Power up with effective storytelling

My story began in a city where east meets west, a melting pot where cultures and stories come together- Istanbul.

My fascination with stories began at the age of 5. As my mum called me to come to the table for dinner and the smell of pilaff wafted through our tiny istanbul apartment, I turned away and nestled closer into the clothes in my mums brown wooden wardrobe. That wardrobe was my secret temple. I often used to find myself imagining characters, making up stories in there. It’s where I formed my love of stories.

 After I started school this evolved into writing stories, and performing in the theatre. Since then I have been creating, writing and performing stories. I was soon working as a story writer for magazines and newspapers and writing and performing for TV.

Now I I run my own business and live in the world’s most exciting city, London with endless stories, experiences and cultures

I believe in life long learning my curiosity  about the world and humanity inspired me to take  training programmes.

My education background includes different kinds of disciplines like sociology, psychology, philosophy, pedagogy, training, educational design, experiential learning, narratology, storytelling, coaching, theatre, creative writing, entrepreneurship, futurism, personal development, neuromarketing, human design system.

Those  various disciplines gave me the chance to give a vision, make a synthesis and design my own business method.

Studying sociology and psychology at university gave me a holistic perspective on  stories and human beings.

Having pedagogy – the method and practice of teaching-  and training the trainer certificate (facilitation and experiential learning) also gave me the background of how to train people from children to adults using creative and non formal education methods.

My masters degree is in Educational Design and Evaluation with a storytelling thesis on Hero’s Journey that is a well-known narrative methodology. This academic study helped me to understand the scientific background of stories.

 I learned the performance and art of storytelling, drama and improvisation in Theatre and Creative Writing School.

I have  Professional Coaching Certification from different schools including ICF, Association for Coaching and Bob Proctor. This wide ranging training allowed me to compare and design unique synthesis and effective coaching methods.

I have attended several courses on “The Art and Science of Storytelling”   in different countries – the United Kingdom, Greece, Switzerland, Turkey, Italy, Germany and Brussels- which gave me a chance to work with storytellers and  academics from all around the world. (International School of Storytelling, Oxford Üniversitesi, Narativ London, Berlin University of the Arts, SEİBA)

Entrepreneurship and Futurism School which helped me to understand how to set up a business by creating meaning and value.

As Storytelling Academy, We have been selected to receive the BID Quality Achievement (BQA) Award in the #Gold category at the International Quality #Crown Convention

I was awarded as one of the “Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP)” in Humanitarian leadership category by JCI, which is one of the biggest leadership and business civic organization in the world.

I have been selected as one of the social innovators/changemakers,  by Ashoka (ChangemakerXchange) which is one of the biggest organization on social entrepreneurship area.

I had a turning point which has changed my life totally! It was Autumn, I was in Berlin,  I was invited to participate in a training programme. After the programme, I found myself at a very particular event night. From that night on  things were never gonna be the same again.

I was sitting on a cold floor, listening to a story without knowing a single  word of the language of the speaker. I felt weird but after a while I started to understand something in my heart. It was beyond the words. It was a kind of a magic. It was storytelling. This story changed my life. That was my call to adventure.

As I started to research stories more deeply  I was amazed by their power, I was amazed how stories really matter. I was amazed how just a one story can change a business and a life. I couldn’t have resisted anymore. That was the calling! I quit my job. I just wanted to share this magical power with other people and spread my passion and that’s how Storytelling Academy was born .

I am the Co-Founder of Storytelling Academy,  Training & Consultancy company that help people and organizations to be more successful with using storytelling.

With Storytelling Academy we have done so many international projects, training sessions, consulting and coaching sessions for companies, startups, entrepreneurs and business leaders from all around the world, helping them to build meaningful stories and matter to their customers.

Through  teaching storytelling methodology and techniques, I saw that there must be something more beyond telling stories. Why wouldn’t people create their own stories? With this question we created a tool and methodology Storytelling Canvas.

After I realized that we could reach limited people physically by trainings and consultancy, so why wouldn’t we create something that people can reach easily and learn how to tell effective stories. That’s how Kulenga came alive. I am the co-creator of Kulenga Storytelling Game which helps people improve story skills and create their own stories.

Integrating story and technology, We have also designed user experience of Granada Game application which is gamification and storytelling tech based customer journey for people who want to spend their time in a better way while they are in holiday,

My work background coming from different areas, acting, writing, sales and marketing, media, education, coaching, entrepreneurship. These disciplines melted into my storytelling approach and services. I combined my academic and educational background with business.

Having a chance to work with different fields, make me understand how human thinks, what motivates human behavior and what people and company need in business.

Working in different countries Turkey, Europe, and the United Kingdom gave me chance to have international network, intercultural communication and team skills. I worked as freelance storyteller and story coach in some projects in UK.

As a trainer, education coordinator; I had a chance to work behind the scenes and stage coordinating, designing, delivering, evaluating training programs.

Working in schools, youth and art centers and training companies with children, young people and adults in different age groups gave me an incredible understanding education area.

As an actress and writer, I worked in many projects like European Capital of Culture Agency and TRT productions. I acted in plays, tv programmes, movies. I worked as a reporter writer and my stories and articles were published in many magazines.  I earned first professional money from acting and writing.

As a coach, I had a chance to work with people one to one, listen to their stories and help them to achieve their goals.

As a founder and creator, I created a social project called “Design Your Future” which aims to supply trainings for young people to discover themselves with gaining 21st-century skills. I had led this project as trainer and coordinator for 3 years organizing coaching sessions, running workshops for disadvantaged young people in rural areas of Turkey and Europe.

As a marketing specialist, I learned how to create value and make it promote.

As a sale assistant, I worked in a shop as a part time in London and it was a chance to understand how selling works, human psychology and communication.

As a storyteller, story coach ı have been running many training and consultancy programmes and public speaking all around the world.

• My personal mail adress: [email protected]
• I shared my stories and posts mostly on blog and instagram https://www.instagram.com/edabayraktar__/
• Our company page Storytelling Academy       http://storytellingacademy.net/  
• Kulenga Storytelling game
• Linkedin :  http://www.linkedin.com/in/edabayraktar  Twitter :     https://twitter.com/eda_bayraktarr