CEO of Storycast®, Keynote Speaker, Leadership and Communications expert, Personal Storytelling Nerd, Bestselling Business Author of Glow in the Dark (Hachette) and Award-Winning Host of The Unconventionalists Podcast.

The most influential leaders aren’t the ones who talk the most, they’re the ones who connect the deepest.

When leaders communicate with authenticity, vulnerability, and purpose, they don’t just inform; they move people towards a desired outcome.

The problem is, most leaders broadcast when they communicate. Few leaders truly connect.

I’m on a mission to change that.

Through the power of personal storytelling, I help leaders and teams build trust, deepen connections, and inspire action. 

Great leaders know that people don’t just buy into ideas or strategies, they buy into the person behind them.

When leaders share their stories effectively, with confidence and clarity, teams engage, customers listen, and organisations thrive.

I’ve helped thousands of leaders and teams at leading global companies, including Google, Microsoft, and Nike, communicate and connect in a way that resonates and drives real impact.

My bestselling book Glow in the Dark (Hachette UK) lays out the framework, and my engaging, interactive and practical keynotes bring it to life, giving leaders the tools they need to turn words into impact.

No jargon, no fluff, just real, practical ways to make people care about what you have to say, share or sell when you speak.

At the heart of every great leader is a story worth telling. And when you learn how to tell yours effectively, you don’t just lead, you inspire.

If you're ready to transform how you and your team communicate and connect, get in touch with me today.

Together, let’s make you an even more impactful leader 🔥

Over the years I’ve traveled the world and spoken in a lot of rooms. But this, ladies and gentlemen was definitely a first 😅

I just wrapped my flagship masterclass on “Storytelling for Impact” with 28 brilliant business leaders at Zalando in their Berlin HQ (which is freakin amazing btw!)

And there were dogs in the audience!

That’s right, not one but four dogs joined us.

Including a very attentive Labrador who, I’d argue, had better focus than most executives I’ve met over the years 🙈 

What I loved most though wasn’t just the dogs (they were awesome) it was the culture.

From the moment I was greeted by the amazing Desi outside the building to everyone walking into the room and saying hi, I felt a great vibe and energy from everyone.

I mean, the food was epic. 

There’s a kindergarten for employees onsite.

And yes, dogs are welcome (as long as the behave that is…)

But here’s what really stayed with me:

The leaders in the room today came from across the business, with different functions and with different personalities.

And yet, despite these differences they all showed up in a big way.

It takes a lot of courage to dive into the deep end and be willing to step up and share real stories.

That’s what storytelling for impact actually is all about.

It’s not about being perfect or polished.

It’s about connecting with your audience and being willing to share parts of yourselves that are real.

Because giving yourself the permission to be imperfect in public makes you more influential.

My heart is full after this first Berlin session, thank you to all who dared to share today!

I can’t wait to be back 🙏

PS: I’m bow considering adding “approved by Labradors” to my speaker bio. Should I do it?

#Berlin
#HumanConnection
#Storytelling
#KeynoteSpeakee

Mark Leruste 🎤 

Hi 👋 I'm Mark Leruste, thanks for stopping by! 

I'm a leadership and communication expert and professional speaker helping leaders and their team create stories, movements and brands that impact the world and inspire change. 

If you're looking for an inspiring public speaker to come and speak at your next event, you're in good company.

As a sought after thought leader and speaker at conferences around the world, I've helped more than 5,000 people across 30 organisations learn how to build trust, connect with their audience and inspire action.

I've had the honour to speak at Fortune500 companies, non-profits and leading business schools, including Google, YouTube, The Guardian, Amazon, Method & Ecover, Insead, HEC and the Premier League to name a few.

Despite being held back a year at school because I was dyslexic and struggled to read out loud and spell (and eventually kicked out of the conventional education system), I went on to write and publish a bestselling book, Glow in the Dark (Hachette UK), which won "Best Business Self-Development Book" of the year award at the 2023 Business Book Awards. 

Which goes to show that when you have something important to say you'll do anything you can to share it with the world. 

I previously served as Country Manager of the Movember Foundation where I helped raise €2.8million for men's health, inspired over 110,000 fundraisers to take part, winning multiple awards along the way. 

I've been lucky enough to have been featured in major publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Sunday Telegraph and Forbes and my TEDx talk "What They Don't Tell You About Entrepreneurship" has been reached over 1.2+ million views on YouTube and was listed as the #1 TED Talk entrepreneurs should watch by Steven Bartlett, host of The Diary of a CEO podcast. 

This is becoming a bit of a brag fest, but in case it's helpful, I was also named as one of the 50 most inspiring people in London by the City of London’s backed Inspired 50 Network, and my podcast The Unconventionalists won "Best Interview Podcast" of the year award at the Podcasting for Business Awards 2021.

