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.

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

1. Why "I don't have any stories" usually means you're the keeper of everyone else's stories [00:07]
2. The financial advisor who turned family tragedy into his opening pitch [11:00]
3. How a "naked in the closet moment" became a real estate coach's signature story [18:00]
4. The three-part framework: Moment → Shift → Meaning [15:00]
5. The dinner party test: which stories make everyone stop scrolling? [24:00]
6. Why starting with a story beats starting with your resume [15:25]
7. The Justin Timberlake letter: how embarrassment creates connection [22:00]
8. From journal to Instagram to podcast: repurposing one story across platforms [27:00]
9. 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:

1. Website: laurendaviscreative.com
2. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ldaviscreative
3. Instagram: @ldaviscreative
4. 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...

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.

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 brand narrative that guides every decision from product development to sales pitches.

You'll walk away with a vision story exercise (resilient, inclusive, service-oriented), an understanding of how storytelling creates virality through community, and one framework for making sure every department tells the same story.

KEY TOPICS

• What is a Chief Storytelling Officer and why companies need one [01:00]
• How Nike's Nelson Ferris built shoes by listening to high school track athletes [14:00]
• The ROI of storytelling: long-term growth vs. short-term metrics [08:00]
• Why misalignment between departments destroys trust [11:30]
• The three tests every vision story must pass [30:00]

GUEST BIO & LINKS

Rain Bennett is an award-winning filmmaker, author of "Chief Storytelling Officer," and host of the Storytelling Lab podcast. He's conducted over 1,000 interviews in 20 years and now embeds himself in companies as a fractional Chief Storytelling Officer.

Connect with Rain:

• Website: rainbennett.com
• Book: "Chief Storytelling Officer" [coming soon]
• Podcast: The Storytelling Lab

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

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

Subscribe to Chief Story Officer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts

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 now and never miss a conversation that could change how you communicate strategy.