diff --git a/packages/react-components/react-tree/library/src/components/Tree/Tree.types.ts b/packages/react-components/react-tree/library/src/components/Tree/Tree.types.ts
index 92f6f8824ee01..77be380a3201d 100644
--- a/packages/react-components/react-tree/library/src/components/Tree/Tree.types.ts
+++ b/packages/react-components/react-tree/library/src/components/Tree/Tree.types.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import type { PresenceMotionSlotProps } from '@fluentui/react-motion';
 import type { ComponentProps, ComponentState, SelectionMode, Slot } from '@fluentui/react-utilities';
 import type { TreeContextValue, SubtreeContextValue } from '../../contexts';
 import type { ArrowDown, ArrowLeft, ArrowRight, ArrowUp, End, Enter, Home } from '@fluentui/keyboard-keys';
-import type { TreeItemValue } from '../TreeItem/TreeItem.types';
+import type { TreeItemType, TreeItemValue } from '../TreeItem/TreeItem.types';
 import { CheckboxProps } from '@fluentui/react-checkbox';
 import { RadioProps } from '@fluentui/react-radio';
 
@@ -146,6 +146,8 @@ export type TreeProps = ComponentProps<TreeSlots> & {
    */
   onNavigation?(event: TreeNavigationEvent_unstable, data: TreeNavigationDataParam): void;
 
+  onNavigationIn?(event: React.SyntheticEvent, data: { value: TreeItemValue; itemType: TreeItemType }): void;
+
   /**
    * This refers to the selection mode of the tree.
    * - undefined: No selection can be done.
@@ -170,8 +172,14 @@ export type TreeProps = ComponentProps<TreeSlots> & {
    * such as checked value and type of interaction that created the event.
    */
   onCheckedChange?(event: TreeCheckedChangeEvent, data: TreeCheckedChangeData): void;
+
+  imperativeRef?: React.RefObject<TreeImperativeRef>;
 };
 
+interface TreeImperativeRef {
+  focus(value: TreeItemValue): void;
+}
+
 /**
  * State used in rendering Tree
  */
diff --git a/packages/react-components/react-tree/library/src/components/Tree/useTree.ts b/packages/react-components/react-tree/library/src/components/Tree/useTree.ts
index 625dd6d5fe299..3f6c1a33754cd 100644
--- a/packages/react-components/react-tree/library/src/components/Tree/useTree.ts
+++ b/packages/react-components/react-tree/library/src/components/Tree/useTree.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { useTreeNavigation } from '../../hooks/useTreeNavigation';
 import { useTreeContext_unstable } from '../../contexts/treeContext';
 import { ImmutableSet } from '../../utils/ImmutableSet';
 import { ImmutableMap } from '../../utils/ImmutableMap';
+import { TreeItemValue } from '../TreeItem/TreeItem.types';
 
 export const useTree_unstable = (props: TreeProps, ref: React.Ref<HTMLElement>): TreeState => {
   'use no memo';
@@ -28,6 +29,16 @@ function useNestedRootTree(props: TreeProps, ref: React.Ref<HTMLElement>): TreeS
   const checkedItems = useNestedCheckedItems(props);
   const navigation = useTreeNavigation(props.navigationMode);
 
+  React.useImperativeHandle(
+    props.imperativeRef,
+    () => ({
+      focus: (value: TreeItemValue) => {
+        navigation.focusOnItem(value);
+      },
+    }),
+    [navigation],
+  );
+
   return Object.assign(
     useRootTree(
       {
@@ -47,6 +58,7 @@ function useNestedRootTree(props: TreeProps, ref: React.Ref<HTMLElement>): TreeS
           if (!event.isDefaultPrevented()) {
             navigation.navigate(data, {
               preventScroll: data.isScrollPrevented(),
+              onNavigateIn: props.onNavigationIn,
             });
           }
         }),
diff --git a/packages/react-components/react-tree/library/src/components/TreeItem/useTreeItem.tsx b/packages/react-components/react-tree/library/src/components/TreeItem/useTreeItem.tsx
index a458bb60a70dd..a26b05d6fa148 100644
--- a/packages/react-components/react-tree/library/src/components/TreeItem/useTreeItem.tsx
+++ b/packages/react-components/react-tree/library/src/components/TreeItem/useTreeItem.tsx
@@ -68,6 +68,20 @@ export function useTreeItem_unstable(props: TreeItemProps, ref: React.Ref<HTMLDi
   const selectionRef = React.useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
   const treeItemRef = React.useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
 
+  const treeItemPropertiesRef = React.useCallback(
+    (el: HTMLElement | null) => {
+      if (el) {
+        // TODO use a symbol to hide this from public API
+        // @ts-expect-error
+        el._treeItem = {
+          value,
+          itemType,
+        };
+      }
+    },
+    [value, itemType],
+  );
+
   if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production') {
     // This is acceptable since the NODE_ENV will not change during runtime
 
