“The CSO needs a seat at every department’s table—product, marketing, sales—because story threads through all of it.” — Rain Bennett

Storytelling isn’t just about marketing anymore—it’s about leadership, alignment, and growth.

In this special 200th episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain kicks off Season 14 by exploring the rise of a new essential role in business: the Chief Storytelling Officer.

Whether you’re at a massive company like Nike or a scrappy startup, someone needs to take responsibility for narrative consistency across your entire organization.

Rain shares insights from his interviews with real CSOs, including Nike’s Nelson Farris, and breaks down what this role looks like—why it matters, what it includes, and how to fill it (even if it’s you). From establishing your brand’s core “why” to ensuring cohesion across departments like product, marketing, and sales, the CSO is the linchpin of a modern brand. And as Rain writes his next book on the topic, he’s bringing listeners along for the journey.

This episode sets the stage for a season focused on clarity, alignment, and the systems that make brand storytelling sustainable.

In this episode, you will learn to:

• Understand the purpose and impact of the Chief Storytelling Officer as a leadership role, not just a creative one.
• Translate your brand’s purpose and vision into aligned stories across product, marketing, sales, and internal culture.
• Avoid misalignment and brand dilution by building a system of narrative cohesion from top to bottom.
• Identify the right person to fill the CSO role—whether that’s you or someone already doing the work informally.
• Create trust and connection with customers, teams, and investors through one clear, consistent story.

For more storytelling tips and tricks,

Visit my website rainbennett.com, or

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