6 women, 6 challenges, 6 solutions: Highlights from my mastermind dinner this week

Welcome to "What I Did Last Week (and what I'm looking forward to)," a newsletter where I offer actionable tips, based on what I am doing personally and professionally.

Today at a glance

-An instant hack that will make you a more powerful storyteller (inspired by the Met Gala)

-Recap of my Mastermind dinner this week

-The Guide for Packing for Professional Activities in the South of France

What I Did Last Week

Tuesday. Held the monthly SheSuite roundtable, which prompted this post on how to craft a 10 year vision, but advance the 3-5 year goals

Friday. Had drinks with my friend and author Kelly, a maven on networking. As she departs to Ireland and I to France, we grabbed drinks at Carne Mare in South Street Seaport.

Saturday. This Saturday was truly special as I had the pleasure of heading to the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Women's Leadership Lab member and hospitality consultant, Kate Edwards. We took advantage of the exclusive member hours, exploring the museum when it was closed to the public.

The highlight of our visit was the mesmerizing "Sleeping Beauties," which inspired this year's Met Gala. This exhibit engaged all our senses—smell, touch, soundscape, and sight—in ways no other exhibition on clothing has ever done.

There were speakers trained above to mimick the sounds a dress made of clamshells made when the model was walking in it. There were walls to rub, that released the scents from the dresses worn in the 1860s. CGI animations, reminiscent of the Alexander McQueen exhibit, demonstrated what some of the dresses looked like in movement.

As a public speaking coach, I emphasize the importance of sensory awareness for my clients. I encourage them to be more conscious and present by using a simple yet effective tool: a sensory quadrant. Here's how it works:

The Sensory Quadrant:

• See: What did you observe today?
• Hear: What sounds captured your attention?
• Touch: What textures did you feel?
• Smell: What scents did you encounter?
• Do: What actions did you take?

By recording these sensory details daily, my clients become more descriptive and persuasive storytellers, enhancing their ability to connect and engage with their audiences.

The "Sleeping Beauties" exhibit was a perfect example of how engaging multiple senses can create a profound and memorable experience. It reminded me of the power of storytelling and the importance of being fully present in every moment.

Wednesday. I hosted a 6 woman Mastermind dinner.

5 women presented their current business challenges

We had a CEO of a digital community startup

We had a owner of speaking agency that places candidates on big stages, like TED

We had a social media manager who imagines starting her own coaching business

We a leader from the financial services industry, who has her sights set on the C suite

We had a video and motion graphics editor seeking to get more women on her talk show

Their challenges (and the solutions here.)

What am I Looking Forward To

In 15 days, I'm heading to the South of France to work with clients on their storytelling strategy. I lead with my programming with a big dollop of adventure.

Harsh truth: Most people pack last minute.

....at least most people I talk to do.

You usually end up overpacking things you never wear and paying extra baggage fees you never intended.

You do get somewhere by planning ahead, especially if its a professional outing (and you don't want to make a misstep in front of colleagues, who aren't friends)

-mapping complete outfits to activities

-creating a capsule wardrobe

-picking one color scheme

I find investing time in mapping out my wardrobe on paper ahead of time (rather than last minute) reaps the most valuable long term rewards--I'm present, professional, and confident.

Here's a confession: I was presenting on stage about 12 years ago. I had to wear a traditional Indian "saree" which is about 9 yards of fabric tucked artfully into a petticoat. Guess what I forgot? The petticoat. It gave birth to this packing methodology I'm teaching now.

In this piece today, I'll share my core principles of building a solid wardrobe from scratch for a trip somewhere warm and in a professional setting.

Whether you are taking a 2 month work trip like me or doing a weekend away, this guide can help.

Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

1.Join the Samita Lab Mastermind. Join 7 other women leaders in the core program that sits at the center of my business model. The Mastermind teaches you exactly how to build a powerful person brand and the mindset to support it. It culminates in a TEDx talk on stage in front of 200 people at the end.

I only enroll for this program once a year.

The waitlist is open for the Class of 2025.

2. Download my E-book ? Join 50 women in reading this comprehensive book where I teach you how I landed my own TEDx Talk in 2013 and break down, step by step, how to land yours.

3. Take my “Art of Influence” masterclass ?Join 3500 people in taking my mini-public speaking Masterclass. Learn to organize a compelling talk and my framework for making it super easy.