The Art of Story
What Tech Can Learn from an Award-Winning Filmmaker
Our storytelling love fest with 2x Academy Award winner Ben Proudfoot and some of our favorite B2B leaders.
We hosted an intimate gathering of CMOs, CEOs and CROs with two-time Academy Award-winner Ben Proudfoot to explore what makes a story unforgettable—and how leaders can use that power to inspire connection, spark realization, and move people to act.
We began with everyone sharing their favorite book or film and why it speaks to them. That set the tone for an open and engaging conversation. As Ben shared afterwards, “Rarely have I gone so deep with so many people in one night!”
With genuine curiosity and disarming warmth, he draws out the stories that shape each of us, and showed how those moments of emotion and realization are what great storytelling (and great leadership) are made of.
Scroll to see what resonated: the stories, the insights, and the moments we won’t forget.
Moments That Moved the Room
Short clips on the craft of humanist storytelling—and how it translates to business leadership, brand strategy, and emotional resonance.
Emotion is the language of story—and the compass for intuitive problem-solving.
We follow stories when we can follow someone.
The past holds the meaning. That’s where great stories begin.
The specific is what makes a story resonate universally.
Real stories spark real realizations—the kind you feel in your gut.
The right questions unlock the story underneath the surface.
Every person holds a story worth telling—when we truly listen.
Every Brand Has an Oscar-Worthy Story
What separates stories that fade from those that stay with us? Ben Proudfoot showed us it’s not about scale, but people, emotion, and the overlooked truths we choose to tell.
In this article, ZOOM Co-CEO Ellie Victor shares the key takeaways that brands can carry into their own storytelling.
“The stories that move us aren’t about products or processes — they’re about people.”
A Night of Story, Substance, and Strategy
During the evening, our clients and friends swapped their most meaningful stories—from childhood books to business milestones. Together with Ben, we unpacked the role of emotional truth in storytelling, what B2B gets wrong about connection, and why the most powerful stories don’t just persuade—they change lives.
Rob Meinhardt
Executive Chairman, Mach1
Fave story: Endurance
Flint Brenton
Board Member, Entropy & Team Dynamix
Fave story: Ulysses
Aaron Feigin
Chief Communications & Brand Officer, ArmorCode
Fave story: The Prophet
Vikram Mehta
Co-Founder & CEO, NeXTnet
Fave story: How ZOOM’s Messaging Powered a $500M Exit
Scott Whitney
CEO, Sausalito Labs
Fave story: Barbarian Days
Dariusz Paczuski
CMO, FranklinCovey
Fave story: Forrest Gump
Jamie Lee
CRO
Fave story: Good Will Hunting
Arijit Sengupta
CEO, Aible
Fave story: The Mahabharata
Humblebrag: Our Clients ❤️ Us
(Overheard at Dinner)
“Nick and Ellie shaped our message at my prior company, taking our acquisition value to over $500 million—more than 11x cash-on-cash return for investors in under four years. That’s what I call a beautiful story.”
— Vikram Mehta, Co-Founder & CEO, NeXTnet
I’ve been a ZOOM client five times. When I joined as CEO, we were growing around 10%, and about 35% when we sold—five times in a row. That’s not easy to do, and I credit the ZOOM team for being a big part of it.”
— Flint Brenton, Board Member, Entropy and Team Dynamix
“I'm the biggest ZOOM fan of all time.”
— Rob Meinhardt, Executive Chairman, Mach1
“I’ve done seven ZOOMs, and I’m on my eighth one. Nick and Ellie get credit for those seven.”
— Dariusz Paczuski, CMO, FranklinCovey