Narativ Leadership Story Talks

In this new series of short podcasts, Jerome and Julienne discuss issues brought up by one of their Leadership Story Talks guests.In this episode they discuss using intention with attention mentioned by CEO and founder of WriterGirl Christy Pretzinger in Episode #81Notes* Find Christy Pretzinger on LinkedIn * Learn more about WriterGirl Find out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

Jerome and Julienne talk with Matt Bahl - VP and head of workplace financial health, Financial Health Network.In this episode of Story Talks we discover how do we make people’s lives better by improving their financial resilience?That salaries are not determinative of financial health. How can we make workplace work better for working people? Matt talks about how the catalytic moment for him was when he told the story of his father at a summit on financial wellness and how that story led him to a positive career move and how it’s been influencing the audiences he talks to.The generational differences with regards to finance and work are vast.Filling the gap between the values companies state and the actions they take: The void is vast and Matt’s work is to better align those, and deliver solutions to the real problems workers face. The difference between moral injury and burnout, and how new generations are feeling this in the workplace right now. Employers need to do a lot more than just helping employees to save for retirement, like paying down debt and solving credit issues. The three best practices that companies can implement right now to improve their employees’ financial health in their work place. Data without storytelling is as useless as storytelling is without data. You must humanize the data for it to be effective, and the story is how you engage people because it has a human component that the data lacks. We need stories of every day average working people in order to get messages through and affect change: How do we make the unremarkable feel remarkable? Learn about Matt’s favorite inspirational stories and how he uses them for impact.  Our best practices and take away’s from our conversation.LINKS ~Financial health network: finhealthnetwork.org - building an ecosystem for making financial health a reality for everyone. #fintechs #financialhealth #personalwealth #financialhealth Lila’s cupcakes : https://finhealthnetwork.org/team/lila-owensNarativ: narativ.com to learn more about storytelling in businessFinancial support sites we discussed on this episode: Novacredit: https://www.novacredit.com/ - focused on helping immigrants build creditEsusu - Find out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

In this new series of shorter podcasts, Jerome and Julienne discuss issues brought up by one of their Leadership Story Talks guests.When you're managing a project with multiple tasks and you're trying to complete the project, it's easy to see the project as a series of to-do's and deadlines. Don't forget that it's about people. Use storytelling and listening skills to bring the humanity back to your project and make people feel seen and heard. This will get people excited and motivated to support you in completing your goal. Kory Kogan's full episode is HEREFind out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

"Every single person in the organization should understand the language of something (...), a leader should understand the language of project management, so they understand the foibles of it and the inspiration of it when they are assigning it to a project manager."In this episode, Jerome and Julienne talk to Kory Kogan. She is FranklinCovey’s Vice President of Content and Senior Consultant. She's the Wall Street Journal bestselling co-author of The Five Choices, the Path to Extraordinary Productivity, and has appeared as an expert on today, MSNBC's your business, forbes.com inc.com, and on fast company.com. An updated version of her book ‘Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager’ was published recently, and in this podcast they discuss the book and some of the project management principles mentioned in it. They talk about the importance of everyone knowing the ‘why’ behind a project, listening to each other, and navigating projects from both a leadership and project manager perspective.Listen to this episode to learn about effective project management, the importance of listening in a project management context, and the value of having permission to fail.  Notes*Learn more about Kory’s new book here*Find Kory Kogon on LinkedInFind out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

In this new series of short podcasts, Jerome and Julienne discuss issues brought up by one of their Leadership Story Talks guests.In this episode they discuss giving everyone a voice, mentioned by Workplace Wellness Expert Erica Reed in Episode #83Notes*Learn more about Leading Well Solutions*Find Erica Reed on LinkedIn*Learn more about the online course “Leading with Empathy: A Trauma Informed Approach to Emotional Intelligence for HR Professionals and People Managers” hereFind out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

