Guest:
Christian Napier
Founder & CEO, Rakonto Inc. | Knowledge Management Advisor, International Olympic Committee
LinkedIn
Host:
Melissa Aarskaug
Executive Connect | Website
YouTube: @ExecutiveConnect
Episode Overview:
In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Christian Napier, a knowledge management expert whose storytelling work has spanned the Olympic Games and Fortune 500 boardrooms. Christian shares how storytelling can go beyond inspiration—it can transform how organizations learn, grow, and retain vital knowledge. He takes us behind the scenes of the Olympics, unpacks how to “scalably harvest contextual knowledge,” and explains why even a short story can influence hiring, culture, and leadership.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro to Christian and his Olympic journey
03:15 – Why stories of behind-the-scenes heroes matter
07:40 – Storytelling as a business tool: changing minds and building bridges
12:05 – What is “contextual knowledge,” and why should you care?
16:30 – How leaders can mine insights from employees at every level
21:10 – LinkedIn and micro-stories: small actions, big ripples
25:00 – Capturing personal stories before they’re lost
Connect With Us:
Podcast Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect
Social:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug/
Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissa_aarskaug
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