Based on the results of the Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) Exemplars study conducted during 2020–2022 in seven countries in Africa and Asia (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Morocco, Ethiopia, Niger, and Senegal), four presentations use a maternal mortality, stillbirth, and neonatal mortality transition model to address the key lessons learnt from past progress for today's programs and for tomorrow's strategies.#1 describes the transition model and its dimensions of causes of death, fertility, health systems, service delivery strategies, and inequalities, based on extensive analyses for 149 countries, and then applied to the seven MNH exemplar countries, with special attention to India's subnational progress and present issues.#2 synthesizes how mortality and cause of death tracking and analyses are affected by major data gaps, hampering the ability to assess trends and inequalities. High coverage of births in health facilities afford new opportunities to collect better data.#3 presents intrapartum service strategies, which vary considerably between countries. Future strategies can be informed by experiences of countries in more advanced stages of the transition model. High coverage of hospital deliveries with quality care and adequate cesarean section rates among the poorest women appear to be key.#4 discusses how inequality patterns in neonatal mortality vary across the transition, but intervention coverage disparities reduced almost everywhere. A focus on disadvantaged women and neonates is a critical driver, but strategies vary by transition stage.The panel will conclude with two invited comments from policymakers on the utility of the transition model approach, followed by a moderated discussion with participants.