Speak with Impact & Own the Room

Issue #9

Hello Hello!

Over the years, I’ve gone from interviewing rural India families on manual scavenging and caste based discrimination… to interviewing CEOs on digital transformation and AI. The topics changed. The intention didn’t: make the complex simple, and the boring emotional.

From 2020's business continuity panic to 2023's boardroom Gen AI debates, and now in 2025, the buzzing trend is Agentic AI.

So what’s the story behind the story?

🎙From the Journalist’s Chair

🧠 Why AI is Newsworthy (and Human)

As a business journalist, to me, the best stories aren’t about any new technology itself. They are about how that technology changes us.

Whether it's ChatGPT or Agentic AI, businesses aren't just asking, "What can it do?" They’re asking, "How does this change the way we think, decide, and work?"

Some recent headlines that made me pause:

• “Agentic AI: The era of AI that acts on your behalf, not just replies to you.” (Harvard Business Review)
• Gartner predicts 70% of enterprises will experiment with agentic AI by 2026.
• Deloitte’s 2025 Tech Trends calls it “the new co-pilot for decision-makers.”

As someone who simplifies tech for humans through storytelling, I strongly believe:

And that’s what keeps me excited - helping leaders translate tech-speak into human-speak through their personal experiences!

I love to interview business and tech leaders who can talk about the impact of emerging technologies like AI in a succinct fashion, with real world examples, keeping humans at the heart an envisioning our future world.

If you're a professional/founder from the AI space, looking to be on podcasts/panels/interviews across media platforms, I would say talk less jargon and more 'human impact of tech' - this is sure to land your message infinitely better and make it more memorable!

👔 From the Coaching Room

Coaching a senior pharma leader this week - not on LinkedIn visibility, but real-world personal branding. We’re working on how she shows up at industry conferences, closed-door policy roundtables, and media panels.

One prompt that worked wonders: “What 3 words do you want people to say about you after you leave the room?”

She picked: Strategic, Warm, Assertive.

Everything we’re building now - from her talking points to her wardrobe - aligns with those three.

ACTIONABLE TIP: Define your three. Then ask: what behaviours signal that energy?

Communication Tip of the Week 🗣️

Don’t just learn to speak. Learn to 'land'.

A line is impactful only when it leaves a mark. Here’s a structure I use:

Context → Contrast → Clarity

Example:
​"Everyone’s talking about AI. But very few are talking about what it’s doing to our confidence and critical thinking. That’s the real story."

In Case You Missed It 📌

Gift alert: Download my mini guide on the Psychology of Assertive Communication!​

Even seasoned professionals often dilute their impact - not because they lack expertise, but because of subtle habits that signal hesitation: rambling, hedging, rushed speech, or a shaky tone.

To fix this, I’ve created a power-packed resource especially for senior leaders - a step-by-step guide to help you:
✔️ Decode and defeat the invisible habits that chip away at executive presence
✔️ Use the Gravitas Formula to project calm authority instantly
✔️ Apply the 80/20 Rule of Assertiveness: fewer words, bigger impact

Start with just one shift from the guide and watch how people respond to you differently. Hit reply to this email and tell me how it goes!

🚀 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!