How to go from charts and numbers to a story that will move your stakeholders

See how improv techniques and exercises can allow you to craft impactful presentations and level up your storytelling skills.

Read our list of books that have made us more curious, inspired and creative at IDEO U.

In the early days of IDEO, Tom Kelley recalls the challenges of expanding the company to Japan, where there was no office and no one there had heard of the company. All IDEO had, according to Tom, was the stories they could tell. Tom shares why storytelling is important, the 4 stories all entrepreneurs should have ready, and his favorite storytelling tips.

In a business context, it’s just as important as in film or entertainment to think about the way you structure your story and select the right pieces of information for maximum impact. Ann Kim, Senior Portfolio Director at IDEO and instructor in our course Impactful Presentations, walks through the elements of a story, different story arcs, why and how to experiment with your story arcs, and shares examples from her work in the healthcare and entertainment worlds.

Guy Kawasaki, Chief Evangelist at Canva, on the art of influence and cutting through the noise.

Resident IDEO storytellers Zena Barakat and Brian Janosch talk about the importance of stories in the world of business and innovation. Learn how to get started weaving stories into your work today with real life examples and tips for using stories in common business scenarios.

When Jenn Maer first arrived at IDEO from the advertising world a decade or so ago, not many people were calling themselves storytellers. Now, as she says, “storytelling is having a moment.” Companies are incorporating it into so much of what they do, from pitching to branding, and explaining their values. But just as home cooks have a lot to learn before they can become trained chefs, there’s a lot to learn before you can master storytelling.

We spoke with Paul about what he sees as cornerstones of creative leadership, how to use storytelling to catalyze people toward action, and his no fear attitude toward delving into the void—darker more challenging topics like death and aging.

After an epic two-year journey that included sailing through the Panama Canal, around the Caribbean, and crossing the Atlantic during hurricane season with her husband and 10-year-old son, Jen Massaro had a story to share. But she struggled to tell it in a way that was meaningful for her friends and colleagues. Through the process of refining her story, Jen gained a deeper understanding of what matters most in storytelling.

As a Design Director at IDEO, Jenn Maer is a creative leader, brand strategist, and storyteller. Jenn is happiest when creating stories and projects that bypass the brain’s radar and go straight to the heart. She leads IDEO U’s Storytelling for Influence course.

We sat down with Jenn to hear about her storytelling process and career as a storyteller.

Everyone in business and design is talking about storytelling these days, and this seems like a good thing: if we can replace the dreary powerpoint decks with tales that win hearts and minds, then life for everyone will be better. But before you jump on the storytelling bus, make sure you're aware of the seven deadly sins...