How Sharing Stories Can Build Rapport in Unpredictable Situations

02/19/25 • 27 min

It’s the end of 2002 and I am fully immersed in the world of technology, running a bicoastal tech event. Over lunch with a new connection, we start unraveling a really wild idea - what if we were to build a software application using technology that has never been combined before? Just for fun, we scribble our ideas onto a napkin.

A few days later, something truly incredible happens. We get invited to build this software for the TED Conference. I think to myself, This is way out of my league. We have no team. No roadmap. Just a napkin. And only eight weeks to somehow make this happen.

However, the chance to create something that the world has never seen before is way too thrilling to ignore, so within a weekend, we pull together a team from all over the U.S. and Canada. Eight weeks go by, and we barely sleep. There are moments where I wonder, Is this a huge mistake? Day after day, though, fueled by adrenaline and sheer audacity, we keep pushing forward.

When TED arrives, we hold our breath as we unveil our creation. Guess what? Not only does it work, but people engage with the software in ways we never even imagined. In that moment – watching as people interact and seeing our vision come to life – it truly hits me that we did it. And that moment changes everything.

As it turns out, a little innovation and audacity can rewrite the rules in a life-altering way. Someone who knows all about that is today's guest, Gina Osborn. After nearly three decades in law enforcement chasing Cold War spies, foiling terrorist plots, and tracking down cybercriminals, this is just another day on the job for her. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about the best way to build rapport, whether the glass ceiling is just a state of mind, and the consequences of choosing a hill to die on. You’ll also get answers to questions like:

How do real-life experiences shape the way we tell and also interpret stories? How can unexpected challenges or turning points redefine the course of a story - or of a life? And how do you get wary people to trust you?

What you will learn in this episode:

How being innovative and audacious can lead to unexpected success
How role models can help shape our beliefs about what’s possible
How careers can be redefined by both adversity and opportunities
The importance of collaboration and persistence when taking on a challenge
Why preparation and resilience are important in any career - especially a dangerous one

Who is Gina? Gina Osborn spent 28 years in law enforcement where she took on espionage, terrorism, and cybercrime. Initially beginning her career in 1986 as a Counterintelligence Special Agent in the U.S. Army handling high-profile Cold War espionage cases in Europe, she transitioned in 1996 by joining the FBI, where she investigated Asian Organized Crime, supervised counterterrorism operations in Southeast Asia, and led major cybercrime cases.

After her retirement in 2018, Gina became a sought-after keynote speaker, using her real-life experiences to educate and inspire audiences. She is also the host of the upcoming podcast Making Maverick Moves which will feature trailblazers who challenge norms and redefine success!

Links and Resources

What you will learn in this episode:

How being innovative and audacious can lead to unexpected success
How role models can help shape our beliefs about what’s possible
How careers can be redefined by both adversity and opportunities
The importance of collaboration and persistence when taking on a challenge
Why preparation and resilience are important in any career - especially a dangerous one

Links and Resources

Previous Episode

How Naming Your Year Can Change Your Life Story

It's 2014. As the year draws to a close, all of my friends come up with their New Year’s resolutions, ranging from dropping bad habits to losing weight. But while I create my list of resolutions on the eve of the new year, I realize it isn’t going to work.

Sure, I write them out every year with the best intentions in mind, but I forget some of them by February and even blow by others in January. At the end of the year, when reflecting back, it’s the goals I haven’t reached that make me feel like I’m failing.

Walking on the beach that morning with my matcha latte, I wonder, “What if there were a new way to set intentions for the year ahead? What if those intentions actually made a significant difference in our lives?”

Then it hits me. Instead of doing the usual thing, I’m going to give the upcoming year a short, memorable, spicy name. I’m going to name my year based on who I want to become, not who I am today.

No more lists, no more forgetting, no more failing. I will live into what I’ve named my year with every decision I make and every action I take.

What happens as a result? Everything. Outcomes change based on what I name my year, and it has such a profound effect on me that I start teaching others to do it and have incredible transformations of their own.

Now it’s your turn! In this short but very special episode, I talk about changing your year (and your life) with one, simple word or phrase and demonstrate why it works better than your typical New Year’s resolution.

What you will learn in this episode:

How to create a new story of yourself and your life by naming your year
Why you shouldn’t keep this new story of yours a secret from others
How to check in daily to ensure your story stays on track throughout the year

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

Next Episode

How Storytelling Can Unlock Opportunities and Shape Reality

I’m running a high-stakes speaking event and, as I always do, I have everyone share their name and something interesting that may not be on their bio. We go around, one by one, with people sharing surprising facts and fun stories. The energy is light and full of laughter. Until we get to the last person who says, “Hi. I'm Sandy Zabarsky, and I just got out of prison.”

The whole room goes silent, and you can hear a pin drop. All eyes are on her, and for a split second, you can almost see the assumptions kicking in.

Is she really just out of prison?

Did I even hear that right?

She continues and says, “I've been an educator for most of my career. I’ve worked in the juvenile justice system, and I recently retired. So yes, I’ve been in prison, so to speak, for almost my entire career.”

In an instant, the meaning of her words changes completely. The tension in the room releases and transforms. Sandy Zabarsky, also known as my mom, knew that education could change the trajectory of a life by rewriting their story. She helped these kids earn their GEDs because that piece of paper could mean the difference between repeating the cycle or stepping into something new, giving them options and opportunities they might not have had otherwise.

When we look at storytelling it isn’t just about entertainment or children’s books; it’s how we shape reality, and no one knows that better than my special guest today. Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE is a globally recognized education leader, known for his innovative approach to children's learning. Having held key roles at KidZania and the Children’s University, he also serves as a professor and advisor to various global education organizations. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about why storytelling is so important in education, what common misconceptions exist about new technology, and so much more. We’ll also answer questions such as: How does storytelling impact learning? What are some hidden narratives in education that actually shape decisions and opportunities? How could storytelling be integrated into school curriculums? How can we change our mindset to embrace change instead of resisting it? What you will learn in this episode:

The power of perspective and how a dramatic introduction can immediately shift perceptions
How stories make learning more meaningful than rote memorization
The value of personal narratives and how everyone, younger and older, has valuable stories to share
How storytelling helps us process emotions and connect with others

Who is Dr. Graus? Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE is a globally recognized leader in education, known for his unique and innovative approach to children's learning. He was the first Global Director of Education at KidZania and the founding C.E.O. of the Children’s University, advocating for equity, creativity, and progress in education. He currently serves as a Visiting Professor at the National Research University in Moscow, a Professor of Practice at the University of Cumbria, and a PhD Advisory Council member at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. He holds advisory roles with various global education organizations, including Bett’s Global Education Council and Dubai Future Councils, and he has received multiple accolades, including an OBE in 2014 and the Global Education Leadership Award in 2018. His professional autobiography, Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education, is set for publication in 2025 via Routledge.

Links and Resources