Creative Confidence Podcast Asked & Answered: Catherine Connors on Storytelling for Leaders, Scale, and the Future of Narrative
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Aug 13, 2025 Catherine Connors, a storyteller and strategist with a rich background as the former head of content at Disney Interactive, dives deep into the power of narrative for leadership. She discusses how storytelling can enhance culture and drive change within organizations. The impact of AI on storytelling is explored, emphasizing the need for empathy. Connors also champions collaborative storytelling as a way to combat misinformation and foster inclusion, making a case for co-authorship in leadership narratives.
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Treat Storytelling As A Core Function
- Take storytelling seriously and integrate it across your organization as a core discipline.
- Give teams regular opportunities to practice narrative craft within their daily work to build skill and confidence.
Use Frameworks As Flexible Templates
- Use storytelling frameworks as diagnostic templates, not scripts you must follow exactly.
- Map structure first, then add emotional nuance and original flourishes to make the story live.
Stewardship Requires Collaboration
- Stewardship of stories requires active collaboration with communities, not top-down preservation.
- Caring for a story means cultivating and inviting participation so the story stays alive and evolves.