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Chief Story Officer

Chief Story Officer

Written by: Rob D. Willis
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 Most leaders know storytelling matters. But can stories actually be strategic? On Chief Story Officer we talk to executives and thought leaders who know that the right story at the right time can shift strategy, align teams and transform businesses. Hosted by Rob D. Willis, a strategic story producer who's helped leaders at HelloFresh, Babbel, and Raisin craft compelling stories that make strategies stick, so teams live it and clients feel it. What You'll Discover: 🎯 Real world examples of stories shifting team direction, clarifying strategy or closing deals. 🧠 Strategic frameworks to think about storytelling as part of business strategy ⚡ Practical takeaways you can use in your next meeting, pitch, or all-hands 🎙️ Diverse perspectives from CEOs, strategists, and operators who've cracked the code on strategic storytelling This isn't about crafting perfect presentations or learning narrative tricks. It's about understanding how stories shape decisions, drive alignment, and create measurable business impact. Who This Is For: Chief Story Officer is built for executives, senior leaders, and strategic thinkers who know that communication is more than a soft skill. If you're responsible for: 📊 Leading teams through change and uncertainty 🎯 Communicating vision and strategy across your organisation 🤝 Building buy-in for complex initiatives 💡 Translating technical ideas into compelling direction ✨ Creating alignment where there's confusion ...then this podcast will sharpen how you lead through communication. About Your Host: Rob D. Willis is a strategic story producer who's been helping executives communicate ideas that matter since 2018. He's delivered 3,000+ presentations to 100,000 people across six continents, working with HelloFresh, Babbel, and Raisin to transform how they tell their stories. Before focusing on executive storytelling, Rob spent years as a Berlin tour guide and music producer—two disciplines that taught him what makes messages memorable and impossible to ignore. The Format: ⏱️ 30 minutes per episode 📅 New episodes every two weeks 💬 Conversational and story-driven style 🎯 Focused on extracting specific lessons that made communication work in high-stakes moments Why Subscribe: If you believe that the way you communicate shapes the way you lead—and that better stories lead to better strategy—Chief Story Officer will become your go-to resource for sharpening both. New episodes drop bi-weekly. Subscribe now so you never miss a conversation! 🌐 Visit robdwillis.com for frameworks, resources, and more on strategic storytelling in leadership.Copyright 2025 Rob D. Willis Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Why Executives Lose Deals: The Left Brain Trap

    Why Executives Lose Deals: The Left Brain Trap
    Jan 9 2026

    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 they used, Jeremy discovered they were trapped in left-brain communication: logic, ROI, and technical specs. Missing entirely? The emotional connection that drives decisions.

    You'll walk away with Jeremy's 6-part framework that balances left-brain content (inform, educate, solve) with right-brain storytelling (inspire, excite, challenge), the Jane Goodall principle of "one sermon, 52 ways to preach it," and how to structure 90-minute business presentations like blockbuster movies using Blake Snyder's Save the Cat method.

    GUEST BIO & LINKS

    Jeremy Connell-Waite is a Global Communications Designer at IBM, speechwriter for executives, and author of "The 109 Rules of Storytelling." He's trained with Al Gore as a Climate Reality Leader and created IBM's Communications Thinking™ system—using AI and neuroscience to help leaders tell better stories.

    Connect with Jeremy:

    • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeremypaulwaite
    • Website: betterstories.org (400+ free storytelling resources)
    • Book: "The 109 Rules of Storytelling"
    • Podcast: "The Truth in Ten"
    • Blog: jeremy.earth

    BOOKS MENTIONED:

    • "Emotional Intelligence" by Daniel Goleman
    • "Neuroscience for Leadership" by Tara Swart
    • "Emotional Ignorance" by Dr. Dean Burnett
    • Harvard Business Review Emotional Intelligence Box Set
    • "Save the Cat" by Blake Snyde
    • "The Creative Act" by Rick Rubin

    ABOUT THE SHOW

    Chief Story Officer is a podcast about how stories drive strategy, not just communication. Host Rob D. Willis talks with executives and thought leaders about the moments where the right message changed everything.

    Real stories. Real impact. Every two weeks.

    CONNECT WITH ROB

    Want frameworks for strategic storytelling? Download the free guide: "5 Ways to Make People Care About Your Strategy"

    → subscribepage.io/robdwillis

    Connect with Rob:

    • Website: robdwillis.com
    • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robdwillis
    • Instagram: @robdwillis
    • TikTok: @robdwillis

    Subscribe to Chief Story Officer wherever you listen to podcasts.
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • The Naked in the Closet Moment: Why Personal Stories Sell Better Than Features

    The Naked in the Closet Moment: Why Personal Stories Sell Better Than Features
    Dec 26 2025

    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 real estate coach's "naked in the closet moment" converted more leads than any feature list ever could.

    Lauren shares her three-part framework for extracting stories from reluctant leaders (moment → shift → meaning), the dinner party test for finding your best material, and why you should Google yourself right now with the keyword you want to own.

    You'll walk away with a simple journaling practice that captures stories before they disappear, the empathy exercise that reveals gaps in your narrative, and one question that helps people overcome both imposter syndrome and storytelling paralysis: "What do people thank you for most often?"

    KEY TOPICS

    • Why "I don't have any stories" usually means you're the keeper of everyone else's stories [00:07]
    • The financial advisor who turned family tragedy into his opening pitch [11:00]
    • How a "naked in the closet moment" became a real estate coach's signature story [18:00]
    • The three-part framework: Moment → Shift → Meaning [15:00]
    • The dinner party test: which stories make everyone stop scrolling? [24:00]
    • Why starting with a story beats starting with your resume [15:25]
    • The Justin Timberlake letter: how embarrassment creates connection [22:00]
    • From journal to Instagram to podcast: repurposing one story across platforms [27:00]
    • The Google test: does your online presence match who you want to be? [31:00]

    GUEST BIO & LINKS

    Lauren V. Davis is a personal branding consultant, speaker, podcast host, and former record store owner. She helps business owners, speakers, and entrepreneurs establish visibility through masterminds, retreats, and 1:1 consulting. Her work has been featured in Reader's Digest and Huffington Post, and she hosts The Real Personal Branding Podcast (top 2% worldwide).

    Connect with Lauren:

    • Website: laurendaviscreative.com
    • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ldaviscreative
    • Instagram: @ldaviscreative
    • Podcast: The Real Personal Branding Podcast

    ABOUT THE SHOW

    Chief Story Officer is a podcast about how stories drive strategy, not just communication. Host Rob D. Willis talks with executives and thought leaders about the moments where the right message changed everything.


    Real stories. Real impact. Every two weeks.


    CONNECT WITH ROB

    Want frameworks for strategic storytelling? Download the free guide: "5 Ways to Make People Care About Your Strategy"

    → subscribepage.io/robdwillis


    Connect with Rob:

    • Website: robdwillis.com
    • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robdwillis
    • Instagram: @robdwillis
    • TikTok: @robdwillis

    Subscribe to Chief Story Officer wherever you listen to podcasts.
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • What "Be More Strategic" Actually Means (And How to Do It)

    What "Be More Strategic" Actually Means (And How to Do It)
    Dec 12 2025

    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 Charlie asked the boss what that meant, he couldn't explain it either. This gap inspired Charlie's book and his approach to making strategy accessible beyond boardrooms and MBA programs.

    You'll walk away with Charlie's "12 people exercise" using post-it notes to surface strategic misalignment, a stakeholder mapping framework that reveals who you're wasting time on, and the discipline high-performing teams use to over-communicate (hint: Olympic teams, rugby squads, and military units do this naturally—corporate teams don't).

    GUEST BIO & LINKS

    Charlie Curson is a strategist, leadership coach, author, investor, facilitator, and OKR expert. He's the founder of Mandarin Associates, with 25+ years helping 250+ organizations across 30+ industries, from global giants like VISA and McDonald's to ambitious start-ups.


    Connect with Charlie:

    • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charliecurson
    • Website: www.teammandarin.com
    • Book: "Be More Strategic: 12 Essential Practices to Build the Life and Career You Want" (Available November 6th) - Join the waitlist: https://www.teammandarin.com/be-more-strategic-book
    • Future Agenda: www.futureagenda.org

    ABOUT THE SHOW

    Chief Story Officer is a podcast about how stories drive strategy, not just communication. Host Rob D. Willis talks with executives and thought leaders about the moments where the right message changed everything.


    Real stories. Real impact. Every two weeks.


    CONNECT WITH ROB

    Want frameworks for strategic storytelling? Download the free guide: "5 Ways to Make People Care About Your Strategy"

    → subscribepage.io/robdwillis

    Connect with Rob:

    • Website: robdwillis.com
    • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robdwillis
    • Instagram: @robdwillis
    • TikTok: @robdwillis

    Subscribe to Chief Story Officer wherever you listen to podcasts.
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
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