The Power of Storytelling in Business | with Steven Puri - Episode 60

The Power of Storytelling in Business | with Steven Puri - Episode 60

Author: Bill August 29, 2025 Duration: 44:19
In this conversation, the Bill and Steven delve into the nuances of effective communication, particularly in the context of pitching ideas and building relationships in both the technology and film industries. They explore the importance of understanding one's audience, the art of storytelling, and the necessity of networking. The discussion highlights how to empower others by making them the heroes of their own narratives, ultimately leading to successful collaborations and outcomes. I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast Team

Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/
Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 %
Better on these podcast platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

Hosted by Bill, 40% Better-Engineering Leadership is a conversation for those who build and guide technical teams. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a practical dialogue focused on the tangible mechanics of morale, motivation, and output. Each episode features a single expert in employee engagement, and together we dissect the specific strategies that lead to measurable leaps in performance. You'll hear detailed explorations into what actually moves the needle for engineers and their managers, translating research and experience into actionable leadership techniques. The goal is straightforward: to provide the insights that can help your team operate at a significantly higher level of effectiveness and satisfaction. Tune in for a focused, deep-dive podcast that cuts through the noise of generic management advice, offering concrete ideas you can apply directly to the unique challenges of engineering leadership.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

40% Better - Engineering Leadership
Podcast Episodes
Do Hard Things - episode 52 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:25
Accept the inevitable - success requiers hard work.When you accept this, life gets way easier.Fighting against hard work - makes things harder.....
Mistakes are Required - Episode 51 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:07
The inspector gave me a list of 6 things to fix. Only one was easy. Every issue was solvable. And each one would take time and effort. It wasn't what I wanted, it was what I got. And it taught me a lot!
Success Metrics - Episode 50 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:34
Car racing, surfing Pipeline, 70 ft free dives, and beating software release predictions. These activities are all built on a stack of small success metrics. Having deliberate and sufficiently detailed metrics lets us ta…
3 Mental Models and 1 Lie - Episode 49 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:51
These mental models (beliefs) were taught to me well before my first leadership role. And the lie was one I started leading with - but dumped in a few months
Being Lucky - Episode 48 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:19
I've been outrageously lucky in this life. And looking back, there's a consistent pattern for how I made luck my friend.Initiative + Optimism -> LuckClover thanks to: Umberto Salvagnin, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Steven Puri and Sukha - Episode 47 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:39
Software engineer to Hollywood powerhouse and back to software.Raised $21M to fund startups and was a senior executive in Hollywood studios. Independence Day, Transformers 1/2, Star Trek, Eagle Eye, Wolverine, etc - all…
Jeff Hancher - Episode 46 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:40
Jeff's journey began as a child growing up in southwestern Pennsylvania.After serving in the United States Army, Jeff began a career as a blue-collar worker at a large corporation.Since that start, he was promoted 10 tim…
Imposter Syndrome- Episode 45 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:36
Oh boy, have I heard stories!!Team leads and managers who were sure any day they'd be discovered as frauds. And yes, I've been that person. Convinced that my team's performance was amazingly lucky hires. And in hindsight…
Above Your Pay Grade - NOT!! Episode 44 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:38
People regularly tell me some version of "that's above my pay grade". But that is not true. The real problem is people don't have a system to bring issues up the org chart and get executive attention, approval, and budge…
Brian Maggi - Episode 43 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:06
Brian Maggi has an impressive list of accomplishments. From building medical education websites to Desktop Technology Manager at Apple to live entertainment and now AI - diverse experience is an understatement. You can l…