Chief Story Officer

Andy Raskin, strategic narrative expert and host of the Bigger Narrative Podcast, sits down with us to explore how shifting from bragging about features to championing a movement can align leadership, shift strategy, and help businesses thrive. In this episode, we dive into the power of strategic narrative, unpacking why today’s most influential leaders are shifting from boastful selling to champi...

Rob Biesenbach, corporate communications veteran and Second City-trained actor, joins the show to share how trust and emotional resonance are the real engines of powerful storytelling, even in the boardroom. In this episode, we delve into why trust and reassurance consistently trump raw information, and how getting real about conflict and emotion makes your message land. Rob D. Willis and Rob Bies...

Park Howell, EMMY Award-winning storyteller and host of the Business of Story podcast, joins the show to share why simplifying your message isn’t just good storytelling, it’s good leadership. In this episode, we explore the ABT (“And, But, Therefore”) framework and why the most compelling brand stories never start with you. Rob and Park delve into how the right narrative can shift team alignment,...

Paul Smith, bestselling author and business storytelling consultant, joins the show to share how surprise turns stories into unforgettable leadership tools and why the best business lessons don’t always fit on a slide. In this episode, we unpack why adrenaline-fuelled surprises make stories unforgettable, how dialogue trumps data in executive communications, and the simple shift from presenting sl...

Esther Choy, CEO and Chief Story Facilitator at Leadership Story Lab, joins the show to challenge the idea that the leader must always be the "sage on stage" and explains why real power lies in helping others uncover and share their own stories. In this episode, we dive into the art of story discovery and why the best leaders are both sage on the stage and guide on the side. Rob D. Willis and Esth...

Annette Simmons, author of The Story Factor and Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins , joins the show to challenge the idea that business storytelling is just about heroes and conflict. She reveals why real influence comes from sharing subjective, emotionally resonant stories, and how rituals of story-sharing can repair trust, build collaboration, and shape organisational culture. In this episode, we...

Simon Lancaster, leading speechwriter and author of Connect! How to Inspire, Influence and Energise Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime, joins the show to break down why most corporate communication fails and what leaders can do to finally make their words stick. In this episode, we dive into why most corporate communication misses the mark, what truly captures audiences’ attention, and how leaders can tran...

Shawn Callahan, founder of Anecdote International and author of the award-winning book Putting Stories to Work, joins the show to reveal how story listening, not just storytelling can transform corporate culture and strategy, and why the best stories in business aren’t heroic sagas but small, authentic moments that drive change. In this episode, we dig into how storytelling drives strategy and cul...

Kendra Valentine, story strategist and author of How to Pitch (Almost) Anything , joins the show to unpack how leading with your value rather than your credentials transforms the way you communicate, pitch, and build confidence in any room. In this episode, we dig into the real difference between good storytelling and truly strategic storytelling and why most professionals trip up when pitching th...

Matt Armstrong-Barnes, Group AI Practice Director at Servita and keynote speaker, joins the show to uncover why the real challenge of AI transformation isn’t just the technology, it’s the story leaders tell about it. In this episode, we dive into the art of translating complex technical ideas into clear, actionable strategies, exploring how jargon can alienate teams and how the right story brings...

Jeremy Connell-Waite, Global Communications Designer at IBM and author of "The 109 Rules of Storytelling," joins the show to reveal why smart executives fail at persuasion. In this conversation, we explore the data behind failed pitches. Jeremy shares how he coached an executive who was losing 4 out of 5 deals to competitors—despite being eloquent, experienced, and well-paid. By mapping every word...

Lauren V. Davis, personal branding consultant and host of The Real Personal Branding Podcast, joins the show to reveal why the executives who say "I don't have any stories" are usually the ones holding everyone else's. In this conversation, we explore why connection beats credentials in building trust, how a financial advisor turned his mother's death into his most powerful client story, and why a...

Charlie Curson, strategist and leadership coach with 25+ years advising companies like VISA, McDonald's, and Unilever, joins the show to break down what "being strategic" actually means. In this conversation, we explore why executives can't define the very thing they demand from their teams. Charlie shares the story of a 20-year operational veteran told he needed to "be more strategic"—but when Ch...

Rain Bennett, award-winning filmmaker and fractional Chief Storytelling Officer, joins the show to discuss why storytelling isn't just marketing—it's strategy. In this conversation, we explore what a Chief Storytelling Officer actually does, how Nike used story listening to beat Adidas in the 1970s, and why misalignment kills trust faster than bad products. Rain shares his framework for building a...

Welcome to Chief Story Officer. In this quick trailer, host Rob D. Willis introduces the show: conversations with executives and thought leaders about how storytelling shifts strategy, wins buy-in, and drives results. Every episode delivers tactical frameworks, real examples, and specific moves you can apply immediately in your leadership communication. New episodes drop every two weeks. Subscribe...