Episode 2: Story Lab: Challenging
Misconceptions about Long
COVID
March 2025
In this Story Lab episode of the Break Away Podcast, Armani Guerra shares his journey advocating for and fighting misconceptions about an illness that still doesn’t have a cure. After Armani shares his story, he discusses the storytelling process and the importance of his story with Story Lab program manager Nick Viviano. Story Lab is powered by the Sanger Leadership Center. Story Lab develops executive-level presence and communication skills through storytelling workshops and events. For more information, visit sanger.umich.edu/experience/story-lab.
Episode Competencies (coming soon!)
Episode Resources
Reflection Questions:
- How can you use storytelling to facilitate and enhance communication and inclusion in group spaces?
- Think of an impactful storyteller. How have they used storytelling to inspire, influence and motivate people to action?
Speaker Bio
Armani Guerra
MBA Candidate
Armani Guerra, a military veteran and former consultant, is a MBA candidate at the University of Michigan and the Director of Advocacy for BLDA. After being disabled by a chronic illness known as Long COVID in 2023, he began his advocacy journey to promote awareness and demonstrate the business potential within this unserved market.
Nick Viviano
Program Specialist at the Sanger Leadership Center
Nick Viviano (he/him/his) is a program specialist at the Sanger Leadership Center at Michigan Ross. He oversees a variety of leadership development programs, including Story Lab and the Leadership Crisis Challenge.
