What's Your Story Slam

What’s Your Story Slam is Singapore’s longest-running and biggest live storytelling show, where real people share raw, unforgettable stories that inspire, engage, and connect.

What makes this different?
🎤 It’s not just a stage—it’s a platform. We give people a voice.
🔥 It’s not just storytelling—it’s storytelling that sticks. Every story is crafted, coached, and refined to make an impact.
🚀 It’s not just another event—it’s a movement. A community where leaders, professionals, and everyday people learn to own their stories.

How It Works:
✅ Storytellers pitch their idea → We shape it into something powerful.
✅ They take the stage → Delivering 5- to 6-minute stories that stay with the audience.
✅ Moments become movements → These stories don’t just entertain; they change perspectives.

Impact & Reach:
📍 5+ years of sold-out storytelling events.
🎤 100+ storytellers coached and featured.
🌍 Built a growing storytelling community in Asia.

Want to bring What’s Your Story Slam to your city or organisation?
WYSS isn’t just an event—it’s a format that works anywhere. We bring storytelling to conferences, leadership teams, and organisations worldwide. If your city, company, or community could use a stage where real stories inspire real change, let’s talk.

📩 DM me to host a WYSS in your organisation, or visit www.whatsyourstoryslam.com

Founder

WYSH - What's Your Story (huh)?

Wysh is a consultancy that uses applied theatre techniques in coaching, consulting and corporate training with teams and individuals to find and develop their stories/story strategies and create breakthroughs in communication, collaboration and agility using applied improvisation techniques. 

I coach teams and individuals in identifying their stories using various frameworks and techniques in how to frame their narrative. I consult with companies on their story strategy, creating a culture of storytelling, developing and maintaining their story banks. I also use theatre techniques and improv games to coach individuals/teams on how to deliver their stories/presentations with confidence, agility and style. 

WYSH produces What's Your Story Slam, a live storytelling competition in Singapore. The show features everyday folks to share their 5-minute personal narratives based on the show's theme on stage to a live audience.

Cartier Women's Initiative

I get to work with dynamic and inspirational female entrepreneurs in the social impact space. Together we work on their business plans on how to make their business scalable and sustainable in order to make the world a better place.

Business Coach

Latin America 

This was part social experiment, part personal challenge and part passion quest. 

Social Experiment: I decided to see if I could live in a city where I didn't know anybody or speak the language. I always wanted to learn Spanish and dance, so decided to move to Medellin at the start of my journey. 

Personal Challenge : I wanted to learn how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable so I traveled and hiked around Colombia, Peru, Argentina and Mexico. I learned Tango in Buenos Aires and volunteered as an English teacher in Medellin where I had to learn how to connect immediately with strangers. I then started challenging myself by getting over my fear of being up on stage by doing improv and storytelling. 

Passion Quest : Through this journey I would fly back and forth between the United States and South America where I discovered the world of improv and storytelling. It was during one of those moments on stage when I told a personal story for the first time that I realized this was what I was meant to do.

Living "La Vida Local" (My Sabbatical)

Standard Chartered Bank

I manage the business and provide support to the Global Head of Rates Sales in driving the performance of the business globally. Together, we develop the  story for the Global and regional Rates Sales strategy, ranging from priority accounts, growth strategy, people strategy (organizational structure) to alignment with different parts of the Bank, i.e. Trading, Coverage, Finance, Risk and other control functions

Basically , I had to wear a lot of hats to get things done.

Director, Business Planning Manager, Global Rates Sales

As Regional business manager, I support the Regional head of FM Sales in driving the performance of the financial markets business across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Australia across all corporate and institutional client segments and products. Together, we built out the overall regional Sales strategy and draft the key initiatives and themes, and with this we are able to create the ASEAN story.

Director, Regional Business Manager, FM Sales ASEAN 

My first role out of business school in Singapore, I rotated within FM Sales and the COO office. It was my first time to work in a very international environment and in a large organization. It was a very steep learning curve and definitely put my OB learnings to good use as I learned all about soft power - how to get things done using persuasion and influence.

Associate Director, Financial Markets Sales

INSEAD

One of the most challenging and rewarding experiences to date. I completed my MBA with an amazing and driven group of global cosmopolitans. I was fortunate to receive the Asia Enterprise Scholarship. I graduated with a focus on Finance, Entrepreneurship and Organizational Behavior.