@@ -331,7 +345,7 @@ export function useTreeItem_unstable(props: TreeItemProps, ref: React.Ref<HTMLDi
         [dataTreeItemValueAttrName]: value,
         role: 'treeitem',
         ...rest,
-        ref: useMergedRefs(ref, treeItemRef),
+        ref: useMergedRefs(ref, treeItemRef, treeItemPropertiesRef),
         'aria-level': level,
         'aria-checked': selectionMode === 'multiselect' ? checked : undefined,
         'aria-selected': ariaSelected !== undefined ? ariaSelected : selectionMode === 'single' ? !!checked : undefined,
diff --git a/packages/react-components/react-tree/library/src/hooks/useTreeNavigation.ts b/packages/react-components/react-tree/library/src/hooks/useTreeNavigation.ts
index c6f82d19a7afc..ae1915b63513d 100644
--- a/packages/react-components/react-tree/library/src/hooks/useTreeNavigation.ts
+++ b/packages/react-components/react-tree/library/src/hooks/useTreeNavigation.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { TreeNavigationData_unstable, TreeNavigationMode } from '../components/Tree/Tree.types';
+import { TreeNavigationData_unstable, TreeNavigationMode, TreeProps } from '../components/Tree/Tree.types';
 import { nextTypeAheadElement } from '../utils/nextTypeAheadElement';
 import { treeDataTypes } from '../utils/tokens';
 import { useRovingTabIndex } from './useRovingTabIndexes';
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { useHTMLElementWalkerRef } from './useHTMLElementWalkerRef';
 import { useMergedRefs } from '@fluentui/react-utilities';
 import { treeItemLayoutClassNames } from '../TreeItemLayout';
 import { useFocusFinders } from '@fluentui/react-tabster';
+import { TreeItemType, TreeItemValue } from '../TreeItem';
 
 /**
  * @internal
@@ -70,16 +71,50 @@ export function useTreeNavigation(navigationMode: TreeNavigationMode = 'tree') {
         return walkerRef.current.previousElement();
     }
   };
-  function navigate(data: TreeNavigationData_unstable, focusOptions?: FocusOptions) {
+  function navigate(
+    data: TreeNavigationData_unstable,
+    focusOptions?: FocusOptions & { onNavigateIn?: TreeProps['onNavigationIn'] },
+  ) {
     const nextElement = getNextElement(data);
+    // TODO types
+    // @ts-expect-error
+    const value = nextElement._treeItem?.value as TreeItemValue;
+    // @ts-expect-error
+    const itemType = nextElement._treeItem?.itemType as TreeItemType;
+    if (value) {
+      focusOptions?.onNavigateIn?.(data.event, { value, itemType });
+    }
+
     if (nextElement) {
       rove(nextElement, focusOptions);
     }
   }
+
+  function focusOnItem(value: TreeItemValue) {
+    if (!walkerRef.current) {
+      return;
+    }
+    const walker = walkerRef.current;
+    walker.currentElement = walker.root;
+    let cur = walker.firstChild();
+    while (cur) {
+      // @ts-expect-error
+      if (cur._treeItem?.value === value) {
+        break;
+      }
+
+      cur = walker.nextElement();
+    }
+
+    if (cur) {
+      rove(cur);
+    }
+  }
   return {
     navigate,
     treeRef: useMergedRefs(walkerRootRef, rootRefCallback) as React.RefCallback<HTMLElement>,
     forceUpdateRovingTabIndex,
+    focusOnItem,
   } as const;
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/react-components/react-tree/stories/src/Tree/TreeDefault.stories.tsx b/packages/react-components/react-tree/stories/src/Tree/TreeDefault.stories.tsx
index b2647a7457996..388034368eb69 100644
--- a/packages/react-components/react-tree/stories/src/Tree/TreeDefault.stories.tsx
+++ b/packages/react-components/react-tree/stories/src/Tree/TreeDefault.stories.tsx
@@ -1,39 +1,115 @@
 import * as React from 'react';
-import { Tree, TreeItem, TreeItemLayout } from '@fluentui/react-components';
+import { Tree, TreeItem, TreeItemLayout, TreeProps, Select, Button } from '@fluentui/react-components';
+
+const values = [
+  'maxMustermann',
+  'johnDoe',
+  'pierreDupont',
+  'janNovak',
+  'janeDoe',
+  'erikaMustermann',
+  'general',
+  'engPlanning',
+  'pmDiscussion',
+];
 
