Chris Hare

The Storied Future

The Storied Future podcast provides the knowledge and inspiration C-Suite leaders need to bend the future to their will. We interview experts, innovators, and purpose-driven leaders who have harnessed the power of strategic narrative to align everyone from the buyer to the boardroom around a shared vision of tomorrow.

Storied guests include:

Bracken Darrell, CEO of Logitech 

Heather Dowdy, Child of Deaf Adults and Director of Product Accessibility at Netflix

Mark Stouse, CEO at Proof Analytics, Former CMO at Honeywell Aerospace

Rishi Dave, Expert Partner in B2B Marketing, Bain & Company

Pete Sauerborn, Chairman and CEO, FTD

Ebbie Parsons, Managing Partner, Yardstick Management

Mary Shea, Co-CEO of Mediafly, former Principal Analyst at Forrester 

Jake Wood, Co-Founder at Team Rubicon, CEO at Groundswell

Erica Brinker, Chief Commercial Officer, Array Technologies, Former CMO at Honeywell

Aaron Mitchell, Architect of the Netflix 2% Pledge of $100 Million into Black-owned Banks

Jamie Cleghorn, Senior Partner, Bain & Company 

Kyle Arteaga, CEO, Bulleit Group

Host of The Storied Future Podcast

Chris Hare is a narrative advisor and coach for conscious CEOs, founders, and executives. He helps high-performing leaders navigate the transition from ownership to exit by unlocking the power of their stories in a way that enables them to uncover their why, travel through uncertainty, create what's next, and find purpose beyond profit. 

Chris also helps mid-market founders and CEOs increase company value through strategic narratives that enable them to successfully navigate transactions, transitions, and transformations | Sell-side pitch decks, coaching, and storytelling for M&A | Corporate narratives to align board to buyer around a new future in a way that makes the business strategy a reality | M&A alignment, digital transformation, channel conflict

Chris's storied impact:

-Building a strategic narrative for a mid-market paint distributor that's transforming their company from the boardroom to the frontlines

-Crafting the FY25 Microsoft AI for Energy Industry narrative pitch deck

-Creating a strategy and campaign designed to shift a narrative for an $XXX billion division of a $1 trillion company

-Architecting a strategic narrative for GoDaddy that aligned everyone from COO, CCO, CBO, CMO, VP of Comms, and the brand team around a customer-first vision of the future. Then created a data storytelling platform to help them bring this vision to life. 

“I won’t pursue any strategy in the future without having the narrative clearly identified, like we've done with The Storied Future.” Andrew Walsh, CEO, Applicate Commerce

“Chris and his team helped us craft a powerful strategic narrative that captured the spirit of the millions of everyday  entrepreneurs that GoDaddy serves.” Karen Tillman, CCO

Founder, Executive Narrative Advisor

Experience the power of Atomic Storytelling and discover how this proven framework has helped founders, CEOs and GTM leaders at mid-market companies and tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft to shift the future.

If you want to find and tell the story that will get you in the right room, increase the impact of your go-to-market strategy, close your next round of funding, transform your leadership, or unlock your purpose, this talk is for you. You’ll learn what Atomic Stories are, where you can find them, and how you can use them to create and fuel your Narrative FlywheelTM. You’ll also feel the difference this approach can make as you experience stories from leaders at Logitech, TOPGUN, NASA, Netflix, Amazon, and more.

Keynote Speaker - Atomic Storytelling

Mixing Board

Mixing Board is a community of communications and brand marketing leaders that share knowledge with each other and organizations that can benefit from accessing members’ expertise.

Member

The Outlier Project

The Bar X Project

Chief Storyteller (Pro Bono)

Microsoft

I led content marketing for two global engagement programs, co-owning customer journey and overseeing content audit, content strategy and content creation for delivery across the marketing funnel.

