness.
Now, I’m eager to collaborate with like-minded individuals passionate about leading talent development, particularly as it relates to influencing change in the realm of team effectiveness. This pursuit, as with all my endeavors, aims to benefit not only my own growth but also the organizations and individuals I serve.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.drtrecastarkbourne.com
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/trecastarkbourne
- Twitter: http://www.x.com/drtreca
