Written by Mara Brak
“You are not the hero of the story you are writing.”
It sounds like a hot take, doesn’t it? According to Kelly Sjol, founder of Storify Marketing, it’s anything but a hot take; it’s the truth. This is step 2 in the “Pitch with Clarity: 5 Soundbites” exercise she led in her Venture U session on February 20, 2026.
Who Is Kelly Sjol?
Kelly Sjol is a fractional CMO for B2B SaaS and tech companies, and founder of Storify Marketing, companies transform complex products into clear, revenue-driving messaging. She is also a StoryBrand Certified Guide, which means she is uniquely positioned and trained to help businesses clarify their messaging, so customers immediately understand what they offer and why it matters. This spring semester, her business, Storify Marketing, is a host organization for the E+I Fellows.
It’s her expertise in this field that made her the perfect person to lead this Venture U session.
Transformational storytelling is the name of the game for Sjol. Her clients at Storify Marketing have seen concrete results and significant growth from her methods.
The Session
Venture U is a business seminar series that focuses on various hot topics in business. This session was a special collaboration event with the E+I Fellows for the Pro Speaker Series.
It was a full house! A record of eighty-seven students attended the session to learn how to most effectively create a compelling pitch through storytelling.
Sjol emphasized that founders are not the heroes of their stories, they are the guides and the audience is the hero. The goal is to show deep empathy and clearly communicate how your idea helps them succeed.
Clarity, not complexity, wins.
A compelling brand story is the key to moving forward and securing the necessary funds from investors and stakeholders to bring a startup to life.
In an interview with senior Mara Brak, Kelly said, “One mistake that people make is to feel like they have to overexplain in order for the person to understand them, and that’s not the case at all. You have to be clear so they can get it immediately.”
If someone doesn’t get it, you’ve lost them already. It doesn’t matter how good your idea is if it isn’t clear.
Two students were chosen to present their ideas at the beginning and at the end of the session. The positive transformation of their soundbites at the end was undeniable. What started out as a vague idea became memorable and easy to grasp for everyone.
It was incredible to see all students so invested in their business ideas. They worked with other students they’ve never met to practice their soundbites and expanded their visions.
Venture U is a setting where students can step outside their comfort zones for a moment and truly peel back the layers of various business concepts in an encouraging environment.
What To Do Next
At the end of the handout used in the breakout sessions, Sjol listed where students can use their newly clarified soundbites outside of the session:
- Wolverine Venture Battle
- Elevator Pitch Competition
- Demo Day
- LinkedIn headline/bio
- Instagram bio
- Networking intro
- Internship interview
- Website homepage
- Class presentation
Storytelling is everywhere. The clearer your message, the more opportunities you unlock.
Ready to put your soundbite to work? Visit the E+I website to find upcoming events, competitions, and resources designed to help you sharpen your pitch.
Register here for our remainder Venture U sessions scheduled for the Spring 2026 semester. We hope to see you there!