Schnitzel, Champagne & Storytelling: A Night of Impactful Narratives

While we could dedicate this entire article to the schnitzel from our Schnitzel & Champagne storytelling night last week—the perfect crispness, the tender, juicy center, and that deeply satisfying crunch with every bite (yum!)—we won’t. Instead, let’s talk about the night itself. 🥂
Beyond the incredible food and great company, the evening was a deep dive into the power of storytelling—how it shapes perceptions, drives action, and creates a lasting impact—or, as we like to say, leaves a mark.

One of the night’s highlights was hearing from Maya Prosor, Chief Business Officer at Lemonade, who shared insights from Lemonade’s Investor Day. She explained how their goal wasn’t just to strengthen the company’s position within the insurance industry but to reach investors beyond it. That made storytelling essential: their narrative had to be accessible, clear, and compelling enough to resonate with those unfamiliar with insurance. The Impact? Undeniable. During the event, Lemonade’s stock surged. The takeaway? Storytelling doesn’t just influence perception—it delivers measurable results.

The goal wasn’t just to strengthen the company’s position within the insurance industry, but to reach investors beyond it. This made storytelling essential.

Maya also highlighted how Lemonade reshaped the conversation around insurance for a new generation. Rather than focusing on policy details or the company’s unique technology, they tapped into something more relatable: #adulting. “90% of our customers are first-time insurance buyers, and let’s be honest—insurance isn’t exactly dinner table conversation,” she said. “No one cares to say, ‘I got insurance.’ But saying, ‘I feel like I’m becoming an adult’—that’s a sentiment people want to share.” "Positioning Lemonade as the gateway to adulthood—that was a story worth telling," Maya concluded.

“No one cares to say, ‘I got insurance.’ But saying, ‘I feel like I’m becoming an adult’—that was a story worth telling.”

Galia Beer-Gabel, Partner at Team8, emphasized that defining a company’s story is a foundational step in the early stages of a startup. For startups, she explained, everything hinges on the "why." Once that is crystallized, the "how" and "what" naturally follow. Galia shared that Team8’s research process often spans six months, ensuring they thoroughly understand the problem and the "why" before crafting the narrative they will present to the world. She also highlighted the importance of personalizing the story and gave the example of Charm, a new startup focused on tackling scams—an issue that resonates deeply because we've all encountered phishing attempts or know someone affected by them. A powerful story turns a problem into a personal experience.

“Defining a company’s story is a foundational step in the early stages of a startup. Everything hinges on the "why." Once that is crystallized, the "how" and "what" follow.”

Omer Sher, Global VP and Chief Digital Officer at P&G, shared a different perspective, focusing on the role of storytelling within an organization. For Omer, it’s about creating a shared narrative that rallies employees. When he took over a team of 150 people, he quickly realized there was no unifying story or single vision to bind the organization together. Without that, he explained, people fill in the gaps themselves. His goal was to leave "no blind spots." To address this, Omer created a storytelling presentation to launch a project internally. Soon after, he heard employees using the same language from his presentation in their daily work. He introduced the term "phygital" (a blend of physical and digital), and before long, employees were singing “Let’s get phygital” in the hallways (apologies, Olivia Newton-John…). That was the moment he knew the project would succeed. A compelling narrative doesn’t just communicate a message—it becomes embedded in the very fabric of the organization.

"Focusing on the role of storytelling within an organization is about crafting a shared narrative that unites and inspires employees."

But crafting the right story isn’t always easy, especially in a room full of brilliant minds. Galia acknowledged that when many strong personalities come together, choosing a singular narrative can be challenging. That’s why, she explained, it sometimes helps to bring in an outsider—someone who isn’t a domain expert but can help translate the story for a broader audience. Maya admitted that, at first, bringing in an external perspective felt foreign. Lemonade takes pride in doing everything in-house. But stepping outside their own bubble ultimately strengthened their storytelling. “Someone who can question everything you say—ask, ‘Does this matter? Is it interesting? What does this even mean?’—that’s invaluable.”

Omer echoed this, describing how working with an external expert helped him take a holistic approach. Beyond product, customers, and numbers, they explored relationships, personal aspirations, and deeper motivations. That process made the presentation more meaningful and resonant.

It helps to bring in an outsider—someone who isn’t a domain expert but can help translate the story for a broader audience. Who can question everything— ‘Does this matter? Is it interesting? What does this even mean?’—that’s invaluable.

Finally, Galia shared how storytelling at Team8 even led to the creation of an entirely new company. While preparing for their LP Day (a gathering for investors), they spent a lot of time thinking about the future of fintech. Through that process—understanding the "why" and articulating it into a story—they didn’t just find the right way to present their ideas; they actually developed the thesis for a brand-new startup. Sometimes, she noted, the story itself can drive innovation.

We’re incredibly grateful for the insights shared and the meaningful conversations that unfolded throughout the night. A special thank you to our hosts, Savills, for providing the perfect home for these stories.

Working with an external expert allows you to take a holistic approach, exploring not just the product, customers, and numbers, but also relationships, personal aspirations, and deeper motivations.

We can’t wait to crunch on new stories, munch on fresh ideas, bite into exciting connections, and toast to new beginnings, middles, and ends next year! 🍾

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