Saturday, October 10, 2026

Digital Storytelling To Build The Institutional Brand [Full Day Workshop for Academics - Agenda]

 

September 11, 2026, 9.30 am – 4.30 pm

Four Sessions of 75 minutes each with Tea and Lunch Break

PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore

Mode: Classroom, Group Seating

No. of Participants: #40

 

Participants seated by: 9.15 am

CURTAIN RAISER: 9.25 am

Appendix I – Video and Scripts for Review and Learning

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KICK-OFF: 9.30 am – 9.45 am

Prof (Bala) Balasubramanian

  • Workshop Protocols

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Documents provided are taken as read [Clarification, if any]: 9.45 am – 10.00 am

  • House Rules: Recall Test
  • Workshop Sessions Overview

Appendix III – House Rules

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Session 1: Positioning & Story Arc for Academic Authority

Duration: 45 minutes | 10.00 am – 10.45 am

Learning objectives:

  • Clarify your unique positioning and value proposition.
  • Understand the story arc that makes academic content compelling.
  • Begin mapping your personal brand narrative.

Learning outcomes (by end of session):

  • A refined one-sentence positioning statement.
  • A personal brand story outline (past–present–future).
  • A list of 3–4 content pillars with subtopics.

In-session exercise:

  • Positioning clinic: Participants rewrite their positioning statement 3 times, each time making it more specific.
    • 1 Member from each team relates and justifies their positioning statement [30 Mins]
  • Story arc mapping: 10-minute free-write: “A moment in my teaching/research that changed how I see my field.”
    • Another Member from each team relates the story arc and the structure [30 Mins]

Appendix IV – Facilitator Core Theme for Series / Committed Column – “The Human Condition Resolved by the Renewal of the Mind” [15 Mins]

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/loyalty-guest-everyone-invites-nobody-seats-head-table-srinivasan-kmikc/  is an example of a Subject Matter Expert speaking about his industry and differentiating his company's Customer-Capital loyalty services. Written with panache and a laugh-a-minute to make a serious pitch. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drshradhakanwar/, a faculty member at Jain University. However, her latest post is 4 months old. For this reason, I advise building a body of work and releasing it periodically in a sequence - like a serial - to build a community interested in the message.

https://substack.com/@technoclast?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=79ze1 Arun Chearie @technoclast. Arun has been in the Data & AI domain for close to the last 2 decades, specialising in Banking, Financial Services & Public Sector. I design & deliver clear, efficient solutions at the cusp of domain and technology.

https://mathewsmusings.com/ A website, not mine, but of a retired Joint Secretary in the Central Government, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) 

As an exercise, you can score these two LinkedIn posts based on the rubric and defend your score.

Appendix V – April Dunford Advice on Positioning

Deliverables to carry forward:

  • Final positioning statement.
  • Content pillars list.
  • Story arc notes.

Tea Break: 10.45 am to 11.00 am

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Session 2: Content Strategy & Platform Selection

Duration: 90 minutes | 11.00 am – 12.30 pm

Learning objectives:

  • Design a 90-day content plan aligned to your pillars.
  • Select platforms strategically based on audience and content type.
  • Understand formats that work (articles, carousels, short video, threads).

Learning outcomes:

  • A 90-day content calendar (themes, formats, platforms).
  • A primary platform choice with rationale.
  • A repurposing plan (1 article → 3–5 assets).

In-session exercise:

  • Content calendar sprint: In pairs, draft a 4-week plan (1 article + 2 supporting posts/week).
  • Repurposing lab: Take one pillar and sketch 3 derivative assets (e.g., article → carousel → 60-sec video script).

APPENDIX I – Video and Scripts for Review and Learning

APPENDIX VI – Pre-workshop exercises (to be completed before the workshop)

Deliverables to carry forward:

  • 90-day content calendar.
  • Primary platform + repurposing map.

 

Lunch Break: 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm

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Session 3: Writing for Digital Audiences (Article Drafting Lab)

Duration: 75 minutes | 1.30 pm – 2.45 pm

Learning objectives:

  • Adapt academic writing for digital readability and engagement.
  • Apply a story-driven article structure.
  • Produce a draft outline or 50%+ draft of your article.

