Origins: A Fishing Story

By Mark de Groh, Founder, Pioneer Sessions

“The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.” — John Buchan

Having grown up in a small town on Lake Erie, I know the difference between a Palomar knot and a Berkeley braid. Fishing was our religion from April through October, practiced for hours each week in small boats drifting rhythmically across rolling waves. As I waited for the slightest nibble to mark the passage of time, I’d look to the horizon. While you couldn’t see much from that vantage point, you could picture everything.

Entire cities sprang up in my mind’s eye. Expeditions into deep caverns for ancient treasures long forgotten. Grand sea voyages that would make even Thor Heyerdahl take pause. It was as if my imagination housed a full run of National Geographic, and that deep-seated need to explore has driven me ever since.

Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to have many guides. My grandfather taught me in his woodshop that you can build anything if you have a plan. My parents made sure I knew the importance of stopping to read the historical markers on the side of the road. Countless teachers and librarians fielded my endless questions as I read my way through the Dewey Decimal System. Corita Kent left behind rules to live by that I revisit every day. Stephen Kern challenged me to read, write, and think with authentic rigor. My wife, Christine, shows me daily how to look at the world through an artist’s eyes. And our two children live with a lightness of being that brings joy to all who know them.

Applied to my career path, these influences have pushed me to ask questions and defy categorization. Without losing a step, I’ve been known to transition from the sands of an archaeological dig to the boardrooms of Sand Hill Road. I’ve helped build mission-driven organizations big and small; been up to my elbow patches in documents within ivy-covered archives; translated artificial intelligence and quantum computing for uninitiated investors; led events from global sustainability summits to Post-it-laden design charrettes; and crafted impact investment portfolios for some of Morgan Stanley’s most sophisticated clients.

Through Pioneer Sessions, I bring the full breadth of this creative and executive experience to bear. At the core of my work is a belief that clarity is something we earn — by listening, by exploring, and by staying with complexity long enough for what matters most to emerge.