In Good Companies

Think about something you learned recently. Whether it is a scientific finding, a fun fact, a historical event or something else, there is probably a great story behind it. Research by the London School of Business shows that most people only retain 5%-10% of the information they're given when presented with facts and figures. But fold the same data into a story, and your audience will remember 70% of it. So it seems that storytelling is a potent tool. In fact, according to our guest Esther Choy, it can change the way we do business.

Esther is the Founder, CEO and Chief Story Facilitator of Leadership Story Lab. With her firm, she uses design thinking to help businesses sharpen their identity, build their own leadership narrative and connect with audiences in meaningful ways. Since 2010, she has been working with companies across various industries, including healthcare, tech and manufacturing.

In today’s episode, Esther tells us how the science of persuasion and the art of storytelling can help leaders gain a competitive moat. You’ll learn how to find stories inside your business and what to do with the great material at your disposal. Listen until the end of the episode to hear Esther in practice: you will hear what great storytelling sounds like, and get to know our very own host, Patrick Pacheco, a little bit better.

So join us in conversation with Esther and Patrick today, and live to tell the tale!

Highlights:
  • Esther’s experience with leadership storytelling (2:15)
  • Storytelling as a tool for persuasion (5:11)
  •  An example of storytelling in political leadership (7:29)
  •  Discussing vulnerability in leadership (10:35)
  • Storytelling as a whole brain experience (13:44)
  • The importance of a “conceptual core” (15:18)
  • IRS: Intriguing beginning, Riveting middle, Satisfying end (17:02)
  • Learning from other storytellers (19:45)
  • In practice: when Esther asks the questions (21:38)
  •  In practice: introducing Patrick Pacheco (27:38)
  • When the specific represents the universal (31:20

Links:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers,Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

What is In Good Companies?

Starting and running a business or managing one isn’t for the faint of heart. You’re balancing internal and external forces in a continually changing landscape. You’re building strategies, and banking on the future – no matter what it holds. This is where Cadence Bank’s In Good Companies comes in. We share our wealth of knowledge, and insights from noted industry experts, to guide you through the forces shaping business today.

We’re back for Season 6, and this time, we’re setting our sights on the future of work. We’re asking the big questions, like:

What will your career look like in 2030? Or 2050, even?
How is ESG shaping the future of companies?
And how can we leverage AI to our advantage?

We bring together experts from across the board, from Silicon Valley to multinationals like EY, to help you stay on the cutting edge of business. And we get to know those who are building the future of our companies; because at Cadence Bank, we want to hear the human side of every success story.

Hosting our stellar range of guests this season is our new host, Ari Marin. He is a Cadence Bank Senior Vice President and family enterprise advisor, whose specialty is consulting with family-owned and small businesses. Ari’s idea of “good company” is being around creative, insightful people with unique and inspirational stories. For Season 6, he brings in his curiosity and ambition to In Good Companies, to lead discussions with our guests, and bring listeners across the U.S. all the information they need, in one place, in under 30 minutes.

Ready to launch into the future? Then join us!