Donna Griffit is a corporate storyteller and Communication Coach at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, where she works with students to improve their communication, executive presence, writing, storytelling, and pitching. For 30 years, Donna has worked with Fortune 500 companies, startups, and investors in 30 countries, helping them create, edit, and deliver powerful presentations. She is also the author of Sticking to My Story: The Alchemy of Storytelling for Startups.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- [3:12] Donna Griffit’s leap from working for a pet company to becoming an entrepreneur
- [7:33] The elements of corporate storytelling
- [16:31] Why you should embrace serendipitous moments
- [23:01] How to obtain additional business funding for women
- [29:05] Donna’s winning formula for crafting pitches
- [32:15] Advice for women to generate sales
In this episode...
While women entrepreneurs have received significantly more funding in recent years, less than 2% of all VC funding goes toward female founders. How can you amplify women’s voices to ensure they receive fair funding?
According to pitch and storytelling alchemist Donna Griffit, the key to capturing investors’ attention is a compelling pitch. Her four-acts formula is based on universal archetypes startups can leverage to simplify their pitches. It involves identifying the villain as the problem, the solution as the hero, the business plan as the hero’s course of action, and the vision for the future as the happy ending. This creates a well-structured pitch that positions you as an authority figure. Founders should also prepare lists of answers to potential investor questions.
In today’s episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston chats with Donna Griffit about crafting winning startup pitches. Donna shares why she embraces serendipitous moments, how to generate more sales, and the essential elements of corporate storytelling.
Resources Mentioned in this episode:
Quotable Moments:
- “I see life as a series of serendipitous signposts. Sometimes, in the moment of the greatest crisis lies opportunity.”
- “The real alchemy happens when you realize it’s not about you; it’s about them.”
- “The most important character in that story is the damn audience.”
- “Think like them wanting to buy. It’s about the audience, not about you.”
- “Find the best in yourself. Find it within you, front and center.”
Action Steps:
- Embrace the villain in your story: Understanding the “villain” or the problem your audience faces is crucial for crafting a compelling narrative. This approach helps you connect deeply with your audience by addressing the innate challenges they are eager to overcome, making your story more relatable and impactful.
- Adopt the four-act structure: Use Donna Griffit’s four-act framework — the problem, the solution, the business plan, and the vision for the future, to organize your storytelling. This structured approach ensures clarity and flow, making your message more coherent and persuasive.
- Know your audience intimately: Tailoring your story to reflect your audience’s needs and experiences allows them to see themselves in your narrative. This personalization transforms your storytelling from a self-focused pitch to a meaningful dialogue with the audience, enhancing engagement and impact.
- Cultivate authenticity in your narrative: Find your unique voice and style rather than mimicking others, as authenticity fosters trust and connection. This genuine approach helps create a memorable impression, allowing your story to resonate more deeply with your audience.
- Prepare for questions with a comprehensive Q&A strategy: Anticipate potential questions and prepare clear, concise responses to ensure you are ready for any inquiries from your audience or investors. This preparation demonstrates your expertise and confidence, addressing concerns while reinforcing your narrative’s credibility.
Sponsor for this episode…
This episode is brought to you by Artitudes Design by Andrea Heuston. Artitudes Design is an award-winning creative agency that has been creating visual communication for Fortune 500 companies for over 25 years. They have worked with notable companies such as Microsoft, Starbucks, Expedia, and have also served startups and nonprofit organizations.
They specialize in connecting speakers with audiences by creating visual value with presentations and through the creation of motion graphics, video, and content.
To learn more about Artitudes Design, visit their website today. Checkout their portfolio to see their previous projects, and contact them today to find out how they can help you bring your business a cut above the rest.