Back to Story I

Create Business Value. Put Story to Work.

Thursday, October 15, 2026

8 AM - 1:30 PM

Back to Story I invites founders, CEOs, Sales Directors, CMOs and executive leaders of growing businesses with a story to tell to set aside tech and explore their company stories as value creation.

Expect:

• Leaders walk in, storytellers walk out

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

• Real-Time Story Talks where guests share stories with peers

• Back to Story Playbook delivered to your inbox with templates, frameworks and executable next steps from each Real-Time Talk

• The “One Long Table” for lunch with seating chart. Smashing lunch meets great stories.

• A Back to Story I gift with plenty of surprises and story tools

The Agenda

8:00 Registration and light breakfast

8:30 Welcome

8:45 Sasha Papazafeiropoulos, The Unexpected Power of a Placemat: Setting the Story Table in Business

9:15 Hello from the Back to Story I team

9:20-10:20 SESSION I: We Are the Authors (choose one)

Real-Time Story Talk 01:

From Stage to Company Conference Room:
What Story Do You Tell? (Jason)

Real-Time Story Talk 02

The Story of Transformation: Why Your Greatest Failure
May Be the Story You Want to Tell

10:20-10:30 BREAK

10:30-11:30 SESSION II: Legacy’s First Draft (choose one)

Real-Time Story Talk 03

The CEO's role in amplifying a Company Story: When the
CEO Posts, Brands Make New Friends

Real-Time Story Talk 04

Authority and Emotion: Building a Unified Story for
Sales and Marketing to Cultivate Customer Trust

11:30-11:40: Story Inspiration

11:40-12:40: “The Long Table” Lunch (assigned seating)

12:40-1:10: Increasing Valuation Through a Compelling Story: Does Giving Meaning to the Numbers Command a Higher Price? (moderated Interview by Roderick Kelly)

1:15-1:30: One Final Question