Speak with Impact & Own the Room

Issue #12

Hello hello!

You know how they say “Never say never”?
Well… I used to say I’d never live in Mumbai.

Cut to now: Today, Mumbai is where I find myself leading meaningful conversations whether moderating panels, events, hosting podcasts or TV shows . Somewhere along the way, I landed up in the financial capital and am making peace with the city’s pace and pulse, energy and (sadly) lack of public infrastructure!

The truth is - the things we resist often end up teaching us the most. Here's to welcoming all the lessons that Mumbai has in store for me.

💡What does this have to do with communication?​
A lot. The best communicators and leaders are the ones who embrace discomfort and show up anyway. They don’t cling to comfort zones. They adapt. They listen. They grow. They do the thing they once thought they could never do.

So here’s to the “never say never” moments that quietly shape our voice, our grit, and our leadership presence.

🎙From the Journalist’s Chair

Covering a Story That Changed Me

I was 23 when I found myself in the dusty lanes of Gohad, Madhya Pradesh, investigating the dehumanising practice of manual scavenging. It was a story that needed to be told but telling it wasn’t easy.

Village elders, mostly men, didn’t want to speak or let their women speak. The women were manual scavengers and afraid they'd lose their source of income (a pittance for the kind of work they did!) if they spoke to me. The men believed I was here to film their misery and make a quick buck - they thought it's a commercial film and not news. They didn’t trust the camera. They didn’t trust my age. And they certainly didn’t trust my questions.

But I didn’t walk away.

I returned every day for a week. I sat in courtyards. I waited outside temples. I drank chai in silence. And over time, I did what all great communicators eventually learn to do: I listened first. I heard their experiences. I built trust. I didn’t rush the story. I showed them the possible freedom that lay on the other side of airing their plight on mainstream media.

That documentary called 'Shame' went on air and started a real conversation with public interest litigations being filed against the local government and winning the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism 2007 in the category 'India Invisible'. But what stayed with me wasn’t just the footage, the accolades for the award or the heartbreak of seeing those women work.

It was this lesson:

Negotiation doesn’t always begin with a pitch. Sometimes it begins with presence.

It's a lesson that has stood the test of time for me and helped me in many situations in life. It's a lesson I impart strongly today as a leadership communication coach.

👔 From the Coaching Room

A Big 4 Partner’s First Big Live Event on Stage

This week, I’m kicking off a new coaching journey with a Partner at one of the Big 4s. He’s brilliant. Strategic. Deeply respected. And… stepping onto a large stage with a live audience, anchoring a key event for the very first time.

He’s nervous. And that’s okay. Because here’s what I say to leaders like him (and maybe you need to hear this too):

Stage presence isn’t about being flashy. It’s about being fully there.

These are some of the things I am planning to do with him:

✅ Energy anchoring - so he doesn’t speed up or stumble under pressure
✅ Executive presence on stage as he stands tall with a celebrity anchor
✅ Using pauses and posture to claim space
✅ Practicing warm-up rituals to enter the room with calm clarity

If you’ve got your first panel or stage presence coming up - or even your 50th - I suggest, don’t wing it. Own it.

Communication Tip of the Week 🗣️

Don’t just summarise. Synthesise.

In meetings, many professionals default to summarising what’s already been said. But leaders synthesise - they connect dots, highlight implications, and move the conversation forward.

Before you speak next, ask yourself:
✅ What’s the signal in the noise?
✅ What needs to happen next?
✅ How can I add clarity or momentum?

That’s how you shift from participant to powerful communicator.

🚀 Want to work with me?

I help leaders speak and speakers lead!

Here’s how I can help you:

✅ 1:1 Coaching – Speak like a leader and build your executive presence in your industry. Get hyper customised coaching + skilling.
✅ Workshops for Teams – Build communication capability and executive presence across levels in storytelling, leadership communication, personal branding and executive presence.
✅ Pitch & Panel Coaching – From investor decks to industry forums, I help you own the room.
✅ Media & Podcast Training – Speak in soundbites, stay sharp, and bring your best voice forward. I am a journalist, I know what journalists want to hear in your messaging - happy to help!

My 1:1 coaching slots are now open for August 2025. Hit reply and book your free discovery call!

📩 You can also DM me on LinkedIn Let’s find the right format for you.

If this edition of my newsletter sparked a thought, a smile, or a shift, forward it to a colleague or friend who could use it today.

And if you’re new here, you can read previous editions here ​

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Meanwhile, take that mic and speak up. Make yourself seen and heard!
Until next week, it's goodbye! 😊

Warmly,
​Mridu Bhandari 💫🎤​
Public Speaking Coach | Leadership Communication Expert | TV Anchor & Journalist
Founder & Chief Mentor, Mentorleap
​Helping you own the room & speak with impact!

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