Simon Reber: How do you lead an organization with a story?

What role does storytelling play in leadership? How can you authentically develop a story within a company? And how can you measure the success of this message?

In this episode, Jonathan talks to Simon Reber, Head of Organizational Development at Alpiq, about how storytelling can become a real leadership tool. Simon shows why a strong story provides orientation, shapes behavior, and acts as a unifying element in times of change and complexity.

We talk about how Alpiq has created a clear narrative framework with «A different kind of energy» that influences decisions, culture, and collaboration. And we discuss why a corporate story only becomes effective when it is not just told, but lived – in everyday life, in teams, and in leadership.

Guest: Simon Reber

Simon Reber is Head of Organisational Development at Alpiq, where he is shaping a new, human-centered leadership culture based on Care, Dare & Share. His motivation: moving away from hierarchies toward leadership based on trust, courage, and coaching.

Born in Switzerland and raised on a sailboat and in the Bahamas, Simon later studied American literature and, after a few detours, ended up in the energy industry. Today, he combines his passion for people and culture with his work at Alpiq – and shows how to lead authentically.

Cases discussed

For Alpiq, we focused on strong storytelling: Over the course of a multi-month campaign, the nature spirit Dora guided employees through different chapters, like in an expedition journal.

«A different kind of energy» – Alpiq’s new brand promise embodies the aspiration to go beyond the obvious. But how can employees be inspired to embrace such brand developments? With Alpiq Expedition Two, we sent employees on a hybrid journey led by Dora, the nature spirit from Expedition One.