Unlocking Connection Through Storytelling: Leadership Lessons from the O Museum
As today’s leaders navigate increasingly complex environments, the 2025 TD Bank Morning Star Speaker Series reminds us that leadership growth is strengthened through the stories we tell, the challenges we share, and the connections we build.
On September 24th in Washington, D.C., the Board of Trade, in partnership with TD Bank and the O Street Museum (O Museum), hosted the final session of this year’s series: The Power of Storytelling in Leadership. Surrounded by hidden doors and eclectic artifacts, attendees explored how storytelling can turn everyday interactions into meaningful experiences.
Change, Connection, and the Stories Between
The conversation wove together insights from H. Leonards, founder of the O Museum, and David Hargadon of TD Bank. Leonards reminded guests that creativity, curiosity, and imagination create space for growth and “real change comes from changing one heart at a time.” Hargadon built on this message, sharing how storytelling can strengthen relationships and leadership presence. Networking, he emphasized, isn’t about exchanging cards but about sharing short, memorable moments that reveal values, build trust, and humanize leadership.
Those ideas came to life as participants set out on a scavenger hunt through the museum, using artifacts as prompts for conversation. A vintage guitar might spark a story about teamwork; a hidden door could inspire reflection on navigating change. What could have been ordinary networking quickly became an exercise in discovery, showing how curiosity and shared experience can turn small interactions into genuine connection.
Lessons That Last
The morning’s conversations left participants with reminders to carry forward:
- Connection matters: Memorable anecdotes make conversations more impactful.
- Identity is built through story: Consistent messages reinforce both personal and organizational brands.
- Resilience inspires: Sharing challenges demonstrates courage and motivates others.
Celebrating the 2025 Series
This session concluded the 2025 TD Bank Morning Star Speaker Series, which over three installments focused on emotional intelligence, collaboration, and storytelling. Across the year, participants gained practical tools, shared experiences, and meaningful dialogue that turned leadership concepts into human connection.
As the Board of Trade looks ahead, that spirit will continue, creating opportunities for Greater Washington leaders to grow and lead in ways that are, in the words of TD Bank, unexpectedly human.
Special Thanks
The Greater Washington Board of Trade extends its thanks to TD Bank for 18 years of partnership in fostering unexpectedly human leadership experiences, and to the O Museum for hosting this imaginative and engaging session.
Founder of the O Museum and beloved figure in Washington, H. Leonards has devoted her life to building spaces that spark curiosity, creativity, and social change. She is also the visionary behind 51 Steps to Freedom®, an app and living trail that turns D.C. into the largest outdoor museum, bringing history to life for a new generation.
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