Senior Product Marketing Manager

Built a global marketing campaign—How to Crush Your Sales Quota—with 50+ connected assets designed to entice enterprise VPs of sales down the funnel and into nurture. Managed agency of record, content strategy, creative, budget, interviews with industry thought leaders, and site dev. Wrote copy on all three campaign sites and pre-roll videos, including a women's crew video that generated over 1.2MM views and 800 shares on Facebook. Signed and managed Motofish Images to create original sport photography and video. Created a library of assets to help bring the new Dynamics brand story to life.

Senior Content Marketing Manager

Amazon Services

Built a content marketing framework to discover and produce small business stories at scale. Drove execution from prototype, to framework construction, to scaling and production of 25+ interviews in less than 3 months—for ~$3K a piece. Constructed a content matrix to meta-tag all interview content across 45 dimensions, enabling the production of up to 75 individual content pieces from one interview.   

Produced an Amazon Services brand anthem video, weaving all five products into one story, and created a to-customer campaign delivered via the home page of Amazon as well as through email and social. Resulted in 250MM+ impressions. 

Won the 2014 NA Seller Services Hackathon by creating an innovative new way to use mobile and social to add unique selection to the marketplace. Competed against 20+ teams from US and India in a Shark Tank-style pitch and live code demo.

Digital Marketing Editor

Developed creative for national campaigns, events, and customer marketing initiatives. Orchestrated a successful new business pitch into Amazon.com and wrote the winning pitch deck for a $1 million Microsoft RFP.

-Concepted and wrote copy for the Webby-nominated Volkswagen Group of America living case study
 for Microsoft Lync
-Wrote a humorous eBook on Marketing 101 for Windows app developers 
-Co-authored a white paper on the consumerization of IT for Microsoft
-Created campaigns and content for Microsoft CSS, Dynamics, EPG, MSDN, Office 365, Public Sector, SMB, Surface, Windows, Windows Azure, and more.
-Conjured up copy for video, direct mail, websites, and ads that reached millions of T-Mobile customers

Senior Copywriter

Write Brained Hare

Chief Idea Guy

Six8 Media

-Wrote and produced a full-length DVD for kids and teens featuring NFL-great Brett Favre
-Created a series of case studies for Microsoft COO Kevin Turner showcasing how SQL Server, SharePoint, .NET, SQL, Hyper-V, & BI are changing lives and businesses around the world
-Researched and wrote the brief for Microsoft SVP Andy Lees’ Worldwide Partners Conference keynote address video
-Authored a $1 million congressional funding proposal for Swedish Medical Center’s physical and IT security initiative 
-Produced a financial tips video for Seattle author Jill Keto that landed her a national appearance on FOX Morning Show

Principal/Writer+Producer

Integrated Talent LLC

Business Development Manager

CEO Narratives That Advance Business Strategies and Transform Leaders | Principal at The Storied Future| Host of The Storied Future Podcast

Stories have the power to transform you, your company, and the world. Yet, the most powerful stories are often the hardest to uncover. That's where I come in. Using the Atomic Storytelling™ framework, I unlock the potential energy in your life and career stories, and create a narrative that not only reflects your true self but also aligns with your professional journey, driving you and your audience toward an irresistible vision of the future—what I call Future Gravity.

Future Gravity May Be a Fit If You…
✅ Are navigating a transition (succession, exit, retirement)
✅ Want to build your influence online
✅ Have a story the world needs to hear
✅ Want to integrate who you are with what you do
✅ Want to build a different future
✅ Are tired of going it alone
✅ Are seeking to land a new role
✅ Want to launch something new
✅ Want to capture your legacy

What Future Gravity Can Do for You…
✅ Establish a differentiated thought leadership platform
✅ Earn trust in town halls, board meetings, and one-on-ones
✅ Transform your leadership
✅ Give the media a reason to interview you
✅ Build influence on social media
✅ Write the book or land the keynote
✅ Get sought out for the next job
✅ Make your purpose a reality

"Chris is a storyteller who unlocks the story of you. His deep curiosity and kindness opened up the aperture in my story, he helped me reveal myself to me. A most magical gift." Whitney Johnson, CEO, Disruption Advisors

“Most PR agencies are great for getting you on the road but don’t always go deep into who’s driving. Chris couldn’t be more different. He’ll put you behind the wheel of a storytelling Ferrari, crafted inch by inch to tell the most compelling story out there – yours.” Ali Winkle, CEO, Just Drive Media

Founder + Chief Narrative Strategist

The Storied Future helps brand, marketing, and PR leaders to spark conversation, build connection, and accelerate growth through strategic narratives and authentic human stories that move audiences to action.

