Chloe Sesta-Jacobs took a detour from people. It turned out to be the best thing she ever did.

As Director of People Experience & Strategic Initiatives at Deputy, she sits at the intersection of communications, strategy, and culture, a combination she built by accident and now wouldn't trade. With a background in comms and over a decade in people roles, Chloe made an unexpected move, building Deputy's first internal communications function before expanding into strategic initiatives and finding her way back to people experience with a sharper lens.

That pivot, and everything it taught her about storytelling, influence, and leading across functions, is now her edge. It also inspired her to start her MBA. Chloe's here to make the case that the best people leaders are also business leaders. And that the detour might just be the point.

AI is changing the way we work, but it hasn't changed what people need from People leaders. Behind every strategy, decision and organisational priority is a story that shapes how people understand it. In this session, you'll discover why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in a People leader's toolkit. More than a communication skill, it's a leadership capability. You'll leave with a practical framework for creating clarity, alignment and trust, helping people understand not just what's happening, but why it matters.

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What you'll leave with:

1. A practical framework for strategic storytelling that turns strategy, decisions and complex ideas into narratives that create clarity and action.
2. A new perspective on the role of People leaders as organisational sense-makers who help people understand not just what is changing, but why it matters.
3. Practical techniques for building trust and alignment by helping leaders communicate with clarity, confidence and purpose.