"If you don't know what to say and you're afraid of saying the wrong thing, you say nothing. And then you have to have an awareness of what that nothingness is communicating."In this episode, Jerome and Julienne talk to Erica Reed. She's the founder of Leading Well Solutions, and she brings over 25 years of experience as a psychotherapist and workplace wellness expert to help managers become inclusive leaders with higher levels of emotional intelligence, improved communication skills, and the ability to optimize the unique strengths of employees. They talk about her journey from being a therapist to leading a company that provides trauma-informed training and coaching in the workplace, which leads them to discuss the interaction between individual and collective identities, stories and trauma. If you don’t have the words to discuss certain topics you will stay silent and Erica explains how her training and coaching provides leaders with the tools to have difficult conversations in the workplace and create healthy relationships where people feel valued. These conversations often pertain to change, either personal or organizational, and they talk about the importance of leadership showing up at those moments.Listen to this episode to learn more about trauma-informed leadership, healthy workplace culture and the fascinating connection between individual therapy and workplace dynamics.  Notes*Learn more about Leading Well Solutions*Find Erica Reed on LinkedIn*Learn more about the online course “Leading with Empathy: A Trauma Informed Approach to Emotional Intelligence for HR Professionals and People Managers” hereFind out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

"When I first started my business, I said to my accountant at the time, if I can't build a business based on kindness, then I'll go back to being a freelance writer."In this episode, Jerome and Julienne talk to Christy Pretzinger, a dynamic, visionary innovator who has transformed the landscape of healthcare content creation as the owner and CEO of WriterGirl. Christy has built an industry-leading organization that delivers top-notch content strategy and creation to the healthcare industry nationwide. Christy is also passionate about creating an environment where people can truly thrive and is dedicated to reinventing how businesses perceive the world of work and encouraging other entrepreneurs to do the same.Christy tells Jerome and Julienne about how she went from intending to build a business environment based on kindness to creating that environment. She talks about the structures she put in place to ensure that employees know they matter, have a good life work (not work life!) balance, and can approach each other and clients with kindness and empathy. They also touch on her motivation to build her company like that and how self-awareness has been crucial for her growth as a leader and directly related to her company's growth. Along the way, Christy shares examples of the concrete tools she has used to achieve her cultural goals, which you can also implement in your workplace.Listen to this episode to become inspired by and learn from someone who truly turned intentions for good company culture into reality by setting up concrete structures and constantly ensuring that the financial balance sheet AND the cultural balance sheet look great!  Notes* Find Christy Pretzinger on LinkedIn * Learn more about WriterGirl Find out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

“In order for us to be AI literate, we have to be aware of what and how much data we're creating. We have to understand when and how our personal data is being stored, shared, deleted, and sold to a third party. An AI literate citizen is someone who can feel confident that they understand how the data is being used in the products and services that they consume and interact with”In this episode, Jerome and Julienne talk to Melissa Drew, the founder of Simply Transformed, a company which guides digital transformation initiatives to leverage data strategies and AI technologies. She is also a founding member and committee chair for Women Leaders In Data & AI, TEDx speaker and thought leader. They talk about how being the only woman in the room led her to become a champion for women in the area of digital transformation before diving into what it means for people to become global AI literate citizens. She talks about how many Americans don’t realize they interact with AI daily and have been doing so for years, how ChatGPT only brought a certain type of AI to the forefront, and what it would take to make people aware of all the forms AI comes in and how it influences their day-to-day lives. They end the episode with a powerful personal story that will remind you of the strength in reinventing yourself and the power of having a personal advisory council filled with people who can provide you with different perspectives as you move through life.  Notes* Find Melissa Drew on LinkedIn * Learn more about Narativ hereFind out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

“How do we get employers to say that their workers are not risks to be managed but humans worthy of investment and dignity? That is a fundamental shift in the way that benefits are designed and oriented in a lot of contexts.”In this episode, Jerome and Julienne talk to their first returning guest! Matt Bahl is the Vice President of Market Lead Workplace Financial Health at the Financial Health Network. In his role, Matt leads the development of new capabilities, strategies, and partnerships to help employers achieve their financial health goals, and he is a nationally recognized thought leader on workplace financial wellness. They talk about his deep commitment to ensuring that work is better for more people by helping to change the mental models and shape the systems that are essential to moving forward financial health. He talks about the status quo surrounding financial health and how the development of the economy, the job market, and our higher education system over the past few years has helped people reframe how we think about work and financial health. The impactful stories that help bring the data to life and help executives step out of their bubbles are also topics of discussion and Matt also tells a couple of those stories.Tune in for an inspiring interview full of data on financial health and the current market combined with impactful stories of how financial health can be improved, both at a small and larger scale, to make work life better for everyone.Notes*Watch the Frontline Worker Perspective *Learn more about the 20th anniversary conference EMERGE 2024 as a way to connect and support the finhealth movement*Learn more about Ownership Works*Read about the Worker Financial Wellness Initiative, the Financial Health Network’s partnership with PayPal, JUST Capital, and the Good Jobs Institute that focuses on measuring the financial health of workforces, and includes outcomes and impact stories* Take a look at PayPal Financial Diaries, which outlines PayPal's journey and includes stories from frontline workers* Health Care Premiums impact on Wages is the cited study about workers likely losing over 125k in wages due to rising insurance premiums* Find Matt Bahl on LinkedIn and read this post about the importance of stepping outside of our bubbles*Sign up for the Leadership Workshop hereFind out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

