In this special Tech Summit episode of The Bridgecast, host Scott Kinka sits down with Neal Foard, principal of StoryFire and featured speaker at Bridgepointe's Tech Summit 2025 in Miami. From a daughter's baseball game cheer to boardroom presentations, Neal reveals how storytelling transforms technical leaders into trusted advisors. Whether you're preparing for budget meetings or building stakeholder relationships, this conversation offers practical frameworks for turning data into narratives that drive action and create lasting connections.

Want to learn more about how storytelling can transform your leadership approach and help you build stronger stakeholder relationships? Tune in to hear Neal's insights on turning technical expertise into compelling narratives that drive business results.

Neal Foard is the principal of StoryFire and a social media personality with over 30 years of experience helping global brands like Budweiser, Sony, Lexus and Toyota tell stories that inspire action, build loyalty and drive measurable results. He's held leadership roles at Saatchi & Saatchi, Wieden & Kennedy and Sarnoffsky, and now shares his expertise through StoryFire, teaching leaders how to turn ideas, data and experiences into compelling narratives that move teams, customers and stakeholders. Neal will be speaking at Bridgepointe's Tech Summit 2025 on October 20-23 in Miami.

Neal emphasizes that the first 30-60 seconds of any presentation represent "beachfront real estate"—the most valuable time you'll have with your audience. Instead of wasting time with pleasantries or disclaimers about speaking ability, technical leaders should prepare and rehearse their opening like Olympic swimmers. This preparation creates confidence that eliminates stage fright and establishes immediate credibility. For CIOs and IT directors suddenly thrust into C-suite presentations, this tactical approach provides a foundation for success in high-stakes meetings where budget approvals and strategic initiatives hang in the balance.

For 50,000 years, humans have communicated through stories around campfires, making narrative the brain's preferred method for processing and retaining information. When technical leaders present 12 bullet points on a slide, audiences forget everything because the hippocampus discards information that isn't presented in story form. However, everyone can remember classic stories because narrative structure creates lasting memory. This insight transforms how IT professionals should approach presentations, turning technical specifications into compelling stories that stakeholders actually remember and act upon.

Neal explains that mastering video communication requires accepting initial discomfort and committing to practice. The key breakthrough moment comes when you can watch yourself back without cringing—"that day, you turn pro." Getting comfortable with video means you can reach people emotionally, creating connections that lead to business results. Since people make decisions emotionally and rationalize them logically afterward, video tools like Zoom calls and presentations become powerful instruments for building trust and influence that separate you from competitors.

The biggest mistake in business storytelling is making yourself the hero of your own stories. When you do this, audiences either don't believe you or become jealous and hope for your downfall. Instead, position someone else as the hero while you serve as the narrator expressing admiration or sharing lessons learned. This approach puts you alongside your audience as a friend experiencing the story together, making the lessons more relatable and the emotional connection stronger.

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