Storytelling for Influence and Impact

New
·

1 Day

·

Cohort-based Course

In 90 minutes, I will make you a better storyteller for the rest of your life.

Course overview

Strong Storytelling Is a Tool for Influence, Culture, and Impact

In this 90-minute workshop, you’ll learn to develop practical storytelling frameworks that turn complex ideas into clear, memorable narratives that win attention, build credibility, and move decisions.


We’ll apply these tools to high-stakes moments — executive updates, all-hands meetings, sales or campaign pitches — as well as everyday conversations.


This isn’t a writing class or an AI hack (though we’ll cover both) – it’s a masterclass in learning to simplify and align messages, structure stories for engagement, and tailor delivery for different audiences. We’ll cover using AI thoughtfully to draft, iterate, and stress-test content without outsourcing your voice. The result? Stronger influence, tighter cross-functional alignment, and stories that make people lean in.


You’ll walk away with enhanced skills to:

• Turn presentations and pitches into compelling narratives that capture attention and build trust

• Simplify your messages for clarity and team alignment

• Use storytelling to reinforce culture, mission, and values


Bonus: The same tools work outside of work — for toasts, job interviews, even eulogies.


More than anything, you’ll see storytelling as a leadership superpower — and gain the confidence to share stories that make people lean in, trust you, and say three magic words: tell me more.

Who is this course for...

01

Leaders in start-up and early stage companies who want to nail their story for team alignment and client pitches

02

Founders, comms officers, HR directors, and other leaders navigating transitions such as funding rounds, growth, M&A, hybrid workplaces

03

Professionals looking to grow in their current role or seek a new role now asking this vital question: How can I be a better storyteller?

The ROI on ROS (Return on Story)

Build Trust and Credibility

Good leaders build smart strategies, but influence and transformation aren't born from spreadsheets and flowcharts. To win hearts and minds, great leaders get buy in by painting a picture of their vision and taking others along on the ride.


Closing Deals

Stories are memorable and more motivating than data (the data, ironically, tells us that). Good storytelling helps win client interactions, sales calls, pitch presentations, and job interviews.

Nailing Your "Why?"

Communicating the story of your "Why?”— the underlying purpose of your personal brand or your company's mission — is vital both for internal alignment and external engagement (it's why Simon Sinek's "Start With Why" TED Talk has 12 million views).

Amplifying a Lifelong Skill

Gain the benefits of storytelling as a meta-skill: it doesn't just make you a better communicator, it elevates how you show up in every part of life.

What’s included

Larry Smith

Live sessions

Learn directly from Larry Smith in a real-time, interactive format.

Lifetime access

Go back to course content and recordings whenever you need to.

Community of peers

Stay accountable and share insights with like-minded professionals.

Certificate of completion

Share your new skills with your employer or on LinkedIn.

Maven Guarantee

This course is backed by the Maven Guarantee. Students are eligible for a full refund up until the halfway point of the course.

Course syllabus

Week 1

Oct 16

    Why Storytelling Works

    0 items

    Frameworks, Stakes, and Elevators

    0 items

    AI: Using the Tool While Keeping An Authentic Voice

    0 items

    Your "Why": Express Your “Why” and Aligning it to Business Outcomes

    0 items

    Presence is Power: Delivery and Adaptability for Different Audiences

    0 items

    BONUS: Six-Word Stories at Work for Mission Focus and Team Connection

    1 item

    Oct

    16

    Storytelling for Influence, Culture, Conversion, and Impact

    Thu 10/167:00 PM—8:30 PM (UTC)

Testimonials & Good Words

        In our offsite workshop, Larry’s smart and accessible approach to storytelling had my team buzzing, laughing, and bonded.
Allison Dew

Allison Dew

Chief Marketing Office, Dell
        Larry Smith’s storytelling workshops are a bit of magic: fun, interesting, and above all useful in helping people become better sellers and communicators.
Gary Belsky

Gary Belsky

CEO, Elland Road Partners, former Editor-in-Chief, ESPN Magazine
        Larry is a storytelling whisperer. He can help anyone get the heart of their value proposition whether in a speech, all-hands meeting, or pitch deck. As a presenter and facilitator, he thrives — bringing energy, presence, and an inspired sense of purpose to all.
Ha Nguyen

Ha Nguyen

Founder and Managing Partner, NextStep Advisory & Consulting
        Teams that are looking for a way to forget they are on Zoom should hire Larry to do a "Say It in Six" workshop. Larry led a session for our global team at Autodesk that was so much fun it kept our colleagues in Asia awake and happy at 4am their time.
Stephanie Losee

Stephanie Losee

Director, Executive Editor. Salesforce (formerly of Autodesk)
        Larry did a series of workshops for our employees to help our team members connect with their passion for the company. We were quickly oversubscribed for the available slots, and the workshops were a great success. Larry’s approach permeated our culture and engagement long after the workshops.
Kelly McGinnis

Kelly McGinnis

SVP & Chief Communications Officer, L
        We brought in Larry to run a Six-Word Memoir workshop for our team over Zoom during the pandemic. Larry was a pleasure to work with from the get go and was super flexible with the content and in customizing the session for our team. Larry is not just a storytelling expert but a truly engaging presenter and facilitator.
Cindy Toh

Cindy Toh

Director, Strategy and Operations, Communications, Dropbox

Meet your instructor

Larry Smith

Larry Smith

Larry Smith is the creator of the Six-Word Memoir phenomenon, bestselling author of twelve books, and a storytelling whisperer called "on a quest to unlock self-expression in everyone" by Oprah Magazine.


He has worked with teams at Levi’s, JPMorganChase, Snapchat, Dell, Dropbox, ESPN, and Nuveen, as well as nonprofits, foundations, philanthropies, and schools and coached thousands of people on the art of live storytelling and the essence of an elevator pitch.


Whether working with c-suite executives or middle school students, his professional and personal joy is helping people tell stories with clarity and heart.

Dell Technologies
Levi Strauss & Co.
Nuveen
Dropbox
ESPN
A pattern of wavy dots

Join an upcoming cohort

Storytelling for Influence and Impact

Cohort 1

$199

Dates

Oct 16, 2025

Payment Deadline

Oct 6, 2025
Get reimbursed

Learning is better with cohorts

Learning is better with cohorts

Active hands-on learning

This course builds on live workshops and hands-on projects

Interactive and project-based

You’ll be interacting with other learners through breakout rooms and project teams

Learn with a cohort of peers

Join a community of like-minded people who want to learn and grow alongside you

Frequently Asked Questions

A pattern of wavy dots

Join an upcoming cohort

Storytelling for Influence and Impact

Cohort 1

$199

Dates

Oct 16, 2025

Payment Deadline

Oct 6, 2025
Get reimbursed

$199

USD

1 Day