“It’s the responsibility of leaders to embrace vulnerability—because that’s what creates trust.”

In this debrief, Jerome and Julienne reflect on a powerful insight from their conversation with Jim O’Gorman, Chief People Officer at Included Health: values don’t come to life through statements—they come to life through stories.

Jim’s example of recognizing employees who embody company values opens the door to a deeper conversation about how organizations can move beyond abstract principles and into lived, everyday behaviors. Jerome and Julienne explore how storytelling—especially authentic, vulnerable storytelling—builds trust and turns values into something people can see, feel, and replicate.

Drawing from their work with organizations like Cigna and others, they highlight how simple practices—asking for stories, sharing them, and amplifying them—can create a ripple effect across teams. What starts as recognition of a few individuals quickly becomes a culture where everyone sees themselves in the values and wants to contribute their own stories.

At its core, this conversation is a reminder: you don’t need to invent culture—you need to notice it, name it, and share it.

You’ll Hear:

– From Values to Behavior – Why values only matter when they are demonstrated through real, observable actions—and how stories make that visible.

– Authenticity Builds Trust – How leaders who share not just successes but vulnerabilities create deeper connection and credibility.

– Recognition as Storytelling – How celebrating employees through stories reinforces culture and creates momentum across an organization.

– The Ripple Effect of Shared Stories – Why highlighting a few stories often inspires many more, turning storytelling into a participatory, organic practice.

– Start Simple: Ask and Listen – A practical approach to uncovering stories: ask people when they’ve seen values in action, then listen and share.

Culture isn’t created in mission statements or posters—it’s revealed in the stories people tell about what actually happens every day.

Here's a link to the LISTENING LAB

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

Please join our mailing list to stay updated on all our latest episodes and events.

EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here

Overview

What if the moments that shape us aren’t the ones we think?

In this episode, Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan sit down with leadership expert and bestselling author Chris Dyer to explore how a seemingly small moment—an uncle showing up—created a lifelong philosophy of leadership.

From nearly losing his company during the 2009 recession to rebuilding culture from the ground up, Chris shares how he discovered that great leadership isn’t about systems or strategy—it’s about how we show up in the moments that matter most.

This conversation challenges leaders to rethink culture, communication, and connection—not as abstract ideas, but as intentional choices made in real time.

You’ll Hear

• Why the most impactful moments in our lives are often not the most obvious ones
• How a childhood experience shaped Chris’s belief in showing up fully for others
• The turning point that led him to rebuild his company culture from scratch
• Why transparency unlocks better ideas, engagement, and ownership
• How to move from a culture of execution to a culture of thinking and contribution
• The surprising downside of traditional one-on-one meetings—and what to do instead
• Why intentionality is the key to making remote teams thrive
• How to recognize, shape, and scale the moments that define leadership
• The difference between leaders people tolerate—and leaders people trust

Resources

• 🎤 Leadership Story Talks events
• 👂 The Listening Lab
• LinkedIn
• TikTok
• Instagram
• X
• website
• Facebook

YouTube

• Moments That Matter - Amazon

Here's a link to the LISTENING LAB

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

Please join our mailing list to stay updated on all our latest episodes and events.

EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here

Overview ~ In this debrief episode, Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan reflect on their latest Leadership Story Talks LIVE event, exploring what made the stories so powerful—and what they reveal about how we make meaning from our experiences.

From a childhood ballet recital… to a summer job at the zoo… to waking up in a hospital after a coma… the stories shared in this live event remind us that transformation doesn’t always come from the biggest moments.

Sometimes, it’s the smallest, most ordinary experiences—revisited through a new lens—that shape how we lead, connect, and show up in the world.

This conversation unpacks how storytelling helps us reframe our past, connect the dots, and communicate what truly matters—not through polished bios, but through lived experience.

You’ll Hear

• Why powerful leadership stories often come from small, specific moments
• How the same experience can take on new meaning over time
• The difference between a transformational moment and a chosen story
• How storytelling reveals what a bio can’t: values, motivations, and identity
• The role of listening, safety, and structure in helping stories emerge
• Why courage and vulnerability are essential to sharing stories that resonate
• How live storytelling creates unexpected connections and shared meaning

Here's a link to the LISTENING LAB

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

Please join our mailing list to stay updated on all our latest episodes and events.

EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here