<p>Whoever controls the narrative holds the power to influence others. But for female founders, storytelling isn&#39;t just about marketing — it&#39;s a leadership tool that can reshape how you&#39;re seen, heard, and followed.</p><p>In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, I talk with Jennifer Cloer, founder of Story Changes Culture and creator of the Chasing Grace Project, about why storytelling is a leadership imperative that requires embracing tension, emotion, and your own lived experience. </p><p>Jennifer explains how her decade at the Linux Foundation taught her the anatomy of a great story, why &quot;narrative power is cultural power,&quot; and what it takes to architect an origin story that connects with investors, teams, and customers.</p><p>This episode is for female founders, women in tech, startup leaders, and entrepreneurs who want to understand how to use their personal stories to lead, influence, and drive real business growth.</p><p><strong>What you&#39;ll learn in this episode:</strong></p><ul><li>Why narrative power is cultural power, and why whoever tells the story holds influence</li><li>How to architect your founder origin story (characters, tension, stakes, and resolution)</li><li>Why humans don&#39;t change behavior unless emotionally triggered, and what that means for leadership</li><li>The &quot;dreams and nightmares&quot; framework for understanding what your audience truly wants and fears</li><li>Why the personal is the professional, and how your lived experience is your most powerful asset</li><li>What &quot;agency&quot; in storytelling means and why stories fall flat without it</li><li>How the Chasing Grace Project became &quot;rocket fuel&quot; for women in tech to ask for raises and leave toxic jobs</li></ul><p><strong>Chapters: </strong></p><p>00:00 Introduction</p><p>02:07 The Birth of Story Changes Culture</p><p>07:20 The Chasing Grace Project: Empowering Women Through Storytelling</p><p>12:13 The Importance of Storytelling in Leadership</p><p>18:51 Authenticity in Storytelling: Balancing Personal and Professional</p><p>21:13 Embracing Emotion in Storytelling</p><p>21:23 Harnessing Tension in Storytelling</p><p>22:56 Filling the Gap: Story Changes Culture Masterclass</p><p>25:39 Elements of a Compelling Story</p><p>28:42 Overcoming Skepticism in Art and Storytelling</p><p>31:26 The Role of Agency in Storytelling</p><p>32:59 Choosing the Right Perspective</p><p>35:33 Underused Storytelling Elements for Women Founders</p><p><strong>Connect with Jennifer Cloer and Story Changes Culture</strong></p><p>Jennifer Cloer on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifercloer/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifercloer/</a></p><p>Personal Website: <a href="https://www.jennifercloer.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.jennifercloer.com/</a></p><p>Story Changes Culture website: <a href="https://www.storychangesculture.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.storychangesculture.com/</a></p><p>Story Changes Culture on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/storychangesculture/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.linkedin.com/company/storychangesculture/</a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/story_changesculture/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/story_changesculture/</a></p><p>Substack: <a href="https://storychangesculture.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://storychangesculture.substack.com/</a></p><p><strong>More about Women Disrupting Tech</strong></p><p>The full show notes on the website: <a href="https://womendisruptingtech.blog/2026/04/09/episode-147/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://womendisruptingtech.blog/2026/04/09/episode-147/</a></p><p>Our Substack Newsletter: <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/womendisruptingtech/p/episode-147?r=2v0lts&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://open.substack.com/pub/womendisruptingtech/p/episode-147</a></p><p>🎧 Listen to Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.</p><p> 👉 Subscribe for more conversations with women building the future of tech through storytelling and leadership.</p>