Guiding you on a path to ethical and effective storytelling.

Words Matter.

When it comes to sales, fundraising, advocacy, leading well, or rallying teams, positive and ethical communication is everything. Christy helps shape messaging by infusing it with dignity and clarity so your words can make an impactful difference.

Her goal for your time together is to provide her clients with a framework that enables consistency in the way messages are crafted and shared. She helps people communicate better through workshops, training, and coaching, so their presentation of the work they love doing doesn’t get lost in translation.

 Changing the way organizations approach and communicate impact.

It’s frustrating to be passionate about something but unable to convey that passion. The goal of Christy’s work is to help people successfully share their passions through better communications strategies. And, while it’s great to have pages of notes filled with ideas, translating those ideas into action is the objective—as well as creating a plan for consistency in the way messaging is shared. 

Christy helps clients in a variety of industries communicate their brand with clarity and ease, so they can share their story, connect with their ideal audience, and unify their team. She is also a seasoned StoryBrand workshop facilitator, walking teams through a time-tested framework created by writer and entrepreneur Donald Miller that helps brands communicate their key message through storytelling.

Speaking of stories, personal stories of change are some of a communicator’s most powerful tools. But they’re also one of the easiest ways to harm the very people who were meant to be served. Through her work in ethical storytelling, Christy helps communicators collect the right details and share in such a way that upholds the dignity of every single individual involved.

Meet Christy

Christy Kern is a seasoned communications consultant who has traveled the world working for hundreds of businesses and nonprofit organizations. Christy coaches, leads workshops, and facilitates training sessions in order to help people become better communicators. Not only does she work with clients to find clarity within their messaging, she can help convey that messaging in the best way. From group sessions practicing conversational skills to private workshops on StoryBrand marketing and more, her consulting runs the gamut and is tailored to accomplish the specific needs of each client.

After more than a decade of living abroad, Christy is currently settled in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, Hagen, and their curly canine, Watson. She’s a huge fan of putt-putt and loves searching for good tacos around town.

Speaking

From virtual meetings to the main stage, Christy has delivered engaging, interactive talks for groups from 10 to over a thousand. Contact her to learn what she can bring to your next event.

Workshops

Whether it’s a 90-minute rally or a two-day deep dive, Christy can help bring your team together to reach consensus and build a sustainable strategy for better communications.

Research

Christy genuinely nerds out on learning about dignified and ethical storytelling practices for mission-driven organizations and loves to collaborate on research projects with like-minded individuals and groups.

Practice

Christy consults with her clients to help them build better messaging and communication practices on behalf of both the internal and external workings of their organizations.

Work with Christy

From crafting corporate messaging to co-creating ethical storytelling guidelines, Christy is extremely skilled in bringing teams together to think differently, find clarity, and find alignment (even when it feels impossible). Making decisions around mission statements, marketing messages, and internal guidelines can cause friction. However, Christy’s methods have a way of unifying teams and helping them become better communicators.

Whether you want to book Christy as a speaker, bring her in to facilitate a workshop, collaborate with her on a research project, or hire her for consulting, click the link below to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • In our attempt to raise support, advocate for a cause, or promote the good an organization is doing in the world, it can become incredibly easy to co-opt stories that are not ours to tell, skew data, or emotionally rig a story to get more of a reaction from our audience. While our intentions might actually be good, we can actually be causing more harm than we realize.

    At its heart, ethical storytelling is an understanding realization that stories are powerful. In fact, stories can change the world. So as we’re crafting those stories, we aim to do so through the lens of honoring and dignifying those we’re serving. We strive for authenticity, transparency, deep respect, and a true collaboration and partnership with all involved.

  • The StoryBrand framework is a valuable tool that centers customers and their experiences in marketing messages rather than just a brand itself. The concept was introduced when popular nonfiction author and entrepreneur Donald Miller published his Building a StoryBrand in 2017. Some of the key principles of StoryBrand marketing include seeing the customer as the hero instead of your brand, and fully explaining your plan or the “how” behind helping the customer. By clarifying your brand’s messaging and positioning it with empathy and understanding, you can reach your desired audience with impact.

