The Heroine’s Journey: Your Guide to Influence, Persuasion, and Seduction
A One-Day Training with Peter de Kuster
Paris | Starting at Shakespeare and Company, 37 Rue de la Bûcherie
How Persuasive Are You?
Do you find it difficult to bring people along with you? Whether you want to make your point clearly or persuade your colleagues, it’s an art to do this in an effective and respectful way—especially when others shout louder and abuse power within the organization. Raising your voice is not the solution. But what is?
Persuasion as a Skill
Philosophers like Machiavelli and renowned speakers like Obama know exactly what it takes to persuade people. But it’s not always an innate talent—persuasion is a skill you can learn. It’s about sensing the needs and feelings of others and responding to them. During this training, you’ll learn how to effectively persuade and influence colleagues and clients. How does rhetoric help you? And how does power work? Armed with knowledge from psychology and philosophy, you’ll stand firmer on your feet and negotiate better.
In the spirit of Paris—a city where women have shaped revolutions, challenged conventions, and rewritten the rules of influence—you’ll explore the deeper currents of power, persuasion, and seduction through the lens of the Heroine’s Journey.
Consider Simone de Beauvoir (1908–1986), born and raised in Paris, who revolutionized feminist philosophy with The Second Sex (1949). She didn’t shout—she wrote with precision, logic, and moral clarity, persuading generations of women to challenge their status and pursue freedom. Her influence extended far beyond France, inspiring Second Wave feminists worldwide including Kate Millett, Germaine Greer, and Betty Friedan.link.springer+6
Or Marie Curie (1867–1934), who arrived in Paris in 1891 to study at the Sorbonne when women were barred from most universities. She became the first woman to earn a doctorate in physics in France, the first woman to teach at the Sorbonne, and the first person ever to win two Nobel Prizes. Her persuasion wasn’t through manipulation but through relentless excellence, mentorship, and the quiet power of demonstration—showing what was possible when a woman refused to accept “no” as an answer.nist+11
Think of Coco Chanel (1883–1971), who opened her first Paris shop in 1910 and built a fashion empire through remarkable powers of persuasion and social skills. She skillfully sought out like-minded people who shared her values and vision, ingratiated herself with powerful members of French society, and converted her cultural capital into economic success—despite facing strong opposition from industry insiders. Her persuasion was rooted in listening deeply, absorbing others’ perspectives, and staying true to her unique vision.nyu+1
And George Sand (1804–1876), born Aurore Dupin, who forged her revolutionary image in the salons of Paris, cultivating literary connections and regulating her passions. She wore men’s clothing, smoked cigars, and wrote prolifically under a male pseudonym—persuading Parisian society to accept her on her own terms through the sheer force of her talent and personality.sortiraparis
These women, in their own ways, understood the power of narrative: the story you tell about yourself, the story others tell about you, and the story you co-create with your clients.
Learn to Influence, Persuade, and Seduce
In one day, you’ll learn how to exert influence in a respectful and receptive way. You’ll acquire the skills to persuade others more effectively and discover how to use your personality in the process. Persuasion doesn’t have to be cunning, sly, or forceful. It can also be open and honest. This way, you bring out the best in yourself and others.
Using the framework of the Heroine’s Journey, you’ll examine your own story of influence: Which archetype leads when you try to persuade? The Heroine who fights for truth? The Sage who reasons from logic? The Lover who connects through emotion? The Queen who commands respect? Or the Magician who transforms resistance into possibility?
You’ll also explore your clients’ stories. What narrative are they living? What fears, desires, and assumptions shape their decisions? When you understand the story someone else is telling themselves, persuasion becomes less about convincing and more about co-creating a new chapter together.
During This Training, You Will:
- Gain insight into how you’ve exerted influence up until now
- Reflect on the way you or others exercise power and make moral choices
- Become acquainted with classical rhetoric and the way inspiring speakers apply it
- Explore leading theories on power, influence, and their ethics
- Develop confidence in your own ability to influence
- Learn to stay closer to your own needs and goals when others try to influence you
- Map your persuasion style onto the Heroine’s Journey and identify which archetype serves you best
- Understand your clients’ stories and learn to speak to the narrative they’re living
- Draw inspiration from women who shaped Paris—and the world—through the power of their stories
Does Influence, Persuasion, and Seduction Fit You?
Do you wonder whether this program suits you or do you have questions? Schedule a no-obligation advisory conversation with us. We’d love to tell you more about the training and explore together whether it aligns with your goals.
At a Glance
- Price: €695, excluding VAT
- Professional Development Budget: 80% of our participants use their professional development budget for professional training. Click “Enroll Now” to place an order, or email peterdekuster2023@gmail.com for a quote.
- Language: English
- Duration: 1 day from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, including a delicious catered lunch
- Location: Paris, starting at Shakespeare and Company (37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris), the historic English-language bookstore on the Left Bank that has been a meeting place for writers and readers since 1951
- Tip: Travel by public transport, bicycle, or use one of the Park & Ride locations in Paris
- Number of Participants: Minimum 5, maximum 15
- Study Load: No mandatory homework. However, we encourage you to test and apply the techniques afterwards in your work.
- Level: No prerequisites.
Participants on Influence, Persuasion, and Seduction
- “The training is a fun and educational booster!”
- “Very valuable insights to understand the technique behind influence/persuasion.”
- “The training helps you contextualize concepts like power, influence, and persuasion. The concepts are approached from various (philosophical) angles. A good mix of theory, videos, and reflection.”
Your Story Starts Here
Every act of persuasion is a moment in your Heroine’s Journey. Will you play the manipulator? The pushover? Or will you step into the role of the conscious protagonist—the one who knows which archetype to call upon, speaks truth with clarity, and moves the story forward with courage?
In Paris, where women like Simone de Beauvoir, Marie Curie, Coco Chanel, and George Sand have shaped history through the power of their stories, you’ll discover your own voice—and learn to use it with integrity, impact, and grace.
About Peter de Kuster
Peter de Kuster is the founder of The Heroine’s Journey and The Hero’s Journey. His books and stories about the Hero’s Journey—making money doing what you love—have reached millions of creative professionals worldwide. Through storytelling, archetypes, and narrative transformation, Peter helps leaders and professionals discover the story they’re living and rewrite it into one of purpose, agency, and impact.
Peter’s work draws on philosophy, psychology, and lessons from history’s most influential persuaders—from Machiavelli to Obama, from Coco Chanel to Simone de Beauvoir. He believes that persuasion, at its best, is not about manipulation but about co-creating a story that serves everyone involved.
Ready to Begin Your Heroine’s Journey?
Contact Peter de Kuster:
- Email: peterdekuster2023@gmail.com
- Phone: +31 6 19192245
Whether you’re ready to enroll or simply want to explore whether this training fits your goals, Peter is happy to speak with you. Schedule a no-obligation advisory conversation and take the first step toward mastering the art of influence, persuasion, and seduction.