 export const Default = () => {
+  const [checked, setChecked] = React.useState(['maxMustermann']);
+  const [itemToSelect, setItemToSelect] = React.useState<string>('maxMustermann');
+  const onCheckedChange: TreeProps['onCheckedChange'] = (e, data) => {
+    setChecked([data.value as string]);
+  };
+
+  const onNavigationIn: TreeProps['onNavigationIn'] = (e, data) => {
+    console.log(data);
+    if (data.itemType === 'leaf') {
+      setChecked([data.value as string]);
+    }
+  };
+
+  // This should be built into an enhanced tree item
+  const onClick = (e: React.MouseEvent) => {
+    const treeItem = e.nativeEvent.composedPath().find(el => (el as HTMLElement).getAttribute('role') === 'treeitem');
+    // @ts-expect-error
+    const value = treeItem._treeItem?.value;
+    // @ts-expect-error
+    const itemType = treeItem._treeItem?.itemType;
+    if (value && itemType === 'leaf') {
+      setChecked([value]);
+    }
+  };
+
+  const imperativeRef: NonNullable<TreeProps['imperativeRef']> = React.useRef(null);
+
+  const selectedItem = checked[0];
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    imperativeRef.current?.focus(selectedItem);
+  }, [selectedItem]);
+
   return (
-    <Tree aria-label="Default">
-      <TreeItem itemType="branch">
-        <TreeItemLayout>level 1, item 1</TreeItemLayout>
-        <Tree>
-          <TreeItem itemType="leaf">
-            <TreeItemLayout>level 2, item 1</TreeItemLayout>
-          </TreeItem>
-          <TreeItem itemType="leaf">
-            <TreeItemLayout>level 2, item 2</TreeItemLayout>
-          </TreeItem>
-          <TreeItem itemType="leaf">
-            <TreeItemLayout>level 2, item 3</TreeItemLayout>
-          </TreeItem>
-        </Tree>
-      </TreeItem>
-      <TreeItem itemType="branch">
-        <TreeItemLayout>level 1, item 2</TreeItemLayout>
-        <Tree>
-          <TreeItem itemType="branch">
-            <TreeItemLayout>level 2, item 1</TreeItemLayout>
-            <Tree>
-              <TreeItem itemType="leaf">
-                <TreeItemLayout>level 3, item 1</TreeItemLayout>
-              </TreeItem>
-            </Tree>
-          </TreeItem>
-        </Tree>
-      </TreeItem>
-      <TreeItem itemType="leaf">
-        <TreeItemLayout>level 1, item 3</TreeItemLayout>
-      </TreeItem>
-    </Tree>
+    <>
+      <pre>Selected: {checked[0]}</pre>
+      <div style={{ display: 'grid', gap: '10px', gridTemplateColumns: '200px 120px' }}>
+        <Select value={itemToSelect} onChange={(e, data) => setItemToSelect(data.value)}>
+          {values.map(value => (
+            <option key={value}>{value}</option>
+          ))}
+        </Select>
+        <Button onClick={() => setChecked([itemToSelect])}>Select item imperatively</Button>
+      </div>
+      <Tree
+        imperativeRef={imperativeRef}
+        aria-label="Default"
+        selectionMode="single"
+        checkedItems={checked}
+        onCheckedChange={onCheckedChange}
+        onNavigationIn={onNavigationIn}
+        onClick={onClick}
+        defaultOpenItems={['favorites', 'teamsAndChannels', 'chats']}
+      >
+        <TreeItem itemType="branch" value={'favorites'}>
+          <TreeItemLayout selector={null}>Favorites</TreeItemLayout>
+          <Tree>
+            <TreeItem itemType="leaf" value={'maxMustermann'}>
+              <TreeItemLayout>Max Mustermann</TreeItemLayout>
+            </TreeItem>
+            <TreeItem itemType="leaf" value={'johnDoe'}>
+              <TreeItemLayout>John Doe</TreeItemLayout>
+            </TreeItem>
+            <TreeItem itemType="leaf" value={'pierreDupont'}>
+              <TreeItemLayout>Pierre Dupont</TreeItemLayout>
+            </TreeItem>
+          </Tree>
+        </TreeItem>
+        <TreeItem itemType="branch" value={'chats'}>
+          <TreeItemLayout selector={null}>Chats</TreeItemLayout>
+          <Tree>
+            <TreeItem itemType="leaf" value={'janNovak'}>
+              <TreeItemLayout>Jan Novak</TreeItemLayout>
+            </TreeItem>
+            <TreeItem itemType="leaf" value={'janeDoe'}>
+              <TreeItemLayout>Jane Doe</TreeItemLayout>
+            </TreeItem>
+            <TreeItem itemType="leaf" value={'erikaMustermann'}>
+              <TreeItemLayout>Erika Mustermann</TreeItemLayout>
+            </TreeItem>
+          </Tree>
+        </TreeItem>
+        <TreeItem itemType="branch" value={'teamsAndChannels'}>
+          <TreeItemLayout selector={null}>Teams and Channels</TreeItemLayout>
+          <Tree>
+            <TreeItem itemType="leaf" value={'general'}>
+              <TreeItemLayout>General</TreeItemLayout>
+            </TreeItem>
+            <TreeItem itemType="leaf" value={'engPlanning'}>
+              <TreeItemLayout>Eng planning</TreeItemLayout>
+            </TreeItem>
+            <TreeItem itemType="leaf" value={'pmDiscussion'}>
+              <TreeItemLayout>PM discussion</TreeItemLayout>
+            </TreeItem>
+          </Tree>
+        </TreeItem>
+      </Tree>
+    </>
   );
 };