How Kamala Harris Can Win Hearts with Storytelling

Tonight, Vice President Kamala Harris will take the stage at the Democratic National Convention to accept her party’s nomination for president. This is her prime opportunity to connect with the American people and earn their votes. To succeed, she must go beyond policies—she needs to win both hearts and minds. In this crucial battle for America's heart, her most powerful weapon is her story.

Harris’s rise is both unexpected and historic. As the first woman of color nominated for the presidency, she represents a profound moment of change. Yet, despite her four years as Vice President, many voters still wonder who she truly is. I was surprised by how little I knew about her personal journey until I recently read her memoir. The opening chapter offers glimpses into her childhood, but most of the book focuses on her impressive career as a public prosecutor and politician. While her professional achievements are remarkable, I wish she had dedicated more time to the formative moments that shaped her values and character—stories that could connect her more deeply with the American public.

To resonate with voters tonight, Harris must skillfully weave together three distinct narratives—the story of self, the story of us, and the story of now—each unified by shared values. This storytelling framework, pioneered by Professor Marshall Ganz at Harvard, is a powerful tool for leadership.

Story of Self

The story of self is where it all begins. This narrative, told in vivid personal moments, reveals the origin of our values. Harris should draw from her early childhood to find stories that demonstrate how she learned her values and how they shaped her life choices. In her memoir, she reflects on her upbringing with a single immigrant mother, portraying a young girl deeply influenced by her mother. However, Harris often uses her mother’s story to explain her own values rather than focusing on her personal experiences. This was a challenge Hillary Clinton faced during her 2016 DNC speech, where she leaned too heavily on others' stories to explain her values. While it’s important to honor those who influenced us, Harris must center her narrative on her own journey. She needs to tell the story of Kamala Harris—the young girl who faced challenges, made critical choices, and emerged with the values that guide her today.

Story of Us

Next is the story of us—a narrative that seeks to create a sense of community and shared purpose. This is where Harris must tap into our collective experiences, the challenges we’ve faced together as a nation, and the values that have seen us through. In these moments, she has the opportunity to define who “we” are, and in doing so, she must be careful and inclusive. Her challenge is to rally her party and inspire a broader coalition of Americans, regardless of their ideological differences. The story of us is about reminding us of our shared struggles and victories, reinforcing the belief that we can overcome new challenges by holding fast to our common values.

Story of Now

The story of now shifts the narrative to the present, focusing on an urgent challenge that threatens our shared values. This story does more than sound an alarm; it articulates a clear and compelling vision for how we can confront this challenge together. Harris must vividly illustrate the stakes—what we stand to lose if we do nothing, and what we can achieve if we rise to the occasion. She needs to present a strategy that not only inspires hope but also instills confidence in our ability to make a real difference through collective action. The story of now serves as a rallying cry, a call to action that unites people to face the challenge as one.

Linking the Narratives

To deeply connect with her audience, Harris must weave these three stories together with a unifying thread of shared values. What is the urgent challenge that threatens our shared values today? What past experiences show our ability to overcome such challenges together? And what personal values has she demonstrated that will make us trust her as our next president? These stories can be told in any order, but the effectiveness of her narrative will hinge on how well she links them, ensuring each story reinforces the others.

Hope is the Secret Sauce

There are two primary ways to inspire people to action: fear and hope. For many, Harris’s candidacy symbolizes hope, and she must clearly communicate where she finds hope in these uncertain times. More importantly, she needs to help the American people—and the world—discover how they can find hope within themselves and in one another. It’s not enough to simply acknowledge the challenges; she must offer a vision of a future where these challenges are met and overcome through collective effort and shared determination.

Michelle and Barack Obama are masterful examples of leaders who use storytelling to inspire action. In 2016, Michelle Obama’s introduction of Hillary Clinton was so powerful that it overshadowed Clinton’s own speech. Michelle’s ability to share her story in vivid, relatable moments created a deep emotional connection with her audience. In contrast, Clinton’s speech, though solid in content, lacked the same level of detail and vulnerability, which limited its emotional impact. It’s easy to assume that storytelling is a natural talent possessed by only a few, but in reality, it’s a skill that can be learned and refined with practice and coaching.

As we approach this historic moment, I’m eager to hear what Vice President Harris will share tonight. Her speech does more than accept a nomination; it invites us all to join her on a shared journey. I encourage you to tune in, listen closely for the storytelling elements we’ve discussed, and then come back here to share your thoughts. Let’s engage in this moment together and explore the power of story to shape our collective future.