John Trybus on Storytelling, Impact, and Charting One's Path

Welcome to The Firestarter Podcast—people, ideas and conversations that move us forward. It’s your host Willa Kammerer’s business and passion to make the world a better place through storytelling, which is why we’re here today. We’ll talk to mission-driven entrepreneurs, philanthropists, investors, thought leaders, and experts on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues about designing and thriving careers of impact.

Our guest today is Dr. John D. Trybus, a Social Strategist on a mission to help impact organizations and embrace the blur between sectors, functions, departments and human strengths for good. John leads and manages Georgetown University’s Center for Social Impact Communications. His career journey has spanned multiple sectors in pursuit of making an impact, serving as Personal Advisor to Dr. Jane Goodall and Strategist at the British Embassy in Washington D.C. Within WE Communications, he advised clients such as Tiffany & Co, L'Oreal, Microsoft and more on social responsibility. Additionally, he is an Adjunct Professor of Social Impact and Nonprofit Management at Georgetown University and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Concordia University Chicago.

To begin, John takes us back to his childhood in Oak Park, Illinois, which he considers ‘the Hollywood of the midwest’. He describes it as a progressive community, welcoming to all different backgrounds. John believes storytelling is his true calling, though his skills developed over time. He believes himself to be the perfect combination of his mother, a teacher and his father, working for a nonprofit. To John, storytelling is the link to what it means to be human.  

John recalls his experience working with Jane Goodall, a person who really walks the talk and represents the story she tells. It was the opportunity of a lifetime for John and set the path for his future. Then, he discusses the blur between different sectors in the impact space. While being involved with a nonprofit is a great catalyst for change, there are so many other routes as well. John stresses that it’s okay to take a different path than the one you originally set out on, to which he is proof of. 

Amongst his students, John has observed that social values are often embedded in who they are. There is beneficial added pressure for corporations to hold themselves and advocate for these similar values. A unique aspect of storytelling is its ability to, at once, make space for how we're different and how we’re similar as humans. John offers advice for mission-driven entrepreneurs and businesses interested in communicating their own stories. He urges organizations to create ecosystems of stories within themselves. Even as technology advances, there is no replacement for true human connection.

Willa then asks John to share the mindsets and philosophies which have propelled him through life. First, he always makes an effort to have fun and savor the lighthearted moments to prevent burnouts. Additionally, he has found listening to others to be the most important thing he can do. Finally, he has experimented with working in many different contexts within the impact sector and urges listeners not to be afraid to make mistakes. In fact, many times adversities can only make you stronger in the long run. 

In closing, John offers advice for anyone listening who is searching for meaning within their own work. First, he urges you to take advantage of various opportunities, as there are endless ways to make an impact. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people you admire and make mistakes. Think about what you’re passionate about and what specific areas you have hope for. Be encouraged to not only tell your own story, but listen to other people’s as well.

Timestamps:

0:01 - Host Willa Kammerer introduces the podcast.

0:46 - Willa introduces today’s guest, John Trybus.

2:25 - John joins the conversation.

4:00 - John discusses his background.

6:25 - How storytelling and impact came together for John.

10:15 - John’s experience working for Jane Goodall.

13:09 - The blur between different departments and sectors.

16:35 - The future of change among entrepreneurship and corporations.

24:20 - How can mission-driven businesses communicate their own stories?

28:44 - Current trends in the storytelling space.

32:20 - Discussing the Pearson-Marr Archetype Indicator.

36:50 - Philosophies which have stuck with John over the years.

41:40 - Advice for someone seeking to engage with meaningful work.

52:00 - Closing words.

Links:

Learn more about FirestarterIX.

Connect with Willa on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Learn more about Georgetown University’s Center for Social Impact Communication.

Subscribe to the podcast, find show notes and the video of today’s show here. 

Keywords:

Social impact, social change, responsibility, nonprofit, impact, social responsibility, storytelling, professionalism, purpose, communications, georgetown university, professor, community, oak park, illinois, academia, diversity, buzzwords, teachers, connection, jane goodall, change, stories, intersection, corporations, government, privilege, social values, corporate responsibility, marketing, Pearson-Marr Archetype Indicator