Speak with Impact & Own the Room

Issue #17

Hello Hello!

There’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately:

What actually makes a coach impactful?

Is it the number of frameworks you teach?
The number of sessions you conduct?
The transformation stories you can put on a website?

I’m beginning to think the answer is much simpler.

It’s what the person does with what they learn.

And that brings me to this week’s newsletter.

🎙️ From the Journalist’s Chair

Some conversations feel familiar from the very first question.

I recently recorded an episode of Minds that Matter with Akshat Seth MD & CEO of BirlaNu.

Sometimes you meet someone for the first time and, within minutes, it feels strangely like you’ve known them for much longer.

This was that conversation.

Akshat was humble, sharp, witty and warm - the kind of person with whom a conversation can move effortlessly between business, leadership, people and life.

We spoke about healthcare but the conversation went well beyond the usual business talking points.

What stayed with me was the way he thinks about people.

About building trust. About listening.
About understanding context rather than jumping to conclusions.
About the responsibility that comes with leading an organisation where the decisions you make ultimately affect real people and their families.

And there were moments when the conversation became unexpectedly personal and heartfelt.

That’s one of the things I love about doing these conversations.

You may start with a set of questions.

But if the person across the table is open enough, curious enough and real enough, the conversation takes you somewhere you didn’t quite plan for.

That, to me, is when an interview becomes much more than an interview.

It becomes a conversation worth remembering.

👔 From the Coaching Room

Coaching only works when the learning leaves the coaching room.

I’m currently coaching a super accomplished woman who has been reminding me of this every single week.

She doesn’t just listen to a framework and say, “That makes sense.”

She tries it.

She takes something we discuss and applies it to a real meeting.

She experiments with a different way of responding.

She notices what happened.

And then she comes back and tells me:

“I tried this. Here’s what happened.”

Sometimes she comes back with feedback.

Sometimes with a new question.

And sometimes with a discovery about herself that neither of us had anticipated.

That, for me, is one of the biggest measures of impactful coaching.

Not whether my client can remember my framework.

But whether she is using it when I’m not in the room.

Ultimately, coaching isn't about creating dependence on the coach.

It is about helping someone develop the awareness, tools and confidence to navigate situations independently.

The real work happens between sessions.

In the meeting you were nervous about.

In the difficult conversation you finally had.

In the moment when you paused instead of reacting.

In the presentation where you tried something new.

Learning becomes transformation only when it becomes behaviour.

And honestly, there is very little that makes a coach happier than a client coming back and saying: “I tried it.”

🌟 New Course: The Executive Signature

The Executive Signature is my bespoke 1:1 coaching programme for mid-career and senior leaders who are ready to become more visible, influential and intentional about how they lead.

This isn't a standard course where everyone gets the same modules.

Every engagement is built around the individual - their leadership role, aspirations, communication patterns, strengths, blind spots and the rooms they need to influence.

We work on the things that can fundamentally change how you are perceived and remembered:

How you speak.
How you think.
How you show up.
How you influence.
How you lead.

I have 2 spots for October-November 2026.

If you’re at a stage in your career where your expertise has grown faster than your visibility or you know you’re ready for the next level but need your communication and executive presence to catch up - this may be the right time to explore it.

APPLY FOR THE EXECUTIVE SIGNATURE

🗣️ Communication Tip of the Week

Don’t let your expertise make you sound condescending.

This is something I see surprisingly often with experienced leaders.

You know more than the person sitting across the table.

You’ve been doing this for 15 years.

They’ve been doing it for three.

You’ve seen the problem before.

They’re seeing it for the first time.

And without realising it, your expertise can start sounding like superiority.

A few examples:

❌ “As I’ve explained several times…”

Try:

✅ “Let me explain it another way.”

---

❌ “This is basic. You should already know this.”

Try:

✅ “Let’s make sure we’re aligned on the fundamentals first.”

---

❌ “Obviously, that’s not going to work.”

Try:

✅ “I see what you’re trying to do. Here’s the concern I have with that approach.”

---

❌ “You’re overcomplicating this.”

Try:

✅ “Can we simplify this and look at the core issue?”

The difference isn't just about being polite.

It is about how you use your authority.

Strong leaders don't need to constantly remind people that they know more. They use their expertise to make other people think better.

And there’s a useful test I often use:

After you’ve corrected someone, do they feel smaller or clearer?

That difference matters.

🎤 Bring Communication Into Your Organisation

Over the last few months, I’ve been spending a lot of time working with professionals and leaders on public speaking, executive presence and leadership communication.

And I’m increasingly convinced that communication should not be treated as a “soft skill”.

It directly influences how people are perceived, how ideas travel through an organisation, how leaders handle high-stakes moments — and ultimately, how much influence they have.

I conduct customised corporate programmes and workshops on:

✅ Public Speaking & Presentation Skills​
Helping professionals speak with greater clarity, confidence and impact.

✅ Executive Presence​
Helping high-potential professionals and leaders build the presence to be seen, heard and trusted.

✅ Leadership Communication​
Communicating with authority without becoming intimidating, verbose or inaccessible.

✅ Storytelling for Business​
Turning complex ideas, data and experiences into stories people actually remember.

✅ Pitch, Panel & High-Stakes Communication​
Preparing leaders for the moments where the room is listening closely.

These are customised programmes, not off-the-shelf “communication skills” workshops.

I bring my experience as a journalist, television anchor, interviewer and executive communication coach into the room - so the work is practical, real-world and immediately usable.

So if you’re part of a leadership team, HR/L&D team or business organisation that is looking to build stronger communicators and more visible leaders, tell them about me.

I’d love to work with your organisation.

📩 For corporate workshops and programmes, reach out to me at hello@mentorleap.co​

A thought to leave you with…

We spend a lot of time collecting knowledge.

Courses. Books. Podcasts. Frameworks. Workshops.

But the real question is:

What are you doing differently because of what you’ve learned?

Knowing is useful. Applying is where the change begins.

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 & Executive Presence Expert | TV Anchor & Journalist | Podcast Host
Founder & Chief Mentor, MentorLeap
​Helping you speak with impact & own the room!

APPLY FOR THE EXECUTIVE SIGNATURE 1:1 COACHING