Thursday, October 15, 2026

8:00 AM - 1:30 PM

The Poppy Estate (formerly Company 251`)

251 S River St, Aurora, IL 60506

As a leader, you are charged with carrying your company’s story forward.

Back to Story is for founders, CEOs, sales and marketing directors and senior leaders to set aside tech and explore their company stories as value creation.

It’s easy to drift from your company’s story, to look out there, where the world moves fast, for your company’s narrative. Yet, a leader is the first carrier of that story. How else can your team own it, believe it, share it?

In reality, a company’s story is often told through the lens of its salespeople. Sales and marketing can sometimes be more adversaries than partners so salespeople figure it out. The pressure to perform is immense.

The results: A brand becomes harder to remember, the company less valued.

Successful companies share a united story. Red Bull, Loopy Cases, Illinois Tool Works are great examples. Story drives decisions. We would guess if you asked people at these places why the company exists, they would know the answer.

These companies are creating value by putting their story to work. So can you. Welcome to the only executive story summit for remarkable leaders from companies with a story to tell.

In fact, you are the storyteller. Tables and chairs, not theater-style seating, create an intimate space for big conversations, both rare and discreet. A limited number of seats allow honest discussions among peers.

Sometimes, stories we think are not worthy come alive when seen through the eyes of others. Creating value from your story is a bridge to changing the world for customers, employees, industry partners and the community you live in.

Time to get back to story.

Agenda

Once upon a time begins here . . .

Registration and light breakfast                                                              8 - 8:30
Welcome                                                                                                   8:30
Sasha Papazafeiropoulos, The Unexpected                                               8:45
Power of a Placemat: Setting the Story Table in Business
SESSION I: We Are the Authors (choose one session day of)                     9:20 - 10:20
Story Talk 01: From Trade Shows to Conference Room: What Story 
Is Your Physical Space Telling?
Story Talk 02: Putting Your Most Unexpected Transformation Story to Work

SESSION II: Legacy’s First Draft (choose one talk day of)                          10:30-11:30
Story Talk 03; When the CEO Posts, Brands Make New Friends 
Story Talk 04: Authority and Emotion: Building a Unified Story for                          Sales and Marketing for Deep Customer Trust  
Story Micro-Inspiration                                                                               11:30-11:40
The Long Table Lunch                                                                                  11:40-12:40
Panel Discussion: Increasing Valuation Through a Compelling Story:          12:40-1:10
Does Giving Meaning to the Numbers Command a Higher Value?
One Final Question                                                                                        1:15-1:30

$125/person Now Through October 1st Rates Change to $150/person

Register

Back to Story is generously made possible by The Poppy Estate, a luxury event venue bringing remarkable stories to life.

Leaders Walk In,
Storytellers Walk Out

Expect:

  • Story Talks where guests learn from expert storytellers and share stories with peers.

  • The official brand launch and keynote by Sasha Papazafeiropoulos, founder of The Poppy Estate, a historic space where Back to Story takes place

  • Back to Story Playbook emailed with templates, frameworks and executable next steps from all four Story Talks

  • Luxury lunch and story sharing at the Long Table Lunch™, served family style, with seating chart.

  • A special Back to Story gift

“One Story Unites”

The theme for Back to Story I is One Story Unites, with a focus on building community under a united story, aligning your team, building trust with customers, streamlining decisions and making your brand memorable.

Back to Story is a production of K+L Storytellers, a story design company for bold, rebel brands.

“No other company in the entire world has your story. It is both beautiful and broken. Own it. Take pride in it. Struggle with it. Share it everywhere. People will trust you when they know your story.”

-Michele Kelly
Italian Mother of Three, published author
and cofounder of K+L Storytellers

Back to Story Team