Programs
We live in a world full of contradictions. We have access to multiple media and sources of information, yet not everyone has the privilege to express ideas publicly. At the same time, there are issues that remain hushed, ideas and good practices that do not reach their audience, problems that do not get the attention they deserve.
At Story Mentor we harness the timeless power of storytelling, using stories as a driver of change and personal improvement, a means of empowerment and a medium to intervene in public discourse.
Glass Ceiling Stories
What do a lawyer, a financial analyst and an academic have in common? What is it that connects them as professionals and how can this connection be highlighted? How can personal stories support a woman in her career development?
Inequality between female and male professionals, commonly termed as the “glass ceiling” phenomenon, prevails. “Glass Ceiling Stories” use personal narratives of professional women with varied backgrounds to shed light on the obstacles they have encountered in their career on the basis of gender discrimination.
The program includes storytelling workshops, round-table discussions, as well as the publication of personal stories in a weekly column curated by Story Mentor at @AthensVoice.
Stories We Don't Share
We all love success stories -the ones filled with possibility, compelling plots and happy endings. But these stories don’t always reflect the truth of our own experience.
The world needs more honesty. It needs the stories we often choose to hide
-the ones about struggle, failure and the obstacles we face along the way. Sharing these stories helps us process what we’ve lived through, reclaim our narrative and develop the skills we need to move forward with confidence.
Stories We Don’t Share gathers and presents personal stories of people who have faced setbacks and chosen to speak openly about what they’ve learned. The program includes curated storytelling, story collection and focused conversations on failure across fields such as business, science, politics and the arts.
Failing Forward
Failure is rarely easy -but for women, it often carries an extra weight.
Research shows that women tend to internalize failure more deeply, recover from it more slowly and rarely speak about it openly. This silence can hold them back, both personally and professionally.
Failing Forward was created to change that.
Launched as a pilot project with the support of the Bodossaki Foundation and Fondation Chanel, Failing Forward set out to explore how women experience career failure -and what happens when they are given space to talk about it. The project began with a story-based research phase and evolved into a powerful series of podcast episodes, where women shared honest accounts of challenges, missteps and the resilience that followed.
Today, Failing Forward continues to grow. It includes new podcasts broadcast by Athens Voice, live public discussions, community engagement events and the Failing Forward Lab -a participatory workshop designed to help individuals reframe failure as a catalyst for growth. Through story, dialogue and shared reflection, the program invites women to challenge stigma, reclaim their narratives and move forward with confidence.
Good Stories Summit
In a world overwhelmed by negativity, the need for spaces that spotlight hope, action and possibility has never been greater. The Good Stories Summit was created to be that space -a place where positive stories are not only told, but also celebrated.
Launched by Storymentor in 2023, the summit has grown into an annual gathering that brings together voices from civil society, business, education and culture. It offers a stage for individuals and organizations to share the work they do -and the impact they make- through the lens of storytelling.
At the inaugural event in 2023 and again in 2024, over 100 storytellers stood before a live audience at the Athens Conservatoire. They shared real stories of action, resilience, creativity, and change. Stories that inspired, persuaded and opened new perspectives.
Good Stories Summit III will take place on November 21, 2025. This third edition will build on everything we’ve learned so far, bringing even more voices, more stories and more reasons to believe in the power of storytelling.
To learn more, visit the Good Stories Summit website.
Put On Your Cape
What if a simple symbol could remind us of our inner strength?
Put On Your Cape is a storytelling initiative that highlights the courage, resilience and everyday power of women. Inspired by the idea that every woman carries her own kind of superpower, the program creates space for real stories to be seen and heard.
Through a social media campaign, interactive workshops and open events, Put On Your Cape brings women together to share experiences of challenge, confidence and change. Each story becomes part of a wider conversation -one that empowers, connects, and makes strength visible.