Karen Dietz, owner of Just Story It, works with executives and companies in capturing and telling their most compelling stories to increase their influence in marketing, branding, and leadership. She has over 25 years in business consulting, training, facilitating, and working with organizational narratives.
She is also one of the top curators on the web bringing together all of the best articles, videos and tools on business storytelling. Just go to the Just Story It website to view the material.
As a Folklorist, Karen has been academically educated in both culture and storytelling, and over the years has been trained by some of the nation's top performance storytellers. She draws on her experience in Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, and non-profit organizations to provide practical experience, guidance, and tools in working with stories that can be put to work immediately.
Clients have included Walt Disney Imagineering, Chase Manhattan Bank, Avery Dennison, The Bronze Triangle Redevelopment District, Beaver Medical Group, San Diego Grantmakers, Princess Cruises, Just In Time For Foster Youth, and the California Center for the Arts Escondido, to name a few.
Karen wrote the Introduction and co-wrote the chapter on storytelling and financial management in one of the top ranked books on organizational narratives Wake Me Up When The Data Is Over; How Organizations Use Stories to Generate Results (2006). She is also featured in the book Storied Careers: 40+ Story Practitioners Talk About Applied Storytelling by Katherine Hansen (2009). Karen is also featured in Steve Denning's book The Leader's Guide To Storytelling; Mastering The Art And Discipline Of The Business Narrative (2005), along with other works.
In addition to her consulting work, Karen is the former chair of the Storytelling In Organizations Special Interest Group (SIO SIG) and the former Executive Director of the National Storytelling Network. She received her masters and doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and lives in San Diego, CA. Her favorite past-times are creating fiber art, and going snorkeling with her husband Tim.