The Pitchable Story Workshop

For 20 years as a television producer, Dorie Klissas vetted over 10 pitches a day, totalling 72,000 pitches. As a Chief Marketing Officer for leading healthcare organizations, she oversaw the crafting of those pitches which helped those stories get national media attention. She knows what makes a story pitchable.

Dorie Klissas shares her "Ten Truths of a Pitchable Story" with leaders and organizations, helping them craft a story that can capture national audiences, increase revenue, secure funding, and drive growth, so they can make the world a healthier place.

After learning the key elements of powerful storytelling, Dorie invites participants to craft their own story and pitch it to the audience. With decades of experience as a network television producer counseling live guests on NBC and CBS, she works with participants to refine their stories.

The Challenge

Leaders and organizations often have multiple stories to share that are key to their brand. But do these stories have the key elements to make a story "pitchable?' Will the stories resonate with their stakeholders and audiences?

The Solution

In this highly interactive three-hour workshop, Dorie introduces her proven Pitchable Story Framework, helping participants transform everyday narratives into compelling stories that resonate with stakeholders, customers, media, donors, employees, and community audiences.

Participants will learn how to uncover and articulate the essential elements of a story that drives attention and action:

  • WOW — What makes this story unique, memorable, or remarkable?
  • WHY — Why should audiences care?
  • NOW — Why is this story relevant and timely today?

By the end of the workshop, each participant will leave with a refined, audience-centered story that is ready to be shared, pitched, and leveraged across communications, marketing, public relations, fundraising, and leadership platforms.

Outcomes

Participants will:

  • Learn a practical framework for developing stories that gain attention and build influence.
  • Identify the strongest narratives within their organization or leadership journey.
  • Craft a story that aligns with strategic goals and audience interests.
  • Increase confidence in pitching ideas, initiatives, and accomplishments.
  • Leave with a polished, pitch-ready story that can be used immediately to engage and motivate key audiences.

At a recent workshop with Manomet Conservation Sciences, Dorie's probing questions uncovered a story that went on to gain national media attention. Using satellite tracking technology, researchers followed the migration of the Hudsonian whimbrel, a shorebird that travels more than 6,000 miles between the Arctic and Brazil each year. The data revealed a remarkable finding: two birds left the same Arctic breeding grounds and traveled to Brazil along entirely different routes—one along the Pacific coast and the other along the Atlantic coast—only to reunite at the same location in the Arctic the following year. By helping researchers identify the most compelling and relatable elements of their work, Dorie transformed a scientific discovery into a powerful, pitchable story.

These Valentine birds travel across oceans to reunite with their mate

A Valentine’s story in the tundra: How two whimbrels reunite each year in Arctic Alaska to mate

To access the “10 Truths of a Pitchable Story” worksheet, enter your name and email address in the banner below to download the free worksheet!