Google

I lead demand generation marketing for Google Workspace, managing the SMB and startup segments. This includes well-known apps like Gmail, Docs, Drive, and Meet, as well as emerging tools like Gemini and NotebookLM.

Marketing for SMBs and Startups @ Google Workspace

Wolfscale

Founded Wolfscale as a side-hustle. Grew it to 5 employees, won ~20 customers, and bootstrapped us to $500K ARR. Clients included startups backed by Sequoia, Greylock, and Y Combinator.

I sold my stake in Wolfscale and am no longer involved with the business. It's run by a great group of people so check them out for your lead gen needs!

Founder

Glue

Led Mystery's marketing team and their rebrand to "Glue" -- the company that puts team connection on auto-pilot. Glue helps hundreds of amazing companies stay connected while remote. The company sold to a PE firm in 2023.

Head of Marketing

Mystery was founded as an incredible "date night out" experience. It pivoted to employee engagement and teambuilding events. It was backed by Greylock and hit a $100M valuation.

Head of Growth Marketing at Mystery

Convoy Inc

Convoy was one of the largest Seattle startups, reaching a $3.8B valuation. It's now part of Flexport.

I led the shipper growth marketing team. I built our account-based marketing (ABM) program, and led strategy for scaled customer acquisition through digital marketing.

Head of Growth Marketing, B2B

PMM for Convoy Go (Drop-and-hook), Dynamic Backup (load pricing API), TMS Integrations, and more. Created Convoy's first Freight Insights Report and earned PR coverage from our content marketing. (Uber Freight copied our report, which is the sincerest form of flattery.) Led discounting programs that drove new customer acquisition. Led data-driven SDR campaigns that yielded the majority of marketing-sourced opportunities.

HaptX Inc.

First marketing hire at HaptX (once called AxonVR). Built marketing program from ground up, rebranded / renamed the company, hit the front page of YouTube and Reddit multiple times, accepted into the Sundance Film Festival, earned PR in Newsweek, WSJ, Wired, The Verge. Had a lot of fun too!
haptx.com

Director of Marketing

Marketing Manager

Mitrak, LLC

Marketing consulting and video production. Some highlights: 
- Launched a local mustard company on Shopify and created their best-selling product
- Videos for ESPN College Game Day, Microsoft, AT&T
- Advertisements for the University of Washington
- Independent films found on funnyordie.com and international film festivals

Owner

Russell Investments

Directed corporate videos (aired on the NASDAQ Tower in Times Square), ran live streaming for events, produced podcasts, launched an award-winning YouTube channel, and built a full service video + photography studio. I wore a suit to work and learned a bunch about investing too!

Video Producer

Digital Media Specialist

University of Washington

Created and produced 30-minute weekly TV show–the first student-created program in UW history. Hired, trained, and managed staff. Produced TV ads, anchored news segments, and directed marketing videos for the University of Washington. I spent more time at UW working on videos than I did going to class!

Producer

The Daily of The University of Washington

Shot, edited, and published multiple videos per week. Filmed Husky football + basketball games. Had a weekly column in the entertainment section. Learned how to write + make videos + tell stories fast. Met a lot of cool people too!

Writer / Video Producer / Manager

I've had some great adventures in my career as a marketer. I've built and led marketing teams from seed-stage startups to venture-backed unicorns. I founded and sold a growth marketing agency. My work has been selected by the Sundance Film Festival, I’ve guest lectured at MIT, reached the front page of YouTube, went viral with a Jeff Bezos endorsement, and earned press in The Wall Street Journal, Wired, and Newsweek.

Now at Google, I lead demand generation marketing for Google Workspace, managing the SMB and startup segments. This includes well-known apps like Gmail, Docs, Drive, and Meet, as well as emerging tools like Gemini and NotebookLM.