Amalgamated Investment Bancorporation

As Head of Treasury and Sales, I manage the team responsible for marketing the company's products and services, mainly fixed income outlets and investment banking products such as corporate issuances and IPO's. During my term, my team was able to exceed the target budget by 30% of assets under management. 

I also set up AIB's FX brokerage desk which provided a new revenue stream for the company. 

My team is also responsible for the treasury function in the firm. We monitor the company's fixed income investments and liquidity position.

Working in a small shop and setting up a new business within the firm, this was my first taste of being an intra-preneur.

Head of Treasury and Sales

Banco de Oro, Universal Bank, Inc.

I moved from money market sales to foreign exchange sales covering SMEs in Manila as well as business development work for accounts based in the Visayas and Mindanao region.

FX Sales

Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company

I set up the treasury sales desk in Cebu City which covered the Visayas and Mindanao region for the bank.

Money Market Dealer

Equitable PCI Bank

First job straight from university, I learned about the exciting world of treasury in the banking sector. I found my place in money market sales.

Creator & Host of What's Your Story Slam | Storyteller | Communications Coach | Applied Improvisation Facilitator

Great ideas don’t win. Great storytellers do.
I learned this the hard way.

Most professionals think that data, credentials, or titles make them persuasive.
They don’t. If your audience doesn’t feel something, they won’t remember you. And if they don’t know you, they won’t follow, promote, or buy from you.

I spent 15 years in banking, waiting for my work to speak for itself.
It didn’t.
The people who moved ahead weren’t always the smartest.
They were the ones who could communicate with clarity and conviction.

So in 2016, I left. 
No plan.
Just a one-way ticket to South America.
I learned Spanish. I danced. I took a break from ambition until I stumbled into storytelling.

In New York, I walked into an improv class. Then a storytelling show.
Then I got on stage, and everything changed. 
People leaned in. They laughed. They listened.
 
That moment taught me something I now teach others:
The ability to tell a story is the ability to own the room.

Back in Singapore, I couldn’t find a storytelling stage—so I built one.
What’s Your Story Slam (WYSS) started as a show.
It’s now a movement—one that helps leaders speak with power, presence, and purpose.

Since then, I’ve coached over 300 leaders 1:1 and trained thousands globally.

✅ Helped a founder and his team raise over US$200M by tying personal stories to their pitch
✅ Helped a senior finance leader go from under-the-radar to influencing the Group CFO—shifting from operational input to strategic impact
✅ Helped clients land board seats, TEDx talks, and career-defining promotions—by telling the right story at the right time

I’ve worked with Fortune 500s, high-growth scale-ups, and bold executives who are done playing small.
Together, we don’t just refine stories—we build influence.

Want to bring WYSS to your company or city?
It’s more than a show. It’s a platform for brave voices.
For leaders who want to inspire. For teams that need to connect.
For organisations ready to communicate with conviction.

📩 DM me to host WYSS, book a keynote, or coach your leaders.
Or visit www.whatsyourstoryslam.com

“Can we squeeze in a quick call this week?”

That was the message I got on day two of my recovery week.

Me: “I’m taking the week off. Let’s reconnect Monday.”
Client: “It’ll just take 20 minutes.”
Me: “No.”

Here’s the thing about boundaries:
They only work if you honour them when it’s inconvenient.

I teach leaders how to think on their feet and handle difficult conversations —
but none of that matters if I can’t model it myself.

And the truth?
My body had been warning me for weeks:

• Tasks that used to energise me now drained me
• My inbox felt heavier than usual
• Recovery took longer after every project

I finally listened.

A week offline didn’t give me “peace.”
It gave me clarity about what I’d been ignoring.
The uncomfortable kind.

The kind that forces you to admit:
If you don’t slow down, your body will eventually decide for you.

And here’s the communication skill nobody teaches —
not in business school, not in improv, not in leadership books:

How to say no to good clients when your wellbeing is on the line.

That’s not a script.
It’s a muscle.
You build it by practising it in moments that feel costly.

What’s the hardest professional conversation you’re avoiding right now?

Anna Ong

I am a storyteller / coach / entrepreneur. I work with teams and individuals in crafting  their stories in their own voice, I consult with companies in developing their story strategy. 

Prior to this, I spent over 15 years financial services, where I held various roles in sales, relationship management, business management, strategy and operations. 

While I enjoyed the challenges in banking, but I did not feel a passion for the job or the industry. So I took some time off to pursue my passions. I moved to Buenos Aires to pursue my passion for tango. I went to New York to pursue Improv. But in the end I found that Storytelling is my passion.

