Stefaan Vandist

To predict the future, one must vividly imagine, share, create, and celebrate it. That is the essence of every future-exploring keynote by Stefaan Vandist. Together with his audience, he dives into trends and ‘waves of change’ that stir their industry and looks the future straight in the eyes to create a bold, connecting, and attractive vision of the future.

He takes you on a pilgrimage to visit the pioneers who utilise the crème de la crème of science, technology, and creativity. In this way, he takes your audience on a brisk journey from one enlightening example to another to make that vision tangible.

With his experience in crafting stories for organisations, he provides concrete steps to bring new Future Narratives to life. Sustainability is always the common thread that holds everything together.

New energy arises in the audience when they realise that sustainability is not only about necessity, dry reports, or technical jargon—it is about unlocking new possibilities for innovation and change.

Learn the art, craft, and magic of storytelling

Are you ready to shape the future with a compelling new story that resonates and connects? During the masterclass by Stefaan Vandist, you will discover the fundamental elements, structures, and core principles of storytelling that can enhance your organisation’s narrative power.

“First we create our stories, and then our stories create us.”

As brilliantly articulated by Yuval Noah Harari in Sapiens, the foundations of civilisation arose from our ability to believe in great stories. We create knowledge, promote abstract ideas, and weave stories that inspire, enabling us to build cities, forge religions, and even resolve conflicts. Over the past two millennia, stories often celebrated gods, wealth, or nation-states.
Let us now use storytelling to celebrate new visions of our shared future.

Stories that stick

Stories are mental post-its that allow us to anchor ideas and beliefs in the minds of your audience. Our brains are increasingly allergic to predictability. Boredom is the enemy, and as storytellers, it is our task to entertain the brain. See yourself as a DJ at the controls, moving large groups of people. When you harness the power of storytelling, you start a chain reaction of dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins—also known as D.O.S.E. These neurotransmitters affect how your audience feels, and when they feel good, they connect more deeply with your message.

What will you learn?

In 1.5 hours, you will learn how to create stories that not only captivate but also inspire action. Central to the masterclass are the building blocks of my Storytelling Canvas. This tool helps you gain an overview and select the best ingredients for your story. Inspired by historical speeches, the best keynote speakers, Netflix documentaries, and films from animation studios like Pixar, we explore the techniques to shape and enhance your story, so you engage your audience on a deeper, emotional level.

Stories give meaning to your facts

At the end of the masterclass, your team will understand the basic principles of storytelling that form the core of branding, marketing, content creation, PR, and HR communication.