  • Put simply, Christy works with teams who want to become better communicators. She comes alongside impact-driven organizations to create frameworks for ethical storytelling and effective communication practices. Her goal is to help these organizations make the difference they want to see in the world by communicating their mission in the best way possible.

    While she has consulted with dozens of teams on their marketing plans and provided reviews of everything from keynotes, to websites, to communications guidelines, she does not provide marketing deliverables. That said, she would be more than happy to provide referrals of some fantastic marketing teams if you need assistance in that area.

  • After an initial consultation, Christy will put together a proposal, have a conversation about it, and then move forward from there. Because each client’s needs are different, it’s best to talk to Christy for specifics. You can fill out a contact form and can expect to receive a response within two to three business days.

  • Christy collaborates with various brands, ministries, nonprofits, researchers, and humanitarian aid organizations who are passionate about the work they do. She is herself especially passionate about ethical storytelling, and feels privileged to play a part in making the world a better place by connecting changemakers and teaching them how to communicate well.

    She is also open to all kinds of collaboration. Need help with messaging in company training videos? Have an idea for an art project but want input first about the story you’re trying to tell? Want to receive feedback on a marketing campaign your team’s been mulling over? Christy is interested in all of the above–and more.

  • Absolutely. Christy is always excited to talk to people about raising their communication game, not just when it comes to big-idea company messaging, but also when it comes to the work they accomplish on a daily basis.

  • Christy takes on anything from large conferences to small gatherings. She is always glad for the opportunity to teach and learn from those who are interested in effective and ethical communication.

  • As of right now, Christy is not taking on any new one-on-one clients. However, if you are coming through a referral or have worked with her in the past, send her an email or use the contact form to reach out.

  • Arlene Mendoza

    “Christy has a creative lens towards creating learning experiences that are interactive and engaging. While co-creating a workshop, Christy was able to leverage interactive tools that took my idea to the next level creating an engaging learning experience for our audience.”

  • Karen Schleicher, Q Place

    We had many pieces of gold but didn’t know how to fit them together. In just one morning of working with Christy, we felt confidence that she grasped the value of our ministry and the challenges we were facing. Since then, Christy’s coaching has helped us discover how to put the pieces together and communicate strategically. Now, we are filling our own training groups with people who are more engaged than we have ever seen before.

  • Megan Dougherty

    “Christy is one of the best business coaches I have ever had the privilege to work with. In the year and a bit we spent working together I was blown away by her professionalism, organization, insight, and ability to innovate. (She also has a KILLER sense of humor.)

    She never hesitated to go above and beyond, and her insight and acumen helped dozens of clients see increased success in their business.”

  • Vivek Munshi, BioVentus

    “Thank you again for the great StoryBrand workshop you put on for us. Today I had to present to our Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team and I employed the SB framework to start my presentation. I received many compliments afterwards and know the story I told at the beginning played a major role in how the presentation was received overall. The framework really works! Thank you again for teaching us!”

Four Keys of Communication

To be clear is to be kind.

Too often we create confusion by overcomplicating things, skirting the main issues, failing to clearly convey expectations, or overburdening our audience with information. This doesn't serve anyone well. At its foundation, communicating clearly is one of the kindest things we can do for our team members, stakeholders, and the community at large.

Upholding dignity is paramount.

How we communicate and tell stories is one of the most tangible representations of the values and culture of an organization. If honoring the dignity of all individuals is at the root of this practice, we can ensure that our marketing efforts aren't just effective, they're empowering to all involved.

Know what you are for.

It is really easy to know what you stand against, but it is very important to make clear to your audience what you stand for, what you support, and what is the heart behind what you are trying to communicate. We don't want to simply be naysayers and opposers but rather, champions of good and providers of better ways forward.

Always anchor in value.

To offer the value your audience deserves, start by asking yourself the question: What does our audience need and how are we providing that through this piece of communication? Creating content for the sake of content will only get you so far. Serving your audience well by ensuring value in every piece of collateral you create will provide true fans and advocates.