So I decided to build a business around it, and set up WYSH - which stands for What’s your story, huh? And after that, I started producing a live storytelling event called "What's Your Story Slam" that showcases professionals like you and me, sharing personal stories on stage based on the show's theme. 

My other passion is brewing kombucha, a fermented tea drink. I discovered kombucha when I was traveling in the US, and it was love at first sip. I have then started the task of learning how to brew it myself first in the US and now in SG, where I learned about how the Singapore humidity and the different types of teas can impact the quality of my brew. 

I am also a connection junkie, I like to connect with people through other people, dance or stories. So please do share your story with me, I'd love to connect. 

From Banker to Stage: I Help Leaders Command Any Room Through Storytelling + Improv | Creator, Grace Under Fire Workshop | Host, What’s Your Story Slam, Singapore’s #1 Storytelling Show

🎭 When You Share What You Love

When you share what you love, you find the energy to carry on — even when you're running on empty.

Two weeks ago, I was in Hong Kong running a global leadership programme. Landed on Friday and on Saturday, I was back in Singapore — hosting four workshop sessions with incredible coaches from New York, Rick Andrews and Hannah Chase.

I was jet-lagged, under-slept, and still half-living out of my suitcase. But when you get the chance to share the teachers who shaped your own improv journey, you say yes.

Because sometimes the best opportunities aren't about you at all. They're about what you can pass on.

Watching leaders, founders, and storytellers dive into those sessions — laughing, failing, listening, connecting — reminded me that generosity isn't about giving things. It's about giving access. 
To ideas. 
To energy. 
To possibility. 
To people.

That weekend, the room buzzed with courage and curiosity. And I realised: purpose refuels faster than sleep ever could.

💭 When was the last time doing what you love gave you more energy than it took?

P.S. My Grab driver returned my phone the same day I lost it. It waited patiently in my mailbox while I was hosting those workshops — apparently, it was the only one that got a proper rest.

P.P.S. Thank you to my Find Your Superpower 🚀 Mastermind, INSEAD Alumni Association Singapore, and She Brilliance community members for coming and playing!

Most people don’t burn out because they didn’t see the signs.
They burn out because they heard the signs — and refused to listen.

For months, signs have been piling up around me.

First, The Projector closed — my home for six years.
Then Spectrum shut down two months later.
Then Lion Studios told me I couldn’t run shows there.

Three homes gone.
Three doors closed.
Three warnings I heard… but didn’t listen to.

And then my body joined in.

My knee won’t heal.
I developed Achilles tendinitis.
My leg has muscle atrophy.
And today, I’m running a fever.

At some point, you stop calling this “bad timing” and start calling it what it is:
a message.

Rest.
Pause.
Recalibrate.

And here's the part no one really talks about:

Leadership is also knowing when it’s time to step down and let others take the lead.
Not out of weakness — but out of wisdom.

Tonight’s show still goes on.
Not because I’m “pushing through,” but because I want to honour my word and the people who carried this show forward with me.

James stepping in to direct.
Frances creating beautiful collateral.
Storytellers crafting their tales with heart.
Fans who bought tickets months in advance.

Sometimes the most responsible thing you can do isn’t to hold everything yourself —
but to hand the reins to people you trust.

After tonight, I’ll breathe.
I’ll stop forcing what clearly wants to shift.
I’ll listen — properly this time.

P.S. When was the last time you realised leadership meant stepping back instead of stepping up?

Kwong Yue Yang Kathryn Tinker Irina Iashvili, Kevin Cottam, Swetha Vigraham Sarah Ahn Nikhil Halwalkar Damon Lye (Yi Hao) Sharon Chong

I pressed pause on producing What's Your Story Slam… and it left me wondering who I am without it.

For context: I’ve been running this live storytelling show for six years.
It became a rhythm.
A responsibility.
An identity I didn’t even realise I’d been carrying.

So when I decided to take a creative hiatus three weeks ago, the silence felt… strange.
Not bad.
Just unfamiliar.

And it reminded me of something we don’t talk about enough:

When you’re in transition, you’re not losing yourself — you’re meeting the next version.

Here’s what I’m realising (and building in public):

I don’t feel most alive because of the show.
I feel alive when I’m helping people tell their stories.
When I see someone speak with confidence for the first time.
When a leader finds their voice.
When someone finally shares the story they’ve been afraid to tell.

