Stories Build Businesses

Joshua Hoffman, Zymergen

“Don’t be naive about the power of storytelling,” says Joshua Hoffman, co-founder and CEO of Zymergen. Whether that’s convincing people to work for your venture, give you startup money or sign that first contract, emotion plays just as big a role as intellect in their decision, Hoffman explains. He describes how neglecting to build a narrative at his company has left some newer employees feeling disconnected.