Why I Started First Stage Advisors

After years of working inside healthcare organizations, I saw a pattern I couldn’t ignore: projects didn’t fail because the ideas were bad, or because the teams weren’t committed. They failed because leaders weren’t truly aligned from the start.

I watched smart, capable executives launch major initiatives without a clear, shared definition of success. Too often, scope crept, timelines slipped, and the people doing the work were left navigating mixed messages. The cost wasn’t just financial — it was lost momentum and eroded trust.

That’s why I started First Stage Advisors. I wanted to bring a structured way to measure and sustain executive alignment so projects succeed.

Our Pulse Methodology™ makes alignment visible through three key tools:

• Voice of the Stakeholder™: capturing the perspectives of the people at the table.

• Alignment Pulse Scorecard™: turning insights into measurable alignment indicators.

• Pulse Advisory Retainers™: keeping leaders in sync as projects evolve.

For me, this work isn’t just consulting. It’s solving a problem I’ve seen derail too many good ideas. It’s giving healthcare leaders the clarity and alignment they need — before the first step is taken.

Rebecca Bonds, Founder and CEO