“Every conversation is a fresh performance. And even though we have skill sets we're bringing forward, that person is listening to this for the first time, and they are a new audience, and we have to meet them where they are.”In this episode, Jerome and Julienne talk to Derek McCracken, a New York-based health equity activist who teaches narrative medicine, pedagogy and applied writing for Columbia School of Professional Studies and serves on the board of Say Ah!, which is a health literacy nonprofit agency. They talk about the importance of narratives to build relationships, within healthcare and beyond, improve health literacy and health equity, and create the connections needed for effective advocacy. After this, they look at narratives in a broader light, talking about the healing power of seeing your life as a big narrative, the power stories have to break through hierarchies, and how storytelling can help people realize that whatever they are going through, whether it be health or career challenges, they are not the only ones and they are not alone.Listen to this episode to learn more about the connection between storytelling and health literacy, greeting cards and health advocacy, and listening and health equity, among many other things.NotesClick here for free narrative medicine sessionsClick here for more information about Say Ah!’s work on health literarySign up for Narativ’s upcoming workshop hereFind out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

“What is your story right now? What's your story going to be for this year and beyond? January is always that month when you have an opportunity to sort of pause for just a minute and look at what's ahead and how you want to be.”In this episode, Jerome and Julienne talk about setting intentions. They explain the difference between resolutions, goals, and intentions, and Jerome tells Julienne more about his intention for this year, which is to seek opportunities to grow and choose to see even the hard things as an opportunity. They talk about moments in their lives where they could do something against all odds, how these moments help reground them when things get tough by showing them that they always have a choice, and how finding small common experiences helps connect people. This episode will inspire you to take a step back, set intentions for the new year, and rethink the stories you’ve been telling yourself about yourself.NotesSign up for the Leading With Story Workshop hereFind out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

“I'm thinking of authenticity on a moment-to-moment basis, in a threefold way: one, can I locate what feels true for me in this moment? This is that self-inventory piece. Two: Can I express what feels true for me in this moment? That's the communication piece. And, three, can I read the needs of the moment? Can I read my audience? Can I read my environment and adapt to that? Because your authenticity changes in response to your environment.”In this episode, Jerome and Julienne talk to Hava Horowitz, a transformational coach and facilitator who helps entrepreneurs, leaders, and individuals develop an authentic presence from the inside out. She combines communication best practices, acting techniques, and personal growth in her work as she delivers programs on storytelling, presence, conflict management, and authentic relationships for global leaders and teams.They discussed their various definitions of authenticity and the access points you have at your disposal to experiment with finding your edge. There’s a lot of talk of bringing one’s whole self to work, but what does that mean exactly? They arrive at an understanding that self-awareness is key to figuring out what to bring at what moment and for whom.  Jerome shares his story of being a DJ by night and a banker by day when he came out of business school and worked in Hong Kong for 5 years, and what was detrimental about not sharing the multitudes that he contains. Hava shares her stories of supporting clients in finding their edge, through an example that evokes the mind-body connection. Finally, Hava shared an experience that shaped who she is today, by relating a story about her father who used his profession as a dentist to regale his clients with comedy (he was a part-time comedian…)All in all, a great way to start the year with inspiration, mindfulness and practical tips to make 2024 the YOU year! Don’t forget to enroll in our new “Leading with Story” workshop starting in February. See episode notes for the link. NotesEnroll in the Lead With Story workshop and learn more here. Learn more about Narativ hereLearn more about Hava Horowitz and her coaching method here. Join Hava’s email list here to learn more about her Speak Truth program here. Find out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

