Stage fright? Fear of public speaking? Too shy to speak up? Intimidated by authority figures? Struggling to connect with your team members? If you're an entrepreneur or working professional and you're facing these or other communication challenges at the workplace, hop on! I'm Mridu Bhandari, TV Anchor & Journalist, Podcast Host, Public Speaking & Workplace Communication Coach & Entrepreneur. Every week I share learnings, experiences and actionable tips to help you SPEAK WITH IMPACT & OWN THE ROOM!
How a 9-Year-Old Reminded Me Why Communication is Magic
Published 3 months ago • 4 min read
Speak with Impact & Own the Room
Issue #13
Hello hello!
I need to start this conversation with an apology! I apologise for being missing in action for a long time. No excuses - just I'm sorry that this newsletter was on a back burner and that I will do better!
The last few months were about experiencing a rain-soaked Mumbai. The kind I always talked about while being a Delhi-girl, the kind that makes news headlines, the kind where the city slows down… but the spirit doesn’t.
I learnt something from the monsoons - not just about buying better shoes 😄 - but about resilience. No matter how many roadblocks (or puddles) come your way, you still show up. Drenched, delayed, disoriented...but present.
It made me think about communication because good communication is not about always having the perfect words. It’s about presence. Patience. The ability to pause, listen, and still hold space, even when conversations don’t flow the way you planned.
Sometimes, just like the monsoon traffic, it’s not about rushing forward. It’s about staying grounded, rain or shine. Well, that's what happens when you stay stuck on water logged roads - you romanticise rains and write up a newsletter!
🎙From the Journalist’s Chair
I've always said that the diversity in my work is the biggest reason I continue to be in television/podcast programming. These past few months, I’ve had the joy of juggling stories that couldn’t be more different from each other and each one taught me something new.
From creating content around heart health and preventive care, to decoding the AI + cloud transformation sweeping India’s enterprises, spotlighting GCCs as India’s next innovation hubs, attending SEMICON India, talking mutual funds and wealth creation and lots more, the themes were vast!
On the anchoring front, it was a lot of AI! There were superb conversations I had on - Agentic AI, AI being India's next big frontier, AI at the core of financial services, Leadership in the age of AI and more!
Whatever the tech topic may be, the human story stays at the centre of it all. Whether I’m scripting a CXO conversation or building a digital series, what I enjoy the most is to decode what impact this tech will have on the way we live, work and play!
As someone who loves variety, storytelling, conversations and strategy, this seat never gets boring for me and for that I am grateful everyday :)
Anchoring at Dell Technologies Forum 2025 - an event I have been anchoring at for about 7 years now, always love the conversations here!
👔 From the Coaching Room
Coaching a 9-year old in public speaking!
A few months ago, I started coaching a 9-year-old in public speaking. A whiz kid with big ideas, quick wit, and the kind of sparkle that reminds you why you do this work.
We hit it off instantly in the first session. And I knew: This is going to be a special journey.
Coaching a child is a whole different world compared to coaching a CEO. It’s not about frameworks or formulas. It’s about games, energy, imagination and building trust, one story at a time.
To keep it fun, I designed weekly challenges, storytelling circles, and even ‘mini missions’ he completed between sessions with each one winning him a physical badge!
I wasn't just teaching him stage presence. We co-created his stage magic. This journey has reinforced for me that we need to start learning communication early in life, in a structured fashion. The changes I have seen in this child are making me love my work even more and I am coming up with a 'Speak with Impact - Kids Cohort' in December 2025 (more details below!). If you want early access, scroll down!
The final email from my little mentee that really warmed my heart! These are the outcomes that make it worthwhile for me! PS: Doesn't he write really well for a 9-year-old? :)
Communication Tip of the Week 🗣️
“You don’t need more words. You need stronger pauses.” Most people try to impress with what they say. But in high-stakes environments, silence - strategic, intentional silence - is what creates gravitas.
Try this: Before you respond, pause for 2 seconds. Let your presence speak louder than your pitch.
🌟 New Launch: Speak with Impact - Junior Edition - for kids!
Hit reply to this email if you want the early bird offer!
Do you know a child who’s full of ideas but too shy to speak in public? Or one who’s already confident but needs polish and stagecraft?
‘Speak with Impact – Junior’ is a 2-month live online public speaking program designed to help children aged 9-15 years, discover their voice and own the stage.
🗓️ Starts: 6th December 2025 🕡 Time: Every Saturday | 6:30-7:45 PM IST 📍 Format: Live + Interactive Sessions 🎯 Outcome: Boost in confidence, storytelling, stage presence & communication skills
This isn’t a lecture series. It’s a learning playground where young voices are heard, seen, and celebrated. Very small, hand-picked cohort!
✅ 1:1 Coaching – Speak like a leader and build your executive presence in your industry. Get hyper customised coaching + skilling. ✅ Workshops for Teams – Build soft skills/communication capability and executive presence across organisation levels. Storytelling, leadership communication, personal branding and executive presence are some popular choices of brands that work with us. ✅ 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 January 2026. 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.
Hit subscribe to get future editions straight to your inbox.
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 | Podcast Host Founder & Chief Mentor, Mentorleap Helping you speak with impact & own the room!
Stage fright? Fear of public speaking? Too shy to speak up? Intimidated by authority figures? Struggling to connect with your team members? If you're an entrepreneur or working professional and you're facing these or other communication challenges at the workplace, hop on! I'm Mridu Bhandari, TV Anchor & Journalist, Podcast Host, Public Speaking & Workplace Communication Coach & Entrepreneur. Every week I share learnings, experiences and actionable tips to help you SPEAK WITH IMPACT & OWN THE ROOM!
