Illuminate™
Leaders always see a better future before anyone else. But how can you communicate change in a way that inspires others?
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Introducing Illuminate™
Co-authors Nancy Duarte and Patti Sanchez discuss the secrets of great leaders during times of change and their own journey of change while writing the book.
Book overview
Start a movement
Apple Inc. and its iconic leader, Steve Jobs, ignited a profound movement with their visionary words. Whenever Jobs stepped onto the stage to unveil new Apple products, the world paused to absorb his message. He didn’t just present gadgets; he painted a picture of tomorrow, urging listeners to trust him as their guide to that future.
Similarly, as a leader, you possess the potential to not only foresee what lies ahead and innovate, but also to inspire those around you to rally behind and actualize your vision. Illuminate arms you with the communication strategies employed by luminaries like Jobs, Howard Schultz, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to mobilize people.
Duarte and Sanchez outline a roadmap to guide you through the five stages of transformation, utilizing speeches, stories, ceremonies, and symbols. Through this visually engaging and accessible guide, you’ll discover how companies like Apple, Starbucks, IBM, and charity: water have galvanized individuals to embrace bold changes.
While envisioning the future is pivotal, persuading others to join you on that journey is equally crucial. By mastering the art of persuasive communication, you too can transform your ideas into a powerful movement.
Illuminate Torchbearer’s Toolkit™
This toolkit will help you determine which types of communication to use during each stage of a journey of transformation.
Meet the authors
And hear from some notable readers.
Nancy Duarte
Chief Executive Officer
Nancy Duarte is author of six best-selling books and CEO of Duarte, Inc. For over 35 years, Duarte, Inc. has consulted and trained the highest performing brands and executives in the world. Duarte is a communication expert who has been featured in Fortune, Time Magazine, Forbes, Fast Company, Wired, Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Los Angeles Times, and on CNN. Her TED talk has had over 3 million views. Nancy has received several awards for communications, entrepreneurship, and been honored for her achievements as a female executive. She’s ranked #67 on the list of top 250 Women in Leadership and is the #1 Global Communication Guru. Nancy lectures at Stanford University and her course Resonate is taught in the Stanford School of Business. As a persuasion expert, she cracked the code for effectively incorporating story patterns into business communications. Her favorite role is “Grandma” to two grandsons and grand-dogger.
Patti Sanchez
Former Chief Strategy Officer at Duarte, Inc.
Patti Sanchez has over 30 years of experience as a communicator. At Duarte, she led an expert team of training consultants and creative thinkers who helped clients build the power skills they needed to move their audiences in one powerful moment or in a movement over time. She is the author of Presenting Virtually: Communicate and Connect with Online Audiences (October 2021) and co-author of the award-winning book, Illuminate: Ignite Change Through Speeches, Stories, Ceremonies, and Symbols with Nancy Duarte (February 2016). Through communication frameworks, storytelling techniques, and empathy exercises, she helps leaders and learners of all kinds understand the inner workings of the human mind and heart and craft engaging narratives that resonate on a deep level. After hours, Patti enjoys listening to music and hanging out with her husband, their two rescue dogs, and a canary named Harry.
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“Change can be fear-filled in prospect but fearsome in effect. With Illuminate, Duarte and Sanchez light our path through that crucial transition dazzlingly.”
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“To motivate others, leaders must listen and communicate empathetically. With Illuminate, everyone can learn to lead — even without being loud.”
Illuminate™ training
Take our related course
Craft an effective communication strategy that sparks and sustains change with empathetic speeches, stories, ceremonies, and symbols that motivate and inspire teams.
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