In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan speak with Gabrielle Dolan—one of the world’s leading authorities on business storytelling, keynote speaker, and author of nine books including her newest release, Story Intelligence: The Craft of Authentic Storytelling Made Smarter with AI.
Gabrielle shares the pivotal “sliding door” moment that transformed her career—from a 17-year tenure at National Australia Bank to launching her own storytelling practice long before it became a buzzword. Through humor and insight, she reflects on two decades of helping leaders move from folded arms to open minds when it comes to storytelling—and how AI is reshaping that conversation today.
In Story Intelligence, Gabrielle explores how we can harness AI as a creative collaborator without losing the human heart of storytelling. She shares an experiment comparing AI-generated stories to human ones, revealing that while AI delivers clarity, it lacks authenticity—the emotional resonance that connects people.
You’ll Hear:

The Power of Rejection – How a missed promotion became the spark that launched a global storytelling career
From Trend to Transformation – What’s changed in 20 years of helping leaders tell stories that stick
When AI “Almost” Gets It Right – What Gabrielle learned from testing human vs. AI-generated stories
Authenticity as the X-Factor – Why audiences can sense when a story isn’t truly lived or felt
Story Intelligence Defined – A new framework for using authentic stories to connect, engage, and inspire
Whether you’re a leader curious about how to balance technology with truth, or a communicator looking to tell more human stories in a digital age, this conversation reminds us that the future of storytelling isn’t artificial—it’s deeply, powerfully human.
Resources

Website: gabrielledolan.com
Free Storytelling Starter Kit: gabrielledolan.com/starterkit
Books: gabrielledolan.com/books
LinkedIn: Gabrielle Dolan
Instagram: @gabrielledolan.1
YouTube: Gabrielle Dolan Consulting
Podcast: Keeping

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