My First WICT Workshop: Lessons in the Power of Storytelling

When I saw the raffle email pop into my inbox — “Enter to win a spot at the Lead with Influence: The Power of Business Storytelling workshop” — I knew I had to sign up. A few days later, I got the news: I had actually won! I was thrilled! This would be my very first WICT event since joining Comcast, and I couldn’t wait.

The workshop was held in a beautiful WeWork space. From the moment I walked in, the WICT volunteers greeted us with warm smiles that immediately put me at ease. I found my seat, chatted with a few people nearby, and felt the buzz of anticipation in the room.

Guiding us that day was Luci Rainey, an experienced executive who brought her passion for storytelling into every moment of the workshop. She was full of energy and ready to get us started. She opened by asking what each of us hoped to take away from the session. Words started to flow into the room - courage, concise, buy-in, thinking on your feet… the list grew quickly. Luci promised we’d touch on all of it, and she wasn’t kidding.

What struck me most were the little moments of clarity sprinkled throughout the day.

Less is More  At one point, Luci challenged us to explain what we do in six words. Six words! I realized my usual answer runs on for a few sentences at least. It made me laugh, but it also made me think — how often do we lose people because we can’t get to the heart of what we do quickly enough?

Name it or Frame it  Another powerful example came from Luci’s story about Aflac. The company had a recognition problem: people knew the name but didn’t know what Aflac did. One executive summed it up perfectly in a simple line: “Aflac is well known but not known well.” That phrase cut right to the core of the problem and shifted the company’s entire marketing approach. It made me reflect on how I frame problems — am I making them clear and memorable, or burying them under too many details?

Facts Fade, Stories Stay  We also practiced telling stories of our own. At first it felt casual, almost like an icebreaker, but then I noticed something: people leaned in when someone told a story. I can still remember a few of them days later, which says a lot. Slides and statistics fade, but a story sticks with you.

The Question That Changes Everything  And then came the reminder about pitching ideas. It’s easy to get caught up polishing a deck or adding more slides. But Luci emphasized that it’s not about the slides at all — it’s about the story you’re telling and the ask you make at the end. She warned us about the moment that can derail a pitch: when an executive looks at you and asks, “So what do you want from me?” I know I never want to be unprepared for that question!

By the time we wrapped up, I felt like I’d been given not just tips, but a framework I could use — whether I’m sharing an idea, surfacing a problem, or making a pitch. More than that, I walked away with a new perspective: storytelling isn’t just a “soft skill.” It’s a leadership tool!

I’m grateful to Comcast for supporting opportunities like this, to the WICT volunteers for organizing such an engaging session, and to Luci Rainey for showing us what it looks like to truly lead with influence through storytelling. I left inspired, and I’m excited to keep practicing!