“We don't have control. We can only have control of what we're doing and how we're reacting, and appreciating how the other people might be watching this situation and seeing how we can pivot and shift.”In this episode, Jerome and Julienne reflect on the episode they did recently with C.M. Conway, a filmmaker who made a movie called “How to Successfully Fail in Hollywood”. Julienne tells Jerome about a time when she had to give a big keynote speech, but then, out of nowhere, she suddenly also had to facilitate a panel discussion, and then the panelists went rogue. They reflect on her experience and, more broadly, on what to do when things don’t go according to plan. They tie this to the importance of being able to listen, be present and approach the situation with a sense of humor, and not seeing the situation as a failure but as a moment to learn.Listen to this episode for reflections on adapting to unexpected situations in the moment (without reacting), turning (perceived) failure into valuable lessons, and the importance of humor in all those situations. NotesListen to the episode with C.M. Conway hereLearn more about Narativ hereFind out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

“I'd like to think that the stories that we tell on behalf of our clients are helping them remember their why, their reason for being, and why they exist today.”In this episode, Jerome and Julienne talk to Elena Valentine. She is the co-founder and executive director of Skillscout, a creative studio dedicated to transforming brand stories into compelling visuals that inspire action and belief. She tells Jerome and Julienne about how her business started with the premise that ‘you cannot be what you cannot see’, and how that has influenced her work ever since. They talk about the power of video and storytelling to bring jobs and company culture to life and the most important moments during production of a video: making the people in it feel seen, heard, validated, and celebrated. This leads them to the importance of listening and storytelling in leadership and showing your humanity.Listen to this episode to hear more about story collection and storytelling for video production and to witness some beautiful examples of leaders expressing their humanity. NotesFind Skilllscout at skillscout.com or on InstagramFind Elena on LinkedIn Learn more about NarativFind out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

“Even if you've told a story a thousand times to different audiences, every time you're going to tell that story to a new audience in a new location, in a new venue, or at a new time, you still have to ask yourself that question. Because once you answer that question anew every time, you are going to show up in a very different way.”In this episode, Jerome and Julienne reflect on the last episodes and discuss the importance of asking the question “why story, why now?”. Even if you’ve told a story a thousand times to different audiences, asking that question will help you show up differently, and, most importantly, will ensure that you connect with the audience. Jerome tells the story of a client he recently helped to prepare an important presentation and how digging deep to find the ‘why’ of the story and the ‘why now’ yielded surprising answers that not only helped him to give a successful speech, but that he was able to carry forward in his other pitches as well.Listen to this episode to learn more about step one of the Narativ storytelling method and how to ask the question “why story, why now?” in order to better connect with yourself and your audience. Find out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

“If each one of us is aligned in that space where we have access to our heart, head, and gut, we have an incredible capacity within ourselves and our organizations. We create more capacity than we could possibly ever use to solve the problems that are in front of us.”In this episode, Jerome and Julienne talk to Lisa Danels. She is the founder and executive director of Human Edge, author of “The Human Edge Advantage: Mastering the Art of Being All In” and senior executive talent and leadership consultant and coach. Lisa focuses on developing mindful and purpose-driven leaders, and in this episode, she tells Jerome and Julienne what led her to write her book and how she helps leaders bring their full self to work. She talks about the importance of looking at and knowing yourself and having the ability to be honest with yourself before being able to lead others and be honest with them too. They also discuss the importance of community, co-creation, and dialogue in an increasingly complex (business) environment.Listen to this inspiring episode to hear more about the creation of truly shared leadership and creativity, the role of storytelling in that, and the importance of tapping into your heart, head, and intuition.NotesBuy “The Human Edge Advantage: Mastering the Art of Being All In” by Lisa Danels hereLearn more about Lisa Danels and her work on her website and her Instagram Find out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

