Become great at storytelling
Online course
By Miri Rodriguez,
Head of Global Internship Program @ Microsoft Corporation
Course length: 1h 16min
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A distinctive brand story helps define and successfully communicate unique personal and business attributes.
Storytelling has become a powerful business tool in today’s digital age because it begins and ends with empathy, driving an immersive and emotional experience for stakeholders and audiences that inspires them to action.
In this insightful and heartfelt course, Miri leverages excerpts from her book Brand Storytelling to help you become a skilled storyteller so that you can successfully keep relevant in the marketplace, drive engaging relationships and win in business and in life.
Introduction video (1 minute)
Learn the five steps of design thinking as a model to plan, design and launch stories. In this tried and true method, students will be able to practically submit their brand stories through the empathize, identify, ideate, prototype and test phases, understanding each step for storytelling success.
Skills you will master
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After taking this course you’ll…
- Learn what is brand storytelling…and what is not – Gain a clear definition of storytelling as a connection tool for user-centered experience
- Understand Design Thinking – Learn about this powerful problem-solving framework that puts people at the center of design solutions
- Craft your story with empathy and Design Thinking Principles – Take your story through the five steps of design thinking and learn to prototype stories
- Understand the three levels of empathy for business results – Embracing empathy as a business innovation tool in today’s digital market
- Leverage visual elements in storytelling – the power of color, typography, photo, video and digital assets to take storytelling to the next level
Miri Rodriguez
Head of Global Internship Program @ Microsoft Corporation
Miri Rodriguez is a globally recognized Storyteller, Head of Global Internship Program at Microsoft and author of Brand Storytelling. She is a creative journalist and content strategist, evangelizing brand narrative and showcasing how thought leaders can leverage storytelling techniques for culture activation and influence in the digital age.
Miri has earned several awards in digital marketing and customer experience and is ranked as top in-demand speaker at leading industry conferences around the world. Miri brings 15+ years of expertise, valuable industry and consulting insights matched with a lighthearted and connected delivery approach.
Your course curriculum
Storytelling
1 What is—and what is not—storytelling
Understanding the power of story and dispelling ideas of what it is not
Topics covered:
- Learn the elements, structure and attributes of story
- Define the story arc (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution)
- Understand the 8 basic structures of storytelling
2 Introduction to Design Thinking for storytelling
Leveraging design thinking to prototype stories
Topics covered:
- Understand the Design Thinking steps
- Understand how to submit stories through the Design Thinking model
- Begin to conceptualize empathize, define and ideate phases
3 Step one: Empathize
Becoming an empath to tell effective stories
Topics covered:
- Empathy is a skill set
- Learn the 3 levels of empathy: cognitive, emotional, compassionate
- Finding your story's universal truth
4 Step two: Defining
The importance of defining the story mission, character, plot and conclusion for a successful story
Topics covered:
- Creating a story mission
- Defining the story characters
- Creating a story outline
5 Step three: Ideating
Ideation is about taking your story arc and giving it intersectionality (several layers from several angles)
Topics covered:
- Ideation as a great tool to tell stories
- Brainstorming sessions and ideas
- Using the SCAMPER brainstorming tool
6 Step four: Prototype
Creating low cost, low effort story concepts
Topics covered:
- Learning to create story concepts
- Prototyping story lines
- Identifying the best prototypes by using the Napkin Pitch model
7 Step five: Test
Learn to benchmark your storytelling
Topics covered:
- Success indicators in storytelling
- How to fail with a story
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Learn Storytelling: FAQ
What will you learn in this course?
After taking this course, you will:
- Learn what is brand storytelling, and what it isn’t – Gain a clear definition of storytelling as a connection tool for user-centered experience
- Understand Design Thinking – Learn about this powerful problem-solving framework that puts people at the center of design solutions
- Craft your story with empathy and Design Thinking Principles – Take your story through the five steps of design thinking and learn to prototype stories
- Understand the three levels of empathy for business results – Embracing empathy as a business innovation tool in today’s digital market
- Leverage visual elements in storytelling – the power of color, typography, photo, video and digital assets to take storytelling to the next level
What does the course include?
Our Storytelling training includes 8 lessons, 16 downloadable resources, 1h 16min of video material, several assignments, and a final exam.
Are subtitles available for the lessons?
Lessons have English subtitles and transcriptions available.
Will I receive a certificate of completion?
After taking this course, you will receive the Storytelling Certification from CXL, with credentials that you can add to your LinkedIn profile.
What is the refund policy?
All plans come with a 7-day refund period .
How long will it take for me to finish it?
This is entirely up to you – it’s how many study hours per week you can put in. This course is 1h 16min long.