Episode 41: The Power of Storytelling: How to Lead with Narrative to Build Trust, Mobilize Change, and Grow a People-Forward Business with Nikki Frenney

Episode 41: The Power of Storytelling: How to Lead with Narrative to Build Trust, Mobilize Change, and Grow a People-Forward Business with Nikki Frenney "Anyone can lead if people trust them and like them. It has nothing to do with your title." ~Nikki Frenney Episode Summary Nikki Frenney is a storyteller, and in this episode she makes the case that storytelling is one of the most underrated leadership tools in business. As Vice President of Customer Success at MV Transportation, the largest privately owned passenger transportation company in North America, she has helped guide the company's growth from a $24 million business to over $1.2 billion in annual revenue, now moving more than 110 million people a year, and she traces that scale back to a discipline she's carried since her early days in journalism: knowing how to tell the story of who you are, why you do what you do, and who you're becoming. If you've ever thought leadership required a title, or that storytelling was a nice-to-have rather than a strategic, essential skill, this conversation will change how you think about both. Key Takeaways Why storytelling is a strategic, essential human skill that builds the trust that grows a business. Why influence built on relationships, trust, and institutional memory outlasts any title. How transit workers quietly sustain local economies and quality of life by getting people to work, medical care, and school. Why AI and autonomous tools should augment people rather than replace them, and what responsible adoption requires. A practical roadmap for aspiring leaders several levels below where they want to be. About Nikki Frenney Nikki Frenney serves as Vice President of Customer Success at MV Transportation, the largest privately owned passenger transportation company in North America. Over a tenure that has spanned the creation of MV's marketing and communications function, a role as Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, and her current customer success leadership, she has helped guide the company's growth from a $24 million business to more than $1.2 billion in annual revenue. Her career began in journalism before moving through government and crisis communications into transit, where work in paratransit shaped her enduring commitment to accessible mobility as a foundation of community life. Resources & Links Learn more about On the Move Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/our-very-first-episode-of-on-the-move-ugcPost-7467294483597074434--ciX/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAFFxugBNhAp8oJ24KehmRVfh8SyzyrY9SE Learn more about MV Transportation: https://mvtransit.com/ Learn more about the People-Forward Leadership™ framework: www.thriveaxisgroup.com Call to Action Connect with us for behind-the-scenes content and leadership tips: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook YouTube Enjoyed this episode? Don't miss the next one. Subscribe to the People-Forward Leadership™ Podcast: Spotify Apple Podcasts Leave a 5-Star Review: Share your biggest takeaway from today's episode by leaving a review on your podcast platform. Reach out: To learn how we can support your organization in implementing People-Forward Leadership™, email us at [email protected]. Thank you for listening! If you found this conversation valuable, please share it with a colleague or friend who might benefit. We appreciate your support and look forward to having you tune in for future episodes.