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Chief Story Officer
Chief Story Officer episodes
- What "Be More Strategic" Actually Means (And How to Do It)
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"ābut 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 naturallyācorporate 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"
ā 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.
32 min - The Chief Storytelling Officer: Why Every Company Needs a Story Guardian
Rain Bennett, award-winning filmmaker and fractional Chief Storytelling Officer, joins the show to discuss why storytelling isn't just marketingāit'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
40 min - Trailer: Welcome to Chief Story Officer
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.
1 min
About Chief Story Officer
From the publisher's feed
Most leaders know storytelling matters. But can stories actually be strategic?
On Chief Story Officer we talk to executives and thought leaders who know that the right story at the right time can shift strategy, align teams and transform businesses.
Hosted by Rob D. Willis, a strategic story producer who's helped leaders at HelloFresh, Babbel, and Raisin craft compelling stories that make strategies stick, so teams live it and clients feel it.
What You'll Discover:
šÆ Real world examples of stories shifting team direction, clarifying strategy or closing deals.
š§ Strategic frameworks to think about storytelling as part of business strategy
ā” Practical takeaways you can use in your next meeting, pitch, or all-hands
šļø Diverse perspectives from CEOs, strategists, and operators who've cracked the code on strategic storytelling
This isn't about crafting perfect presentations or learning narrative tricks. It's about understanding how stories shape decisions, drive alignment, and create measurable business impact.
Who This Is For:
Chief Story Officer is built for executives, senior leaders, and strategic thinkers who know that communication is more than a soft skill.
If you're responsible for:
š Leading teams through change and uncertainty
šÆ Communicating vision and strategy across your organisation
š¤ Building buy-in for complex initiatives
š” Translating technical ideas into compelling direction
āØ Creating alignment where there's confusion
...then this podcast will sharpen how you lead through communication.
About Your Host:
Rob D. Willis is a strategic story producer who's been helping executives communicate ideas that matter since 2018. He's delivered 3,000+ presentations to 100,000 people across six continents, working with HelloFresh, Babbel, and Raisin to transform how they tell their stories.
Before focusing on executive storytelling, Rob spent years as a Berlin tour guide and music producerātwo disciplines that taught him what makes messages memorable and impossible to ignore.
The Format:
ā±ļø 30 minutes per episode
š
New episodes every two weeks
š¬ Conversational and story-driven style
šÆ Focused on extracting specific lessons that made communication work in high-stakes moments
Why Subscribe:
If you believe that the way you communicate shapes the way you leadāand that better stories lead to better strategyāChief Story Officer will become your go-to resource for sharpening both.
New episodes drop bi-weekly. Subscribe now so you never miss a conversation!
š Visit robdwillis.com for frameworks, resources, and more on strategic storytelling in leadership.