A New Season of Story-Driven Business Begins!

After a six-month break, Story-Driven Business Podcast returns! And this time, the pause mattered.

In this bonus episode, Susanna Rantanen opens a new season with honesty, perspective, and a powerful reframing of what 2026 is really about. Following a life-changing MS diagnosis in 2025, this episode isn't just a comeback; it's a recalibration.

This season dives into AI beyond tools and technology. Not prompts. Not platforms. But people.

Drawing parallels to the digitalisation wave of the late 2000s, Susanna explores what today's AI shift means for business leaders, experts, HR, marketers, and anyone responsible for guiding others through uncertainty.

Roles will change. Skills will evolve. Fear is real. But work doesn't disappear, and neither does human value.

This podcast season focuses on:

• AI as an operating environment, not a gadget

• Leadership communication when people feel uncertain and overwhelmed

• Why storytelling and persuasive communication are becoming non-negotiable leadership skills

• How professionals can take charge of their own development — regardless of employer support

• What it really takes to stay relevant, trusted, and influential in the AI era

You're invited into an open exploration, not polished answers, but grounded thinking, lived experience, and communication science that helps leaders make sense of change and guide others with clarity and confidence.

This is the beginning of a new season, a new direction, and a deeper conversation about work, identity, leadership, and meaning in the age of AI.

Welcome back to Story-Driven Business.
This time, it's personal.

In this episode of the Story-Driven Business Podcast, Susanna explains why budgeting employer branding for 2026 is essential for winning business leaders.

Every employer has an employer image, but a true employer brand only exists when people feel an emotional connection. Without strategic investment, your image will be shaped by others, from employees to ex-employees, and from competitors to job seekers — and not always in your favour.

Susanna shares a practical breakdown of what real story-driven budgeting looks like, including strategy and planning, creative assets, tools, resources, strategic partners, employee advocacy and thought leadership.

She also reveals how proper budgeting leads to measurable employer branding ROI through relevant, business-driven goals and objectives, creating a competitive advantage.

You'll learn:

• What to include in your 2026 employer branding budget.
• Why cutting EB budgets creates hidden, long-term costs.

Show notes are available for you here: https://modernemployerbrand.com/podcast206

Inclusive, a free Cheat Sheet for download to help you plan what you need to budget for 2026. Available in the show notes.

As AI rewrites the rules of business, emotional commitment is your competitive edge.

In this episode, I explore how story-driven leadership builds trust, resilience and clarity when everything feels uncertain.

Why do some teams rise through chaos while others resist change?

The answer lies in the power of emotional connection to your business story.

🎙️ Hit play now and start leading through storytelling.

👉 Hosted by me, Susanna Rantanen | #StoryDrivenBusiness

Find me on socials as @rantanensusanna

Enjoy!