GM teams up with The Moth to harness the power of storytelling

There I was, on stage in front of a sold-out crowd — all 750 individuals — taking a final bow at the Moth Mainstage event at the Traverse City Opera House. As the clock struck 10 p.m. on that Friday, April 29, I completed the most surreal experience of my life. The two days spent in Traverse City rehearsing and performing were a roller coaster of emotions. Extreme anxiety from the thought of telling my story in front of a full theatre, exhilaration from my final bow to the crowd on their feet for a standing ovation — I felt it all.

How did I get here? An unforeseen series of events connected me to The Moth, including the European Connections Employee Resource Group. But let me start from the beginning so you don’t think I’m talking about an insect.

In late 2021, the European Connections ERG President contacted me about an opportunity thanks to GM’s collaboration with The Moth, which is a nonprofit dedicated to honoring the commonality and diversity of the human experience through the art of true, personal storytelling. If I submitted a short personal story, there was a chance The Moth could choose me as one of 12 finalists to participate in a virtual storytelling workshop. At this workshop, GM employees learn how to craft personal stories and hear why storytelling is a powerful tool to form human connections.

I submitted my story: a deeply personal account of my childhood in Soviet-controlled Ukraine, and my emigration to Detroit.

To my surprise, The Moth did, indeed, pick me as one of the 12 individuals to participate in the workshop with The Moth story instructors. I thought this endeavor would end here, but little did I know this was just the beginning.

In March 2022, The Moth’s senior director reached out and told me my story left an impression on her. She followed up by asking if I would be interested in working with her to develop my story and participate in one of the organization’s live Mainstage events in Traverse City, Michigan, in April.

Public speaking triggers my anxiety, so naturally, I wanted to say no. But my heart told me to push myself into something new and unknown. So, I said yes.

There were numerous twists and turns throughout this journey, and above them all, I didn’t realize the huge following The Moth shows have. It wasn’t until I drove into Traverse City that the full magnitude of the event and its meaning kicked in. I was full of self-doubt at this point as it sunk in that I was the only newbie in this cast of five storytellers. The others included a former ESPN show producer, a science-fiction novelist with two published books and a third on the way, a teacher and a director of the community outreach program for The Moth.

When I was finally called up on that stage, I summoned all my courage and stepped into the light. I didn’t feel the emotions I thought I would. Suddenly, the sense of nervousness melted away and the words freely flowed from my mouth. As the audience laughed and even sighed in the appropriate places, it became fuel as I told my story. When the show ended, the other cast members and I were able to meet some of the audience. They shook our hands, gave us hugs and thanked us for sharing our stories.

I will never forget this experience. I pushed through all of my self-doubt and anxiety to not only share my own story, but to get to know so many incredible people.