By: Janice Radway, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

The Opening Plenary of the 2024 ASPE Conference in Vancouver started with a splash. Or should I say song? There was no PowerPoint. There was no one standing on the big stage with screens behind them. Instead, we were treated to Petula Clark’s “Downtown” and a dancing Janece Shaffer, along with two ASPE members who have some skilled dance moves. Of course we sang along.

Janece Shaffer is an accomplished playwright and the founder of StoryReady in Atlanta, which coaches clients to sharpen their storytelling skills. Storytelling celebrates our personal history, strengthens our self-awareness, and can be a persuasive tool in the work we do. 

Ms. Shaffer engaged the audience in lighthearted and tactile ways. We used gestures to help us remember 4 essential components of a compelling story: a transformational moment, a close-up view instead of at 10,000 feet (a point made with paper airplanes), sticky details and heart. We told stories about our childhood to fellow audience members. My partner and I bonded over emotional stories of our mothers. 

This interactive workshop-style plenary was a perfect way to kick off the conference. Our stories are our power, and honing our storytelling skills can help leverage this power in our personal lives as well as our professional development. Read more about Janece Shaffer and StoryReady here.

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