Everyone has a Story.
We'll help you tell yours.
Shanachie (SHAWN-a-key) is the Gaelic word for “storyteller.” The word appears early in the book Trinity by Leon Uris (What a story!). Daddo Friel is a shanachie, and his mere arrival at the wake of Kilty Larkin in County Donegal, Ireland, causes a big stir for all the mourners.
Why?
Because everyone loves good stories, and Dado was great at telling them.
Storytelling, when it’s effective, is lively, memorable and entertaining. Conveying ideas, beliefs, learnings and histories through carefully crafted narratives can evoke emotion, interest, commitment, insights and even conversion.
This is true in one’s personal life and most assuredly in matters of business. In fact, businesses that employ effective storytelling techniques most often enjoy focused employees and engaged customers who know what the business uniquely offers, why they offer it and how they can be trusted to provide desired services or products.
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WHAT WE DO
The Shanachie Group helps companies, organizations, churches, family run businesses and professionals enhance their:
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Storytelling for marketing
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Storytelling for employee engagement and
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Storytelling for family history and legacy
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Whether your needs are in corporate communications, global communications or internal employee communications, we can help. ​Have a need for change management or a recent merger or acquisition? Reach out and learn how incorporating meaningful stories into your program will create connection.
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The Shanachie Group offers personal attention and doesn't have the costs associated with big agency support. Clients do receive the benefit of three decades of global communications experience in health care, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, education, energy, travel and non-profit sectors. Areas served include IT, legal, human resources, compliance, marketing, government relations, medical, security, EH&S, quality and other operations functions.
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CHIEF STORYTELLER
Michael Laffin is the owner and chief storyteller of The Shanachie Group. Mike’s previous corporate experience spans nearly 30 years working for Fortune 500 companies, a leading private university, a nationally-ranked children’s hospital and even an airport.
Serving in senior leadership roles for most of that time, Mike has advised CEOs, boards of directors, executive management teams and group leaders on all matters of corporate communications. This includes marketing communications; strategic communications; reputation and issues management; narrative,
key messaging and content development; media relations, executive preparation and coaching; crisis communications; website creation and management, digital communications and social media; advertising and brand management; employee communications and engagement; feature, speech and editorial writing; and video direction and production.
As a storyteller, Mike is most passionate about creating brand ambassadors for any corporate or organizational client that offers a distinct portfolio of products or unique set of services. Motivating employees around a thoughtfully-crafted mission or brand narrative is essential for employee engagement, satisfaction and overall organizational success. Mike has led narrative development and brand ambassador programs for multiple corporations, including global organizations with tens of thousands of employees.
Mike also supervised or led communications and change management activity for numerous mergers, acquisitions and reductions in force. He has supported new technology introductions, corporate re-brandings, scientific communications, department reorganizations and onboarding of consultants.As an experienced and thoughtful leader, Mike has supervised and coached teams and individuals for most of his career. With a penchant for developing talent and giving other communicators opportunities to learn and grow, Mike is skilled at spotting high performers, creating individual development assignments and encouraging others to build a communications career to be proud of.
Before Shanachie, Mike was the executive vice president and chief communications officer for the Pittsburgh International Airport. Previously, he served as vice president of communications at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, EQT Corporation and Mylan Inc. Closer to the beginning of Mike’s career, he worked for Carnegie Mellon University and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. He earned a master’s degree in professional writing from Carnegie Mellon and a bachelor’s degree in business from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa. When engaging with The Shanachie Group, you have access to a senior communications executive with a proven ability to generate business results while supporting the strategic objectives of your organization.
GET IN TOUCH
Want to learn more? Reach out to discuss how storytelling can elevate your communications efforts to win the hearts and minds of those you are trying to reach.