About
Laura Goldstone, Founder, Storyhaven
I have been writing since I could hold a pencil, and I have no intention to ever stop. Writing began as a way to make sense of the thoughts swirling around my mind and see what happened once they were acknowledged, nurtured, and given room to grow. I remember going downstairs to my family's basement and sitting at our desktop computer for hours, writing story after story. Being so observant and intuitive, combined with being creative and curious, meant I needed a way to foster the stories I recognized, understand them, and determine what happened next.
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I have been working in marketing and communication for well over a decade and have long known that the secret to everything is storytelling. Everything has a story - a painting, a project, a person. I have made it my personal mission to empower those stories and bring them into the spotlight. Want to be a successful marketer? Tell better stories. Want to be an effective teacher? Weave stories into your lessons. Want to be a better writer? Friend? Wife? Use stories to get your point across and make sense of everything going around you. Stories give context and meaning; they give organization as well as a foundation through which to evolve. They aren't just a way to make sense of what already is; they propel us forward with the tools to craft what will be.
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My professional story is filled with years of experience running content marketing, communications strategy, L&D, corporate communications, internal communication, leadership development, PR, and branding and design projects and teams, obtaining my MBA, mentoring Honors students at Merrimack College, performing on stage, consulting, coaching, and delivering lectures and workshops on communication and leadership. And my personal story explains why I feel passionate about doing all of that and why I want to bring Storyhaven to you.
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Our Mission and Vision
Discover Your Storyhaven.
Storyhaven’s mission is to empower its community members to discuss and leverage storytelling elements, providing resources and opportunities for writers, storytellers, leaders, speakers, and people who want to communicate better, from all backgrounds and experience levels.
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​The power of storytelling can be felt everywhere - in branding, marketing, communication, content creation, fiction writing, teaching, designing, literature analysis, leadership, business strategy, personal relationships, and more.
In essence, Storyhaven’s vision is to bring storytelling into the spotlight as a way to lead better lives.
A Little More about Laura
Experience: 15+ years of leading teams & programs, advising leaders, developing employees, writing & editing, devising integrated communications strategies, crafting project plans, implementing & elevating processes, establishing structures, designing L&D programs, facilitating workshops, overseeing content & design, building creative & supportive cultures.
Specialties: Communications, leadership, talent development, strategic alignment, emotional intelligence, L&D, leadership education, team leadership, organizational development, marketing & communications strategy, messaging & content planning, project management, creative vision, operations, editorial direction, content ideation, internal communication, structure implementation, event planning.
Some recent career highlights:
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Named CMO to Watch by CMO Alliance - 2023
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Communications strategy featured by Media 7 - 2022
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Published on Spin Sucks, Digiday, AdExchanger, SmartBrief
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Launched new logo, design system, and website in 2022 (including rollout of 100+ revised content assets, segmented by topic and funnel stage)
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Co-led inclusion in Forrester report and ran all PR strategies and execution
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Ran company-wide trainings in employee engagement, EQ, communication, and leadership
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Launched funnel-specific content categorization system
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Designed OKR and performance review structure and process
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Created content ideation/brainstorm program which boosted content production and effectiveness by over 400%
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Introduced several companies to FAQs, buzz kits, house ads, process documentation, content calendar, and strategic plans
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Industry involvement:
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Member of CMO Alliance
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Member of CMWorld Slack community (by CMI)
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Member of L&D Collective (by 360Learning)
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Member of MarketingProfs Slack community
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Member of Comms-unity Slack community
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Member of Spin Sucks Slack community
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Former ANA B2 Awards Judge
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Certifications:
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Designing Strategy - IDEO U
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Engagement and Productivity - The Predictive Index
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Leadership and Management - The Predictive Index
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Team Performance - The Predictive Index
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Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking - HarvardX
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Special skills:
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Emotionally intelligent leadership
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Strategic, empathic communication
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Project management & organization
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Translating strategy into action
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Management coaching
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Company training & workshop facilitation
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L&D program design & implementation
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Performance development & process design
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Corporate positioning & communications strategy
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Writing & editing
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Narrative strategy
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Creative design vision & direction
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Values:
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Integrity, above all else
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Respect
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Empowerment
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Learning
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Creativity
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Curiosity
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Accountability
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Authenticity
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Empathy
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Balance
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Education:
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MBA in Leadership - Bentley University. High Distinction. Received Arthur H. Walker Scholarship for excellence in management. Courses included Emotionally Intelligent Leadership, Leading Responsibly, Entrepreneurial Thinking, Global Strategy, Strategic Innovation, Leading Change, Marketing Management, Business Process Management, and more.
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BA in Communication Arts and Sciences - Merrimack College. Major: Mass Communication. Minors: Theatre Arts and Psychology. Summa Cum Laude; Honors Program; Presidential Scholar. Took classes in Mass Media, Interpersonal Communication, Public Speaking, PR & News Media, and Organizational Communication. Two-term President of Lambda Pi Eta. Honors Executive Council Representative. The Beacon News Editor & Writer. Writing Center Tutor. TA for Intro to Writing. Wrote, directed, and edited PSA for Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center. Wrote, directed, starred in, and edited short film about schizophrenia. Filmed and edited documentary about college athletes.
Other roles:
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Trained actress. 15+ years experience; trained in Stanislavski, Chekhov, and Meisner techniques; Irene Ryan acting award nominee; trained in Musical Theatre; completed extensive dramaturgical work; participated in workshops at Kennedy Center for the Arts Region 1 Theatre Festival 2010 & 2011, including "Michael Chekhov & Psychological Gesture," Dell'Arte's "The Physical Actor: WAY Beyond The Psychological," "Cold Reading for the Camera," "Fitzmaurice Voicework," Jim Beauregard's stage combat, "Imaginative Acting Techniques from Michael Chekhov," and Diane Cushing's "Freeing the Voice."
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Former athlete. I played basketball and softball for many years, as well as gymnastics, ice skating, dance, and tennis. I am a big fan of the Boston Celtics, the New England Patriots, the San Antonio Spurs, Manchester City (Premier League football club), Roger Federer, and Denise Austin. I have recently gotten into yoga and pickleball.
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Dog mom & animal lover! Anyone who knows me knows that I will take any chance I get to talk about my pup, Merry. She's a border collie, German shepherd, Norwegian elkhound, Aussie mix, and she's the love of our lives.
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Wife, daughter, sister. Family means the world to me.
