Miri Rodriguez on Finding Your Author Voice Through Empathy and Story

Great storytelling isn’t about charisma. It’s about empathy. In this live, in-class conversation, Miri Rodriguez, storytelling leader at Microsoft and author of Brand Storytelling, explains how writers find their voice, connect with audiences, and design stories that actually land. Miri shares what it was like launching her book during the pandemic, negotiating marketing support with her publisher, and writing under intense constraints while working full-time. She also introduces a powerful origin story exercise, explains why every story has a mission, and shows how design thinking can help authors communicate with more intention and emotional truth. This episode is essential for writers building books, brands, and messages that matter.