“Once you get past the emotional reaction, what is this failure telling me? Is it telling me to stop? Is it telling me to persevere? Is it not the right time, or do I need to dig a little deeper, and do I maybe need to find another way? Do I need to find another day?”In this episode, Jerome and Julienne talk with C.M. Conway, a filmmaker, marketing, and storytelling consultant and coach. Her diverse, inspiring film “How to Successfully Fail in Hollywood'' became the little indie that could and is now available in a top streaming giant. She has been featured in numerous media outlets and is dedicated to uplifting the stories of minorities while unearthing unique stories of women, marginalized cultures and communities. They talk about what led her to make her movie about failure in Hollywood, how she found the lens of humor to repurpose failure, and what failure can teach us if we’re willing to face it. C.M. teaches us the process of turning failure into something extraordinary- from feeling the feelings to taking the first small step and setting goals to turn (new) dreams into reality. Make sure not to miss this episode, as you’ll walk away inspired and with a process to start working through failure and realize your dreams! NotesView the heartfelt "How to Successfully Fail in Hollywood" film and contact C.M. Conway for a storytelling, film or marketing consultation here: https://FunnyFailureFilm.com View film's trailer: https://youtu.be/HwzEuxuh6i8View film's music video “My Best Friend”: https://youtu.be/kJHUOqufykwJoin the fun in failure movement on Twitter, Facebook and YouTubeListen to slip-ups, insights gained and learn how to submit your story for the How to Successfully Fail in Hollywood podcastFind out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

“Almost on a day-to-day basis, you hear things that you really do not believe in. It pushes your buttons, makes you angry, sad, upset, whatever it might be. It provokes a reaction, and the question is, what do you do with that?”In this episode, Jerome and Julienne talk about a recent experience Julienne had that led her to reflect on the importance of taking a pause, and making sure that you deal with emotions like anger, rather than brushing over them and moving forward. They then reflect more broadly on the trends they are seeing in their work with clients, one of which is that layoffs are increasing. How to deal with that emotionally and not just practically? How do you show up for yourself, and for others? And if you’re a leader in an organization that is laying people off, how should you navigate that and what is the impact on the relationship that the remaining employees have with the organization?Listen to this episode to learn about the steps you can take to gracefully move through the ups and downs of (work)life, and help others do the same.NotesBuy Julienne’s book hereFind out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

“There are all these different types of people that I've coached: men, women, executives, graduates, it doesn't matter. They all have the same challenge, and that challenge is how do I just be more myself in my job? It's literally this, and it all stems from the same cause, but it translates in different stories.”In this episode, Jerome and Julienne talk with Ehsan Fahmi, Client Success Director and the Talent Enterprise. She is an expert in talent management, talent assessment, and customer success and is passionate about creating spaces where people can simply be. For Ehsan, impact stems from being a little bit more yourself everyday, as it’s not the titles that matter but the people behind the titles. She tells Jerome and Julienne about how The Bold and the Beautiful drew her to the field of psychology when she was very young and how a layoff followed by a new job in a toxic work environment pushed her to set PR aside and pursue the career in psychology that she initially dreamed of. They discuss the importance of kindness, self-awareness, and positive assumptions in the boardroom and beyond. They discuss how titles get in the way of listening and people being authentic, two key ingredients for people to feel good and positively contribute to company culture. Listen to this episode to learn more about how learning to become more authentic can drastically improve impact.NotesLearn more about Ehsan Fahmi here Find out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here

“You would go into these leadership meetings and for everything else it would be “okay, let me see the financials, let me see the numbers associated with it”. But diversity, equity, and inclusion was, “how do you feel”, right? And it would be, “how do you feel”, because we talked to maybe the five people of color at our organization, and that's how they feel.”In this episode, Julienne and Jerome talk to Miranda McKie, founder and CEO of McKie consultants. She has a proven track record of utilizing data-driven techniques to identify and mitigate systemic institutional barriers that impact underrepresented groups. She has received many recognitions for her work, including the 2020 Catalyst Canada Emerging Leader Award. Most recently, she was featured as one of the Silicon Review’s top 50 leading companies in 2023. Miranda tells Julienne and Jerome about leveraging data to truly move DEI objectives forward and create meaningful change. We use data to understand every other part of business, so why not its people? They talk about the importance of having DEI business objectives and accountability at the organizational level, the purpose of storytelling to help understand and validate the data, and the necessity of carefully thinking about the timeframes for DEI objectives. Miranda also talks about how her own experiences as one of the few women in her field helped shape her career and her data-driven approach to DEI.NotesBuy ‘The Colour of Democracy: Racism in Canadian Society’ by Frances Henry hereDo the Harvard Implicit Bias test hereLearn more about Miranda McKie and her work hereFind out more about The Narativ Storytelling Method atnarativ.comEMAIL Jerome@narativ.comLINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-incTWITTER @narativBuy Julienne’s book here