“To see oursels as ithers see us!” Robert Burns.
We were delighted to welcome English and Journalism student, Ella Paterson to the StrategyStory office – but what did she discover? Well, in true journalistic fashion she went undercover. Here she shares her story….
“Stepping into StrategyStory for a week of work experience, I expected to find a company that’s centred on supporting the communications and marketing of other businesses to have plenty of creative flair. However, entering the office that Monday morning, it became clear that StrategyStory was stepping far beyond the boundaries of a typical communications agency. Here, I was introduced to the way that storytelling could be used as a strategic art form, a use of the storytelling medium I had never seen before. Learning more, it was clear that businesses from all sectors can struggle with something that seems so simple – telling their own story. And even for a business that helps other organisations do this so successfully, telling your own story can often bring its own challenges.
Diving in…
My role for the week was to help tell StrategyStory’s own story through creating both visual and audio content. This immediately drew me to the role as the world of StrategyStory combined both the journalistic and creative sides of writing and producing content that I adore, music to my ears as an English and Journalism student! However, I faced the challenge of creating content that felt authentic to StrategyStory’s brand whilst remaining original and social-media-friendly in a sea of competitive content.
Working closely with Klem, StrategyStory’s Story Assistant, was a key part of my experience. She let me delve into her own projects, showing me work and visuals she had created for several businesses which gave me an idea of how to approach my own content.
This also gave me a deeper insight into the working and thinking behind StrategyStory from both a creative and strategic perspective. Through her guidance, I was pushed to think more critically about my approach to storytelling and her generosity and knowledge was crucial in supporting me throughout my experience.
My days were filled with everything from filming and editing content at the WASPS Creative Academy to producing audio files and even interviewing Kate herself. There was never a moment not to be learning and creating something new. Here, I had the opportunity to work with software such as Premiere Pro where I quickly picked up editing skills for both audio and visual content, integral to my degree and future portfolio. I also began to see how StrategyStory’s methods operate behind the scenes, from their SPA™ – simplify, personify, amplify – communications methodology to the way Kate connects with her clients through one to ones.
The business puts storytelling and connection the forefront of everything they do, and I knew I needed to apply this to the content I was producing.
The Power of Storytelling Takes Flight
As the week unfolded and I discovered more about StrategyStory, I wanted to understand why the power of storytelling is often overlooked amongst businesses. The most revealing insight came from a story Kate shared about a workshop she once led. The group themselves weren’t fully on board with the idea of storytelling in business, sceptical of its impact and place in a world driven by data and numbers. However, by the end of the workshop, Kate had the same people fully involved with the room buzzing with people working live and shaping their own business stories. This is where Kate’s mantra, ‘Stories Drive Action,’ truly blossoms.
I saw this dynamic first hand when I joined Kate for a workshop in Dumfries. The session was unexpectedly hands‑on as participants moved between stations, communicating in small groups and writing down ideas rather than turning to technology. The workshop was innovative in nature, just like the business of StrategyStory itself, and Kate connected with everyone in the room through her enthusiasm for both her own work and the purpose of the business itself.
My role was to gather and record the voices of those involved, editing live on the scene within a timeframe to create an audio file that would be played at the end of the workshop that captured the organisation’s message. The time restriction proved to be the biggest challenge of the day as I needed to create a draft that was impactful within only a handful of hours.
I wanted to reflect Kate’s own method of SPA™ in the audio file by simplifying the organisation’s overarching message and then personalising it through their voices with a final amplification of layering both the voices and music together. Having practiced within the office and with Kate’s on-hand support, I felt prepared.
However, the pressure was definitely on as the time element was still a challenge to navigate. I had also never used a Macbook before working at StrategyStory so editing with a new piece of software on a new piece of tech also proved to be a tricky combination! Hours of selecting and clipping audio later, I was able to present the final piece and watch the groups’ reactions.
It was amazing to have been involved in the process of creating the file, but the most rewarding part came from seeing the positive response to the audio file, making it one of the highlights of my week at StrategyStory.
The Reel Deal
For my final task I produced a reel for the end of the week that aimed to tell StrategyStory’s own message. I combined audio clips from my interviews with Kate alongside visual content, capturing clips from inside the office and my time working with both Kate and Klem.
For the final time, I used the SPA™ approach to blend together both the creative and strategic side of the business, harnessing all the new knowledge and skills I had gained from throughout the week. I wanted the reel to stand apart from the content I had typically seen online, which often leans heavily towards either a creative outlook or a strategic, more formal one. Instead, I aimed to showcase both, highlighting the fun, dynamic energy of the business through visuals while conveying its more thoughtful, purposeful approach to storytelling through carefully selected audio.
That’s a wrap! For now…
Working alongside The StrategyStory Team was an invaluable experience, providing me with new skills and insights to carry me forward as I continue my studies. They guided me through their processes, answered questions both big and small and gave me a glimpse into what my degree could lead to. Here, I left with a deeper understanding of how crucial storytelling is for communicating ideas.
My question at the beginning of the week of why businesses often struggled to express and tell their own story became clear by its end. Businesses often rely on data and numbers as a reflection of success due to its visual and tangible outcomes, the power of storytelling is often cast aside.
However, communication and connection can produce just as much, if not more success for businesses in the long term. And that, for me, is what makes StrategyStory different: its human-centred approach helps businesses find clarity, make meaningful connections and turn their story into action.
StrategyStory is a forward-thinking business in a world of rapidly changing technology, and I’m so grateful to have been part of such a creative and innovative team.”
What Story Is Your Business Telling?
If your organisation has a great strategy, powerful ideas or an important message – but you’re struggling to bring it all together into a story that people can understand, connect with and act on – StrategyStory can help.
Using our SPA™ – Simplify, Personify, Amplify – methodology, we help organisations find the story at the heart of their strategy and turn it into communication that drives action.
Ready to discover your StrategyStory? Book a conversation with Kate and find out what your story could do for your business.