That’s the work that lifts me.
WYSS was one container for that — a beautiful one.
But maybe it’s not the only one.

So yes, I’m in a transition.
I’m rethinking, reshaping, rebuilding.
And I’m letting you see the messy middle instead of the polished finish.

If you’re also somewhere between chapters, here’s your reminder:

You don’t need a perfect plan to keep moving.
You just need to stay connected to the part of you that helps others rise.

That’s the compass.

And I’m following mine — one story at a time.

P.S. What’s one thing that brings you back to yourself, no matter how much your work evolves?

Most people think the best stories are the dramatic ones.
They’re not.

The stories that win at What’s Your Story Slam — and the stories that win in the boardroom — all follow the same pattern:

Start normal.
End unexpected.
Keep it true.

You hook people with something familiar.
Then you earn their attention with the twist they never saw coming.

That’s the sweet spot:
Relatable enough to draw people in.
Absurd enough to stay in their heads.

Here’s what most leaders miss:
This isn’t entertainment. It’s strategy.

A relatable opening is how you get people to listen.
A well-timed twist is how you make a message unforgettable.

I’ve just released the final part of my Anatomy of a Winning Story series — a breakdown of why this storytelling pattern works (and how to use it at work, not just on stage).

If you want to communicate with more clarity, influence, and impact, it’s worth a read. 👇 

P.S. What’s the most absurd thing that’s happened to you at work? (That story might be more powerful than you think.)

People think storytelling is easy.
Stand up. Talk. Done.

If only.

This week I wrote about the part no one sees — the messy, uncomfortable, unglamorous work behind a true story.
The edits that hurt.
The silence you rehearse.
The lines you love but have to kill.
The emotional stamina it takes to stay in the moment without breaking the fourth wall.

If you’ve ever wondered why a five-minute story can hit harder than a 60-minute keynote,
you’ll get it after reading this.

P.S. I end with a question you might not be ready to answer… yet.

Most people think storytelling is just "getting onstage and talking." If only it were that simple. What you don't see is the part that actually makes 

Open article: BEHIND THE SLAM: What Most People Never See  by Anna Ong • 2 min read

BEHIND THE SLAM: What Most People Never See

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt after coaching 300+ leaders, it’s this:
 Most people think they’re telling a story… but they’re really giving a timeline.

And timelines don’t move people.
Stories do.

If you’ve been feeling overlooked, underestimated, or just… invisible — this masterclass will help you change that narrative fast.

We’re keeping it intentionally intimate so every woman gets real coaching, not generic tips.

If you’re ready to be heard (properly heard), grab your spot before it fills.

P.S. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to work with me before 2025 ends… this is it.

The Leaders Who Will Stand Out in 2026 Are the Ones Who Can Tell a Powerful Story.
Are you one of them?

Ready to elevate your thought leadership? Or improve your visibility and influence and be impossible to ignore? 

Then join us for this exclusive masterclass “Storytelling for Influence: a virtual visibility masterclass for women leaders”on December 10th, 2025, 1-2:30pm CET, led by @annaong212 host of Singapore’s No1 Storytelling Show

This hands-on masterclass, following a powerful taster session held in September, is designed to help leaders craft and share a personal story that lands with clarity, emotion, and presence. 

➡️What You’ll Gain:

1️⃣ How to find the right story (and why it matters)
 
2️⃣ How to use the What / So What / Now What structure
 
3️⃣ How to deliver it with confidence and presence
 
We’ll put it to practice- with an intimate storytelling exercise pairing with like-minded women leaders from diverse industries internationally. There’ll also be real-live coaching with Q&A
 
Meet Our Expert Facilitator🔽🔽🔽

From Banker to Stage: Anna Ong helps leaders command any room through storytelling. 

Host, What’s Your Story Slam, Singapore’s No 1  Storytelling Show and Founder-WYSH - What’s Your Story (huh)? She’s assisted-a founder to raise US$200M through story-driven pitching, senior leaders land board seats with compelling narratives and 300+ professionals speak with clarity under pressure. 

We have known Anna Ong closely for years- a global citizen, she has trained  Cartier Women’s Initiative impact entrepreneurs. 

Places are limited! 

Early bird special offer 15% off, thereafter $95; register now >>>> https://shorturl.at/1Zbcz

#Storytelling #Visibility #ThoughtLeadership #WomenInLeadership

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