Scaling Huddle Workshop: The Power of Your Story – Storytelling for Impact & Fundraising

“When telling my personal story, how do I talk about the ‘I’ and not just the ‘We’, without sounding overconfident?” 

This question, posed by WISE ChangemakHER Tony Joy from Durian Nigeria, struck a chord with many during the latest Scaling Huddle Workshop, hosted by Ashoka’s WISE – The Women’s Initiative for Social Entrepreneurship. 

Led by Durga Nandini, Co-Founder of Nguvu Collective, the session focused on the transformative power of personal storytelling—not just as a tool for influence, but as a strategy to attract funding and support. 

Many women social entrepreneurs naturally emphasize collective success, often saying, “We trained women. We enabled women.” However, as Durga shared from her own experience, shifting from “We” to “I” can be empowering and necessary. 

"I trained and enabled a woman to create large-scale policy impact that led to MILLIONS of lives being changed." 

This shift doesn’t diminish teamwork—it highlights leadership, ownership, and the personal dedication that drives change. 

Why Storytelling Matters for Fundraising, In this engaging and interactive session, participants explored: 
✔️ How personal storytelling strengthens fundraising efforts 
✔️ Overcoming self-doubt and embracing the “I” in leadership 
✔️ Techniques to craft a compelling, donor-friendly story 
✔️ Practical exercises to refine and deliver their narratives with confidence 

With her expertise in media, digital campaigning, and advocacy, Durga helped participants unlock the power of their voices. The conversation was vibrant, filled with thought-provoking discussions and a shared commitment to amplifying women’s leadership in social entrepreneurship. 

Let’s Normalize the “I” 

As women leaders, we are often taught to give credit to those around us and hesitate to celebrate ourselves. This workshop challenged that mindset. Our stories matter. Our leadership matters. And it’s time to share them LOUDLY & POWERFULLY. 

Stay tuned for upcoming Scaling Huddle Workshops—where we continue to uplift, inspire, and strengthen the voices of women changemakers!