Why Storytelling Opens Minds

What’s stopping HR leaders from being heard in the boardroom?

It’s not always about strategy or experience. Often, it’s about how they communicate their value and impact.

Host Vanessa Brulotte sits down with Sara Jones, CEO of InclusionPro and acclaimed TED speaker. Together, they discuss how HR professionals can grow their influence through strategic framing, storytelling, and public speaking. Sara shares success stories from the leaders she’s coached, proving that with the right approach, HR’s influence can extend across the entire organization.

Key takeaways:

• How to frame HR work in terms of business value and impact
• Why storytelling is a powerful tool for influencing executives
• How to practice before stepping into high-stakes conversations

Key topics:

(00:00) Introducing Sara Jones

(02:54) Finding your voice 

(05:51) Evolving into a strategic partner

(08:07) How to speak the executives’ language

(09:35) Telling stories that highlight your accomplishments

(15:27) Turning data into a memorable message

(19:59) How to build confidence for public speaking

(23:13) Easy tips for giving better presentations

Key links:

Read BambooHR’s blog, “How to Analyze Data That Measures HR Impact: Free HR Report Checklist”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/analyze-data-hr-report-template

Read BambooHR’s blog, “How to Get Over Fear of Public Speaking”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/fear-of-public-speaking

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

BambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Sara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradansiejones/