Storytelling Keynotes

Story: It’s the invisible force behind every new product and service. Michael Margolis, Storied’s Founder and CEO, is a master of story. In his provocative, original keynotes, you’ll discover a new way to communicate disruptive ideas and create buy-in for transformation.

Story 10x: From the Impossible to the Inevitable

If you want to disrupt, inspire, and persuade—go beyond the data. You need a story. You can’t ask your team to invest in a vision or a strategy they don’t fully understand—especially when you’re challenging the status quo. Things are moving so fast, people don’t know what story they are in anymore. Getting clear on the narrative is how you navigate hypergrowth, change, and transformation. Michael Margolis, a top storytelling expert and advisor to Facebook, Google, and Uber will share his breakthrough storytelling framework for communicating disruptive ideas.

Great Leaders are Great Storytellers

Become the leader everyone is waiting for you to be. Most people think of storytelling as “once upon” fairy tales or how to tell a better anecdote. In reality, narrative is a leadership mindset and capability — how to sell the future, humanize complex issues, and increase perceived value, often in the face of uncertainty. Michael will teach you how to inspire and influence across all levels of your organization, and increase your ability to deliver on the promise of business transformation.

Behind Every Product is a Story

People don’t buy your product or service, they buy the story that’s attached to it. Every great marketer and salesperson understands this secret. You can’t start with the data — the story will be dead on arrival. Instead, you need to demystify and humanize what are often complex, technical business solutions. With context and emotion. That’s the power of great storytelling. Especially if your product is disruptive and challenges existing norms or habits. Michael Margolis, a top storytelling expert and advisor to Facebook, Google, and Uber will share his breakthrough storytelling model for marketers and sales teams.

Past Engagements

Meet Michael Margolis

Michael Margolis is the CEO and founder of Storied, a strategic messaging firm specializing in the story of innovation and disruption. As a trusted advisor, Michael helps executives to demystify the complex and deliver on the promise of transformation.

Michael operates anywhere there is a story worth telling, especially in Silicon Valley, Fortune 500s, and global change. Michael is a frequent keynote speaker at top conferences around the world. He’s trained tens of thousands on narrative intelligence and how to build storytelling as an organizational capability.

Michael partners with c-suite executives, along with heads of product, design, marketing, community, and human resources. Since 2002, he’s advised clients across 34 industries and 15 countries—including Facebook, Google, Hulu, Greenpeace, and NASA.

Michael is a two-time TEDx speaker, #1 Amazon bestselling author, and has more than 200,000 followers on Twitter. His work has been prominently featured in Fast Company, TIME, and Inc. magazines. Michael is left-handed, color blind, and eats more chocolate than the average human. Michael’s latest book, Story 10x: Turn the Impossible Into the Inevitable, is now available.

What Makes Our Keynotes Different

Increase Your Velocity

When going through disruption, it’s hard for people to know what story they’re in anymore. Our keynotes provide meaning and inspiration for how to communicate high-velocity change and transformation.

Demystify the Complex

Every keynote is customized to your unique audience and business needs. With deep expertise in Silicon Valley, Michael has extensive experience gaining the confidence of highly technical and analytical cultures.

Iconic Uses Cases

Michael has advised heads of product, design, and marketing at iconic organizations that are constantly pushing the envelope, including Facebook, Google, Uber, Slack, Hulu, and NASA.

Unique Back Story

The son of an inventor and artist, Michael’s unusual childhood serves as a touchstone for every audience member to claim the power of their origin story. Michael also shares his insights from travels around the world for 500 days as a nomad, living out of two carry-on bags.

Narrative Intelligence

Storytelling is the most important skill of the future. Michael frames its strategic business relevance, the new demands of leadership, and how to communicate about the existential challenges of our time.

The Willy Wonka Effect

As a chocolate connoisseur, Michael’s keynotes usually include sampling some of the world’s most rare, exotic, craft chocolate, as an unforgettable exercise in storytelling and yum.

"Michael was one of the top-rated keynotes at our conference! He made a big impression with our audience and got rave reviews for his Masterclass and panel discussion. He has a provocative message that really resonated with the product managers, design thinkers, and digital innovators who attend our events."

Andre Marquet

CEO

"Michael crushed it today! Impeccable job. Really really well done and appreciate the partnership as there will be more to come."

Brad Kirkpatrick

Chief Client Officer, Central/West, National Accounts

"Michael was an absolute hit at CMX Summit, getting the highest ratings amongst 40 speakers. Full of storytelling, specific advice and models our attendees could apply immediately. The kind of keynote conference organizers dream about."

David Spinks

CEO and Founder

"Storied’s keynote was electrifying and original. You got us laughing, crying, and inspired to lead change. Plus a top-rated workshop with real-world practicality."

Carla Johnson

Conference Co-Chair, Masters of B2B Marketing

Book Michael Today

Interested in having Michael speak at your next event, conference, or leadership offsite?
We’d love to learn more.