Exploring Life & Business with Kara Davidson of Wolf & Heron

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara Davidson.

Hi Kara, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today. 
When I graduated from Tufts University, I had a plan. I was going to work for an environmental nonprofit for a few years and then go to graduate school—a place where I could learn more about the intricacies of business and the environment. I knew I wanted to do something where I was helping people, and I found environmental challenges compelling because of how human they are. 

When I went to graduate school at the University of Michigan—Go Blue!—I did a dual program with their School for Environment and Sustainability and the Ross School of Business. I specialized in the engagement and communication space at both schools and found there was a ton of overlap in what I was learning. How do you communicate with people in a way they’re open to changing their behavior? How do you engage people and make them curious about learning? I loved the puzzle involved in those questions and appreciated how much of it was about respecting people and actually trying to bring out the best in them. 

I surprised myself by seeking out and accepting a job in a change management consulting firm after receiving my MS and MBA. It was a thrilling sandbox with a ton of opportunity, pressure, and travel adventures. 

A few years in, I found myself wanting more autonomy and looking for a way to move closer to my huge extended family in upstate NY. It was time for me to leave that consulting firm and try something on my own. Meanwhile, my now business partner, Stephanie Judd, was going through a similar transition, and we decided to check in and support each other in whatever came next. We had an opportunity to attend and lead a workshop – Influential Storytelling – together at a conference hosted at the University of Michigan and incredibly, it led to three leads for us. 

I surprised myself again by deciding to go into business with Stephanie, and we founded Wolf & Heron in 2017. We were both confident that we would lift each other up and have more success together than separately. Today, we have delivered more refined, robust, and tested versions of that very same workshop we first built together for thousands of participants across huge global organizations. I’m proud of how far we’ve come as a business and how much Stephanie and I have both grown as business owners and leaders. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The COVID pandemic hit our business hard. Prior to March 2020, much of our business was delivered in person and required gathering and travel. We immediately lost much of our pipeline and dealt with cancellations—crushing for a small business. 

But it was a forcing mechanism. For the clients that were game, we created virtual and hybrid formats of our Influential Storytelling experience. As that became the norm, we were excited that we had something we were proud to offer to clients. 

Simultaneously, as professionals were experiencing their own unique personal and professional challenges and looking for support, the coaching side of our business grew organically. 

Today, we have a much more resilient business model than we did back in March 2020. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
Wolf & Heron is a leadership development firm that leverages expertise in social psychology, influence, and facilitation to develop leaders who can effectively engage and inspire others. 

We offer customized, people-focused programs, such as corporate training, public workshops, and executive coaching. Our clients transcend organizational profiles; we work with Fortune 100 companies to startups, small non-profits to large educational institutions­. 

I’m most proud of, and we’re definitely best known for, our Influential Storytelling program, which empowers professionals to use stories as a way to engage and inspire others. Over the years, we have developed a strong point of view on what makes a story influential and effective ways to craft and refine stories for that purpose. 

Stories can do so much. They paint a picture, they engage, they bring people on a journey, they connect the storyteller with the listener, and they can have a message. In a world where we’re inundated with boring meetings and overloaded PowerPoints, leveraging storytelling as a communication and leadership skill is critical for people at all levels of an organization. We have developed tailored versions of the program for sales or marketing teams, product managers, and entire organizations. But what’s most awesome is that the skill and experience is relevant for everyone. 

One of the things that sets us apart is our focus on influence. We’re not training people to be storytellers because people love listening to stories or because it’s great team building. We are training people to be storytellers to influence others, and that informs the content and design of the program. 

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
It’s important for me to connect with people. I’m in business with Stephanie because I find it more motivating to work with and for someone than just for myself. I love that our work puts us in situations where we can help people connect with others and to share aspects of themselves. Whether it’s in a workshop environment or a one-on-one coaching call, we’re people-focused, and that energizes me. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wolfandheron.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfandheron_leadership/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/wolfandheron
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wolfandheron
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karadavidson/