How Storytelling Builds Tech Ecosystems
October 28, 2025
When it comes to attracting tech talent, spreadsheets and strategies only go so far. What really makes a place “sticky” is the social fabric, like the connections, conversations and stories that make people feel part of something bigger.
On this episode of Talent Wars, host Patience Fairbrother sits down with Chris Wink, CEO and co-founder of Technical.ly, to discuss what his nearly two decades of reporting on local tech ecosystems have revealed about what actually drives growth.
From the role of “ecosystem storytelling” in shaping reputation and economic outcomes, to why local meetups and community “parties” are more powerful than most people realize, Patience and Chris unpack how authentic local stories translate into national recognition and real talent attraction results.
Listen in to learn:
- Why storytelling should be an input to strategy, not an output
- How cities like Pittsburgh and Miami used storytelling to shift their reputations
- Why focusing on value, not just cost of living, matters in today’s talent market
- How to make your community more magnetic by starting local
Storytelling is more than a buzzword. It is a tool that has the ability to create a connection between talent and your community. This episode offers insights that will help you better understand and utilize this tool.
Listen and subscribe to Talent Wars on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. To submit guest or episode topic ideas, email patience.fairbrother@aboutdci.com
