See a photo of Stewart, his bio, Part 1 of this Q&A, and Part 2.

Q&A with Stewart Marshall, Question 3:

Q: What people or entities have been most influential to you in your story work and why?

A: My two favourite references are Steve Denning and Robert McKee. Steve has written extensively about springboard stories, storytelling in leadership, and many other applications. I use springboard stories a lot in my work, they become key components of any presentation or pitch. Steve’s writing has also targeted business specifically, something I find to be a rich source of ideas and inspiration. Robert McKee’s book Story had a huge impact on me. Whether it’s a formal presentation or a prepared speech, I simply love the metaphor of screenwriting. One example of this is about preparation. The amount of work required to research your subject fully and understand as much as you can about the context really helps you deliver an authentic story. In a movie, it might be learning how people spoke to each other in for instance, 1920s Paris. In my work it might be about understanding the daily routine of a salesperson. The movies are all about connecting with the audience on an emotional level. The discipline and insight offered by McKee is to my mind directly applicable to financial storytelling.