Influence 2023
50th Anniversary Celebration

Stories Unplugged: A Deep Dive Into Story Mechanics

Buckle up for an amazing and mind-blowing ride, as award-winning storyteller, Kelly Swanson, CSP, CPAE, takes us deep into the inner workings of story to find the technique behind its magic.

Using stories from our own NSA members, Kelly will unplug each one, take it apart, and look deep inside it to show you how and why it works. Learn why stories matter as much if not more than your data, along with how to find, craft, and tell stories with maximum persuasive power - on stage and off.

Not only will this be session PACKED with gold nugget story tips, there will be free take-home resources for everybody who attends this session, lots of door prizes, and a special way for those who attend to continue the conversation and get your questions answered throughout the convention.

No matter what stage you are in (or on) in this business, or how you use stories to influence, this session will power you up. Guaranteed. 

Stories have the profound ability to help you plant ideas into the minds of others. Stories turn your content into an experience. Stories are the bridge to making other people care about what you care about. And stories are the only thing that will make your audience like you, trust you, and believe you enough to follow you on the rest of your journey. They are not to be taken lightly.- Kelly Swanson, CSP, CPAE

kelly swanson headshot

Who is Kelly Swanson, CSP, CPAE?

Kelly Swanson, CSP, CPAE, is an award-winning storyteller, comedian, motivational speaker, Huffington Post Contributor, and cast member of The Fashion Hero television show. She is also author of Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale, The Land of If Only, The Story Formula, and The Gutsy Girls Pocket Guide to Public Speaking, and launching in 2024, The Persuasion Principle: Talk Less, Sell More. She was a featured entertainer for Holland America Cruise Lines, keynote speaker for the International Toastmasters Convention, and has keynoted major conferences and corporate events from coast to coast. She just launched her one-woman show Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale in theaters and it is being booked all over the country. In July of 2022 she was inducted into the National Speakers Association CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame.

Kelly’s wacky wit and powerful stories have charmed hearts and tickled funny bones for over 20 years. In addition to her role as a funny motivational speaker, Kelly teaches people how she does it by sharing what she has learned about connecting and engaging to have more influence in business, through the use of one tool – strategic storytelling. Sharing her own powerful journey through story and the formula she discovered, you come to that magical place where the art of story meets the business of persuasion.