As part of the Humanitarian Collaborative’s Summer Cohort, Practitioner Fellow Kate Katch led an interactive workshop focused on using storytelling to influence decision-makers. The session emphasized the strategic value of storytelling, guiding participants through frameworks and tools to communicate complex issues with clarity and purpose. 

The cohort explored how to define their audience and clarify their message—or “North Star”—and structure compelling stories using the “And-But-Therefore (ABT)” framework. Through a case study on Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX) and hands-on exercises centered on the crisis in Myanmar, the cohort examined how storytelling can inspire their audience to action. Key takeaways included the importance of grounding stories in evidence, communicating with integrity, and finding the human element, even in technical and data-driven narratives. The workshop also introduced practical tools like storyboarding, verbal pitching, and generating feedback to help participants craft stories that are impactful, authentic, and actionable.