I’m also the creator and host of the podcast “A History of Marketing.” Guests include marketing legends like Philip Kotler, Guy Kawasaki, David Aaker, Robert Cialdini, and top professors, CMOs, and authors. I started this podcast because I’m a history enthusiast, and I’m passionate about teaching others about marketing and becoming a better marketer myself.

Feel free to connect or send a note if I can be helpful.

All views are my own.

Andrew Mitrak

Nike is the first brand I remember making an impression on me as a kid in the 1990s.

I remember seeing their ads with Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Mia Hamm. My favorite childhood movie, Space Jam, actually started out as a Nike ad! 

So it was a special feeling to sit down with Scott R., who for 16 years was Nike’s official corporate historian (a role he invented).

We talked about Nike's marketing milestones and the self-taught marketers (an accountant, a lawyer, and a social worker) who transformed Blue Ribbon Sports into one of the world's most iconic brands.

Scott shares stories about:

- How Nike's marketing was the key component of their early legal victory over Onitsuka, a lawsuit that could have ended Nike just as it was getting started.

- The story of Rob Strasser, Nike’s larger-than-life first head of marketing, who started as the lawyer on that Onitsuka lawsuit.

- The real story of the movie Air, and how Hollywood got so much wrong.

- The surprisingly morbid inspiration behind “Just Do It”.

- Scott's collaboration with Phil Knight on Shoe Dog (which is probably my all-time favorite business memoir)

Watch or listen and let me know what you think!

Marketing, Google Workspace | Podcaster, "A History of Marketing"

Last week I had the incredible opportunity to pitch a 30-second ad I created to Google's entire marketing org… while I was dressed up like George Washington!

It was part of the annual “Dragons Den” inspired competition. More than 200 Googlers participated, and my submission was selected as 1 of the 3 Global Winners! 

I can’t reveal too much about the ad itself (the goal is to launch it publicly sometime 🤞), but I’ll say it weaves in my love of history and pays tribute to a long tradition of innovation in America, while having fun with Google Workspace products and AI.

Thank you to Lorraine Twohill for giving Googlers a forum to showcase their creativity and to Alison Wagonfeld for sponsoring my project’s further development!

At Google, we believe great ideas can come from everywhere, and this is something that has been a part of our culture for as long as I can remember. My Marketing team put that to the test last week at our annual Dragons' Den-inspired competition (think Shark Tank in the US). We challenged everyone to create shippable work using our AI tools, from Veo to Gemini to Flow. 

We had nearly 200 members of our team, regardless of role or title, submit their ideas in a one-minute pitch video, and we selected 10 finalists to present to the Dragons (my leadership team). The capability of our models, mixed with the creativity of our team resulted in some impressive ideas. We will be exploring many of them further to bring compelling creative work to the world. It was an inspiring moment for our team, filled with fast-paced pitches and some very fun Halloween costumes! 

This is the third year we've run the competition, and it's a powerful reminder that giving our people permission to experiment is the fastest way to harness all the creative genius of our teams and bring brilliant ideas to life. 

#LifeAtGoogle #AI #Marketing

This is a fun one! I had a great time speaking with David Gluckman, the drinks industry legend who invented Baileys Irish Cream and iconic brands like Tanqueray Ten, Ciroc, and Smirnoff Black. 

David shares the remarkably haphazard origin story of Baileys. It was inspired by a 10-year Irish government tax holiday, and developed with what David calls "the benefit of ignorance." 

David visited his local supermarket and purchased Irish whiskey, Irish cream, and powdered chocolate. The result: a liqueur that’s now sold ~2.5 billion bottles globally. 

David’s candid about his disdain for modern marketing practices, his frustration with Baileys’ brand extensions, and why he believes great ideas never come from middle management.

I also ask him about how brands interact with unexpected internet memes, the ethics of marketing alcohol, and much more. 

Find this spirited conversation on YouTube or your favorite podcasting app!

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Andrew Mitrak

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The Battle

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Engagements

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Andrew Mitrak's LinkedIn Performance

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