From Olympics to Organizations: The Impact of Storytelling in Business

Guest:Christian NapierFounder & CEO, Rakonto Inc. | Knowledge Management Advisor, International Olympic CommitteeLinkedInHost:Melissa AarskaugExecutive Connect | WebsiteYouTube: @ExecutiveConnectEpisode Overview:In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Christian Napier, a knowledge management expert whose storytelling work has spanned the Olympic Games and Fortune 500 boardrooms. Christian shares how storytelling can go beyond inspiration—it can transform how organizations learn, grow, and retain vital knowledge. He takes us behind the scenes of the Olympics, unpacks how to “scalably harvest contextual knowledge,” and explains why even a short story can influence hiring, culture, and leadership.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro to Christian and his Olympic journey03:15 – Why stories of behind-the-scenes heroes matter07:40 – Storytelling as a business tool: changing minds and building bridges12:05 – What is “contextual knowledge,” and why should you care?16:30 – How leaders can mine insights from employees at every level21:10 – LinkedIn and micro-stories: small actions, big ripples25:00 – Capturing personal stories before they’re lostConnect With Us:Podcast Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnectSocial:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug/Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissa_aarskaugX: https://x.com/melissaaarskaug

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This is the Executive Connect Podcast - a show for the new generation of leaders. Join us as we discover unconventional leadership strategies not traditionally associated with executive roles. Our guests include upper-level C-Suite executives charting new ways to grow their organizations, successful entrepreneurs changing the way the world does business, and experts and thought leaders from fields outside of Corporate America that can bring new insights into leadership, prosperity, and personal growth - all while connecting on a human level. No one has all the answers - but by building a community of open-minded and engaged leaders we hope to give you the tools you need to help you find your own path to success.