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Connecting with Teams through Storytelling for Leadership Success
Scott Mann
High-Impact Leadership Expert, Master Storyteller, Retired Green Beret
- Provides actionable strategies for navigating change, helping leaders manage uncertainty, foster resilience, and guide their teams through transitions with confidence
- Shares insights on human connection through storytelling, demonstrating how fostering trust and meaningful relationships can transform organizations and empower teams to thrive
- Combines his military expertise and personal experiences with hardship to inspire lasting positive change in leaders
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Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Scott Mann is a retired U.S. Army Green Beret, best-selling author, and renowned leadership expert known for turning real-world experience into transformational lessons in trust, connection, and resilience. Drawing from a decorated 23-year military career, 18 of those years spent in Army Special Forces operating in high-stakes, low-trust environments, Mann conducted high-impact missions across Latin America, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Today, he shares deeply personal, mission-driven narratives that teach leaders how to foster genuine connection, build collaborative cultures, and lead with authenticity in times of uncertainty and change, using storytelling as a powerful strategy to inspire trust, drive alignment, and accelerate results.
After retiring in 2013, Mann faced a personal battle with post-traumatic stress, nearly succumbing to despair. His path to healing began through storytelling, culminating in the creation of Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret, a powerful play that portrays the unseen costs of war. Performed by an all-veteran cast, the play has toured nationally and is available on Amazon Prime, offering audiences an unfiltered look into the sacrifices of military service.
In 2021, as Kabul fell, Mann led Task Force Pineapple, a volunteer group of veterans that orchestrated the evacuation of over 1,000 Afghan allies, honoring the promises made during the war. This extraordinary mission is chronicled in his New York Times best-selling book, Operation Pineapple Express, hailed as a gripping account of courage and commitment.
Mann is the founder of Rooftop Leadership, where he translates battlefield lessons into strategies for corporate leaders to build trust and navigate change. He also established two nonprofits: The Heroes Journey, aiding veterans in their transition to civilian life through storytelling, and Task Force Pineapple, supporting Afghan allies and veterans grappling with moral injury.
A sought-after speaker, Mann has delivered TEDx talks and consulted for organizations like Capital One, Cisco, and Walmart. His insights on leadership, resilience, and human connection resonate across sectors, making him a compelling voice for navigating today's complex challenges.
Scott Mann's journey from the front lines to the forefront of leadership and storytelling exemplifies a life dedicated to service, healing, and empowering others to lead with authenticity and purpose. He is exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau.
Speaker Video
Scott Mann: Storytellers Own the Room
Nobody Is Coming to Save You - The Guide to Getting Big Things Done
Scott Mann: "Own Every Room" Workshop Testimonials
Leadership Principles from the Battlefield to the Boardroom
Using Rooftop Leadership in Operation Pineapple Express
Rooftop Leadership | TEDxSantaBarbara
The Generosity of Scars| TEDxSantaBarbara
Surrounded on Purpose | TEDxCincinnati
Leading with Trust: Building Human Connection for Meaningful Impact. In a world filled with distraction, division, and mistrust, the most essential skill for leaders is the ability to connect deeply with others. Yet, human connection among corporate leaders is steadily eroding, leaving untapped value on the table and teams disengaged. Leadership expert Scott Mann brings a unique perspective on how leaders can bridge trust gaps and navigate emotionally charged conversations to foster genuine rapport and mobilize their teams toward strategic outcomes. His insights, drawn from years of navigating low-trust, high-stakes environments, provide leaders with actionable strategies to foster trust, build consensus, and lead with authenticity. His book, Nobody Is Coming to Save You, offers further inspiration and practical insights to help leaders connect, lead, and thrive in today’s complex environment.
Storytelling as Strategy: Using Narrative Competence to Drive Success. Did you know that audiences forget 90% of a presentation's content within 30 seconds if it isn’t delivered as a narrative? In this session, Scott Mann delves into the concept of narrative competence and the neuroscience that makes storytelling one of the most powerful tools for communication and influence. He explains how storytelling is a strategic tool for corporate success, fostering deeper connections at work, and driving positive outcomes. Scott explores the art and science of tapping into our struggles and transforming them into narratives that transcend boundaries and foster empathy. With a focus on emotional intelligence, he reveals how to lower the emotional temperature in high-stakes situations, capture attention when it matters most, and inspire action. Participants will leave with clear, actionable strategies to use storytelling as a tool to enhance leadership, strengthen workplace relationships, and create meaningful change in any setting.
From Fear to Trust: Managing Flight-or-Flight Responses to Organizational Change. Mergers, acquisitions, and organizational shifts often trigger primal fears related to status, resources, and security, leading to distrust and divisive group behaviors within teams. Scott Mann provides actionable strategies to address these challenges, helping leaders create psychological safety and guide their teams through uncertainty. By focusing on the human side of change management, he teaches how to replace fear-based narratives with trust-building approaches that foster collaboration. Scott equips leaders with the tools needed to navigate transitions smoothly and create a more cohesive and resilient organization.
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