The Shape(s) of Author-ity: Storytelling and Leadership Development

Type of Abstract (select): Workshop

Abstract (max. 250 words):
Although he never studied writing, Kurt Vonnegut wrote a thesis for anthropology focused on the shapes of stories. Essentially, he argued, there are roughly 6-8 kinds of plots. Understanding the shape of these plots helps us to understand ourselves and others better. Additionally, research shows practitioners and educators can leverage storytelling as a tool for leadership development.

As the workshop is geared towards educators and leaders of all disciplines and backgrounds, participants will engage in brief, guided writing activities to connect narrative form with their own leadership identity and practice. By the end, attendees will be able to identify common narrative shapes (storytelling techniques), analyze how personal and cultural stories—particularly cross-cultural stories bridging Hungarian and American contexts—can influence leadership development, and craft a concise personal leadership narrative. The session concludes with a short reflective survey.


Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Grant Currier’s work in fiction is inspired by the stories of his Hungarian-American family. His fiction has appeared in numerous journals. Receiving the Tulipán Foundation's 2025 Arts and Culture Award, he has taught at the University of Debrecen through a Fulbright scholarship. He now works at the University of Tennessee.

Jeff Zimmerman, an Associate Professor of Organizational Leadership at Northern Kentucky University, draws on his family's cross-cultural experiences in his teaching and research. He was a US Fulbright Scholar at the University of Pécs and has also taught at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Klagenfurt (Austria).