Ivey invites our CEO to speak on the power of leadership storytelling
September 24, 2025 — CONTEXT Studios founder and CEO Andrea Lekushoff, MBA Class of 2001, was invited back to the Ivey Business School by Professor Jana Seijts to speak to her undergraduate Performing Leader class. The class focuses on helping students develop and communicate their own leadership stories.
During her session, Andrea shared her journey since graduating from Ivey, detailing the path that led her to establish award-winning PR agency Broad Reach and, more recently, CONTEXT Studios. She discussed what inspired her to focus on recording and sharing leaders’ stories and explored the elements that make a leadership story both memorable and impactful. Andrea emphasized that authenticity, resilience, and the human dimensions of leadership are what allow a story to resonate.
Andrea also shared her approach to helping leaders uncover the most authentic parts of their story, highlighting the difference between a good leadership story and an outstanding one: the ability to inspire, connect emotionally, and leave a lasting impression. She spoke about how storytelling strengthens executive presence, giving leaders the confidence and clarity to engage their audiences effectively.
For students early in their careers, Andrea offered practical guidance on developing their own leadership narratives. She stressed that even brief experiences can be powerful when presented authentically, and encouraged students to reflect on their values and aspirations as they craft their stories.