Today I'm on a mission to help one million entrepreneurs and business leaders impact the world with their story and play a bigger game, and I believe every leader has an obligation to use their position and influence to make the world better. 

Get in touch today by sending me a DM or visit www.markleruste.com for more info 🙏

I can't wait to hear how I can help you make your next event a great success!

Zalando

Keynote Speaker on Storytelling. Founder of StoryCast®. Author of Glow in the Dark. I’ll teach you how to share your story with impact and connect with your audience in a deeper way.

In the first 10 seconds, your audience decides if you're worth listening to. Here are 9 of my favourite opening hooks you can steal for your next presentation 👇

Here’s the harsh truth: the moment you open your mouth, people are deciding whether to lean in or mentally check out.

That's right, you have less than 10 seconds to convince your audience whether they should give you their attention and care about what you have to say, sell or share.

The problem is, most leaders waste those precious first few seconds because they start with:

- Their name
- Job title 
- And a limp, "thank you so much for having me today. Aren't the snacks amazing?"

Cue for everyone thinking about what they're going to have for dinner tonight.

The good news is that it doesn't have to be this way.

What if instead you opened with a bold statement that makes people sit up?

Asked a question that forces them to think?

Or shared a short story that instantly creates rapport?

I’ve put 9 powerful opening hooks I use with my clients into one simple carousel for you.

Steal them. 

Use them. 

But for the love of God, please put an end to boring first impressions!

I know for a fact that these will make you stand out above the rest. 

Plus, I know your audience will thank me later.

Go on, give them a try and let me know how you got along. The question is, which one are you going to be brave enough to try next?

I can't wait to hear...

PS: What other hooks have you tried or seen that work? Let me know what I missed out.

#publicspeaking
#presentations
#keynotetalks
#pitch

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♻️ Repost if you found this useful.

👋 Hi, I’m Mark! I talk and write about how leaders can connect more authentically with their audience by leveraging the power of their story.

🎤For speaking engagements, DM me "TALK".

9 Hooks To Grab Your Audience's Attention by Mark Leruste

Let’s see if LinkedIn is actually good at…linking people 🫣

First of all, greetings from the airport ✈️

As I know you’re dying to know where I’m going this time (right?), well, I’m happy to share that I’m on my way to…🥁 

Berlin!

Thats right, I’m heading over to deliver my flagship session on “Storytelling for Impact” to a room full of leaders at one of Europe’s biggest names in fashion.

First time in the city so naturally, very excited. 

But slightly underprepared for the food scene 🤪

I’ve got one free evening and I once heard you should never eat alone.

So… with that in mind, who should I be meeting while I’m in Berlin?

If there’s someone I should connect with, grab dinner with, or have a chat over coffee, tag them below or drop into my DMs 🙏

And if I do end up solo… East side dinner recommendations are very welcome. 😅

#Berlin
#HumanConnection
#KeynoteSpeaker
#Storytelling

Here’s the thing about grief:

It really, really sucks.

One minute you’re walking down the street minding your own business, thinking today is going to be an OK day.

The next thing you know, you’re in bits, crying in your car wishing you had taken a packet of tissues with you...

The 5-stages of grief are helpful, but it somehow also fails to capture the messiness of the emotional yo-yo journey that comes with a sudden loss.

I’ve tried to describe it to my wife the best I can but the truth is, it’s really hard to put a broken heart into words ❤️‍🩹

To me, it’s like you’re being forced to update your programme with a new version of your life OS, that you never asked for.

Except in this new version, one of your favourite main characters - who you loved and meant so much to you - is no longer there.

You somehow get to keep memories, photos and videos but the actual human itself? 

The ability to hug, kiss or hold their hand?

Gone.

And so, naturally, your computer says no.

“No thanks, not interested. Move along.”

But no matter how hard you try to resist the update, it keeps trying to reprogramme your system. 

And that, just, sucks.

Here is the crazy thing though: Intellectually I know my mum is dead. 

I mean, I was there, holding her hand when she took her last breath.

And yet I can’t quite seem to believe it (or want to accept it).

I still feel she’s going to burst through the door any minute now and tell me she was on a long cruise. 

That I need to call everyone to apologies and tell them it was all a big mistake. 

Alas, that moment will never come.

My living room door will never be slammed opened and the tornado of my mum’s life force and spirit will never fill our home again.

At least not as we knew it.

I’m aware that this is part of the process.

That I’m going to have to eventually let the programme update my life OS.

So, if you’re also going through something (aren’t we all if we’re being honest?) I want to say to you (but really it’s for me too) it’s ok not to be “crushing it.”

It’s ok to want to retreat.

You’re not hiding, you’re just healing.

And no matter what the AI speed train or world says, we all go through different seasons of life and of work.

Sometimes we go through all four seasons in one day.

So do me a favour be kind to yourself.

Take a break from your screens (and your phone) and if you can, and are able, go spend time outdoors.

It will do you and your souls a world of good.

taplio

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