Learning outcomes:

  • A structured article outline (Hook → Context → Insight → Example → Actions → CTA).
  • A 500–800-word draft (or detailed outline with bullet points for each section).
  • Peer feedback notes.

In-session exercise:

  • Drafting sprint: 25 minutes of silent writing (aim for 500 words).
  • Peer review: Swap drafts; use rubric (see below) to give 3 strengths + 3 improvements.

Appendix VII - A Story Draft: Structural Advice to Faculty with 5 Years of Teaching Experience

Appendix VIII– Veteran Journalist Arun Katiyar’s Writing Guide

Appendix IX – Core Writing Advice: How to Write for Non-Academic Audiences

Appendix X - Writing References with Writers:

1.     The Best Writing Advice He Ever Read (Michael Connelly Interview) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMeWCnZNJSs&t=655s

2.     Lee Child and Stephen King talk Jack Reacher https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PaxX-DTGo0

3.     10 Writing Tips from Stephen King for Writers and Screenwriters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6SKj_eiY9k&t=47s

Deliverables to carry forward:

  • Article draft/outline ready for final polish.
  • Peer feedback notes.

Tea Break: 2.45 pm – 3.00 pm

***

Session 4: Socialisation, Analytics & Commitment to Publish

Duration: 75 minutes | 3.00 pm – 4.15 pm

Learning objectives:

  • Design a distribution plan to maximise reach and engagement.
  • Understand basic analytics to refine strategy.
  • Commit to a publication date and follow-up cadence.

Learning outcomes:

  • A socialisation checklist (tags, hashtags, cross-posts, timing).
  • A simple analytics tracker (what to measure weekly).
  • A public commitment (publication date + platform).

In-session exercise:

  • Promotion plan: Draft 3 posts (pre-launch, launch day, +3 days) with different angles.
  • Commitment circle: Each participant states their publication date and platform aloud (social accountability).

Deliverables:

  • Final article draft (to be polished post-workshop).
  • 7-day promotion plan.
  • Publication commitment.

Wrap-up & Sharing of Learnings by Participants: 4.15 – 4.30 pm

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Appendix XI – Participant Profile

 

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Pre-workshop exercises (to be completed before the workshop)

Time required: 60–90 minutes total. Bring outputs (digital or printed).

Exercise 1: Brand audit (20 minutes)

  • Google yourself. Note the first 10 results.
  • List 3 words you want to be known for (e.g., “rigorous,” “innovative,” “approachable”).
  • Identify gaps: What’s missing? What’s misaligned?

Exercise 2: Positioning draft (15 minutes)

  • Write a one-sentence positioning statement:
    “I help [specific audience] achieve [specific outcome] by [your unique approach].”
  • Example: “I help MBA students in Tier-2/3 cities land analytics roles by teaching practical SQL + storytelling with real Indian datasets.”

Exercise 3: Content pillars (15 minutes)

  • List 3–4 recurring themes you can speak/write about for 12 months.
  • For each pillar, note 3 subtopics (e.g., Pillar: “AI in Hiring”; Subtopics: “Bias in resumes,” “Prompt engineering for HR,” “ROI of AI tools for SMBs”).

Exercise 4: Article synopsis (30 minutes)

  • Choose one pillar. Draft a 150–200-word synopsis of an article you will author. Include:
    • Working title
    • Target audience
    • Core problem/insight
    • Framework or case example you’ll use
    • Practical takeaway for readers
  • Also note: preferred platform (LinkedIn/Medium/Institutional blog), target word count (800–1,200), and intended frequency (e.g., 1 article/month for 3 months).

Exercise 5: Platform & socialisation plan (10 minutes)

  • Pick one primary platform for your article.
  • List 3 ways you will socialise it (e.g., LinkedIn post + tag department, X thread with key points, WhatsApp/Telegram faculty group, newsletter).

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Rubrics to evaluate participant output

Use these rubrics during peer review and for final assessment. Score each criterion 1–5 (1 = needs work, 5 = excellent).

A) Positioning statement

B) Content plan (90 days)

C) Article draft/outline

D) Socialisation plan

 E) Overall authority signal

Pass threshold: Average score ≥ 4 across all sections. Articles below the threshold require revision before publication support.

 

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