The Storytelling CEO Officially Launches with an Evening of Film, Conversation, and Community
On July 22nd, The Storytelling CEO officially came to life — not with a press release, but with a room full of people who believe stories are how leaders actually connect.
The evening brought together film, conversation, and community in a way that felt less like a launch event and more like a gathering of people who all understood the same thing: that the best entrepreneurs are also the best storytellers.
An Evening Built Around Story
The night doubled as both a film screening and a podcast premiere. Guests watched original short films — The Ones Who Stayed and The Call — with the cast in the room, giving the screenings an intimacy you don't often get at a traditional premiere. Alongside the films, the Storytelling CEO podcast made its own debut, setting the tone for the conversations and community that would carry the rest of the evening.
Hosting the night was Ellio Wagner, who brought warmth and energy to every transition — from film to conversation, and from conversation to community — keeping the evening feeling personal rather than produced.
Entrepreneurs at the Center
True to the brand's mission, the night wasn't just about film — it was about the people building things. Podcast guests and entrepreneurs Bryan Mangam, James McLeod, David Chametzky, and Paquito Myers joined the evening, adding real business insight and lived experience to the storytelling on screen.
Having founders in the room alongside the cast underscored exactly what The Storytelling CEO is about: the idea that leadership and narrative aren't separate skills — they're the same instinct, applied in different rooms.
More Than a Launch
What made the evening resonate wasn't the production value or the guest list — it was the sense that something real was starting. A community of storytellers, founders, and creatives, all in one room, all invested in the same idea: that the way you tell your story is the way you lead.
To everyone who showed up, supported the project, and celebrated the milestone in person — thank you.