I just wrapped up an onboarding project that reminded me why storytelling matters—one that brought me back to an experience years ago when I first saw its impact in action.
Too often, an employee’s first day is packed with paperwork, policies, and systems training. But no one joins a company excited about learning policies and procedures or navigating the company intranet. The real magic happens when new hires walk away inspired, energized, and confident they’ve chosen the right place to grow.
Some leaders understand the power of storytelling and weave it into every aspect of the employee experience. That brings me back to a time several years ago when I had the privilege of working with two brilliant leaders, Sharon Hartmann and Christina Lim, PCC, who were at Illumina at the time. They understood that storytelling isn’t just about communication—it’s about shaping culture. Sharon sought our partnership to redesign the new hire experience, ensuring their culture and values came to life, while Christina wanted us to help integrate new values and leadership competencies into a team-building experience for a global leadership summit.
Their vision underscored a fundamental truth:
great onboarding and leadership development aren’t just about training—they are about shaping experiences that immerse employees in the company’s story, connect them to its purpose, and inspire them to carry that story forward.
And just a few days ago, I had a full-circle experience. A leader who had attended both of those initiatives at Illumina—now launching a new company—reached out with a request:
“Tamara, we need your help to tell our story.”
At first, I thought they needed presentation coaching. But as we talked, I realized their request was much bigger—they were asking for help designing their new hire experience. And what struck me was how they framed it: they didn’t see onboarding as a process—they saw it as a story.
The experiences we created years ago—rooted in story—left a lasting impact. So much so that this leader is now looking for every opportunity to infuse storytelling into their own company’s employee experience today. That’s what onboarding should be. Not a checklist, but an experience that makes employees feel the heartbeat of the company from day one.
We love projects like these because they remind us that great onboarding and leadership development aren’t just processes—they’re the stories that shape a company’s culture, inspire its people, and define its future.
Where do you weave storytelling into your employee experience? I’d love to hear how you use story to create meaningful experiences for your people. Please answer in the comments below!