{"podcast":{"title":"Chief Story Officer","slug":"chief-story-officer-7582078","podcast_index_feed_id":7582078,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/chief-story-officer/","website_url":"https://chief-story-officer.captivate.fm","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/5c9a86ba-88fe-4340-9e9c-48db40151749/Rob-Willis-Podcast-Art-1.png","author":"Rob D. Willis","episode_count":13,"summary":"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: 🎯 Real world examples of stories shifting team direction, clarifying strategy or closing deals. 🧠 Strategic frameworks to think about storytelling as part of business strategy ⚡ Practical takeaways you can use in your next meeting, pitch, or all-hands 🎙️ 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…","last_synced_at":"2026-06-05T14:18:43.293670+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/chief-story-officer-7582078"},"episode":{"title":"Clear Communication Drives Change: Matt Armstrong-Barnes on Leadership, Stories, and AI","slug":"clear-communication-drives-change-matt-armstrong-barnes-on-leadership-stories-and-ai","published_at":"2026-02-27T04:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/chief-story-officer-7582078/clear-communication-drives-change-matt-armstrong-barnes-on-leadership-stories-and-ai","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/chief-story-officer-7582078","url":"https://chief-story-officer.captivate.fm","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/fcbe230a-6401-4a56-8da8-97a6a0cce110.mp3","summary":"Matt Armstrong-Barnes, Group AI Practice Director at Servita and keynote speaker, joins the show to uncover why the real challenge of AI transformation isn’t just the technology, it’s the story leaders tell about it. In this episode, we dive into the art of translating complex technical ideas into clear, actionable strategies, exploring how jargon can alienate teams and how the right story brings everyone onto the same page. Matt Armstrong-Barnes, Group AI Practice Director at Servita, reveals the moments that changed his approach to communication and why leaders must own their message to drive transformation. Matt shares practical lessons from his 25-year career, from deciphering AI hype to empowering teams to ask “obvious” questions. He unpacks the real reasons people hesitate to speak up, the value of writing things down, and his signature “coffee machine test” for strategy clarity. You’ll walk away with a toolkit for breaking through jargon, building genuine team alignment, and turning abstract strategy into bite-sized, memorable stories, even if you think you’re “not a storyteller.” KEY TOPICS The meeting where only two out of thirty technologists understood the technical problem and what happened next [01:07] Imposter syndrome and why tech leaders are afraid to ask “obvious” questions in meetings [04:04] How leadership behaviour around jargon shapes organisational culture and communication habits [05:07] The hidden ambiguity of terms like “artificial intelligence” across academics, technologists, and business leaders [06:15] The exercise of having multiple leaders articulate strategy and why it always reveals misalignment [07:37] Using stories, metaphors, and writing to structure and clarify your message as a leader [08:43] Why ownership of your message and regul…","meta_description":"Matt Armstrong-Barnes, Group AI Practice Director at Servita and keynote speaker, joins the show to uncover why the real challenge of AI transformation is…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1798,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/chief-story-officer-7582078/episodes/clear-communication-drives-change-matt-armstrong-barnes-on-leadership-stories-and-ai/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/chief-story-officer-7582078/clear-communication-drives-change-matt-armstrong-barnes-on-leadership-stories-and-ai.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}