{"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":"What \"Be More Strategic\" Actually Means (And How to Do It)","slug":"what-be-more-strategic-actually-means-and-how-to-do-it","published_at":"2025-12-12T04:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/chief-story-officer-7582078/what-be-more-strategic-actually-means-and-how-to-do-it","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/1c0bd589-d7af-422c-b361-eec3c71ab801.mp3","summary":"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\"—but 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 naturally—corporate 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. Ever…","meta_description":"Charlie Curson, strategist and leadership coach with 25+ years advising companies like VISA, McDonald's, and Unilever, joins the show to break down what \"…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1910,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/chief-story-officer-7582078/episodes/what-be-more-strategic-actually-means-and-how-to-do-it/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/what-be-more-strategic-actually-means-and-how-to-do-it.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}