From Story to Strategy: Leading with Narrative

In today's leadership landscape, facts and data inform—but stories inspire. The most influential leaders aren't just strategic thinkers; they're masterful storytellers who use narrative to shape culture, build trust, and mobilize teams toward a shared vision.

"From Story to Strategy: Leading with Narrative" is a transformative session that positions storytelling not as a soft skill, but as a critical leadership competency. Whether you're leading a team, building a business, or driving organizational change, the ability to craft and deliver compelling narratives is what separates good leaders from great ones.

Join Preethi Guruswamy, Executive Leadership Coach and Founder of Lean In Women in Tech India, as she reveals why storytelling is a true superpower for leaders. You'll discover the art and science of narrative leadership, master proven frameworks to design authentic and persuasive stories, and begin building your own story bank to inspire, influence, and create lasting impact.

This isn't about becoming a better presenter—it's about becoming a leader who connects deeply, persuades authentically, and creates a culture where people feel valued, motivated, and aligned with a greater purpose.

Stories aren't just told—they lead. It's time you learned how.

What You'll Learn:

1. The Power of Storytelling in Leadership
   • Discover why storytelling is an essential leadership skill, not a nice-to-have
   • Explore how stories shape organizational culture, build trust, and drive influence
   • Understand the neuroscience behind why stories move people to action
2. Master the SPARK Framework
   • Learn a proven, repeatable framework to design clear, authentic, and persuasive stories
   • Introduction to additional storytelling frameworks used by world-class leaders
   • Practice applying the framework to real leadership scenarios
3. Building Your Story Bank
   • Create a repository of stories from colleagues, customers, and personal experiences
   • Learn which stories to collect and how to organize them for maximum impact
   • Discover how to adapt stories for different audiences and contexts
4. Narrative-Driven Culture Building
   • Use stories to nurture a human-centered, purpose-driven organizational culture
   • Learn how to make people feel valued, motivated, and connected through narrative
   • Create alignment and foster belonging through shared stories
5. Leading with Authenticity and Influence
   • Strengthen your executive presence through authentic storytelling
   • Motivate stakeholders and deepen professional relationships
   • Inspire trust, resilience, and collective purpose through compelling narratives

Who Should Attend:

• Leaders, managers, and executives who want to inspire and influence through narrative
• Entrepreneurs and business owners building brands and company culture
• CXOs and senior professionals seeking to strengthen executive presence
• Emerging leaders who want to lead with authenticity and connection
• Anyone who wants to humanize their leadership approach and create deeper impact
• Professionals at any career stage ready to harness storytelling as a strategic tool

Session Format:

• Opening: The Case for Storytelling Leadership (5 minutes)
• Core Teaching: The SPARK Framework & Story Architecture (25 minutes)
• Practical Application: Building Your Story Bank (10 minutes)
• Advanced Techniques: Culture & Influence Through Narrative (5 minutes)
• Live Q&A: Personalized guidance and examples (15 minutes)

By the end of this session, participants will walk away with:

1. Why Storytelling Is a Leadership Essential

• Deep understanding of storytelling as a strategic leadership competency
• Recognition of how narrative shapes culture, trust, and organizational influence
• Clarity on the neuroscience and psychology behind why stories inspire action
• Awareness of how the best leaders use stories to mobilize teams and stakeholders

2. The SPARK Framework for Story Design

• A proven, repeatable framework to craft clear, authentic, and persuasive stories
• Step-by-step process to structure narratives that connect emotionally and drive action
• Exposure to additional storytelling frameworks used by world-class leaders
• Practical templates you can use immediately in your leadership communication

3. Your Personal Story Bank (Started)

• Framework to begin collecting stories from colleagues, customers, and experiences
• Understanding of which types of stories serve different leadership purposes
• Strategy for organizing and cataloging stories for easy retrieval
• Confidence to identify story-worthy moments in daily professional life

4. Own Your Story — Share with Confidence

• Techniques to deliver stories with authenticity and executive presence
• Methods to adapt your narrative style to different audiences and contexts
• Tools to overcome discomfort around "self-promotion" through storytelling
• Ability to position yourself and your ideas compellingly through narrative

5. Build Influence — Inspire, Persuade, and Mobilize

• Strategies to use stories to motivate teams and stakeholders
• Approaches to deepen professional relationships through meaningful narratives
• Techniques to persuade without being "salesy" or manipulative
• Framework for using stories to drive decision-making and change

6. Create Alignment Through Shared Stories

• Methods to foster belonging and collective purpose through narrative
• Approaches to humanize leadership and reinforce organizational values
• Strategies to use stories to create a purpose-driven, human-centered culture
• Techniques to make people feel valued, seen, and motivated through storytelling

7. Strengthen Executive Presence & Leadership Impact

• Immediate techniques to enhance how you're perceived as a leader
• Practical ways to inspire trust, resilience, and commitment in your teams
• Tools to advance your vision by connecting emotionally with stakeholders
• Confidence to lead with both head and heart through narrative leadership