Welcome to Radhika's newsletter INTENT: a guide for high achievers who want an extraordinary life. Each issue brings you real stories, practical strategies, and the intention behind how we work, lead, grow, and live.

I grew up speaking both Hindi and English, which meant I never felt fully confident in either.

I’d mix up words or pause too long trying to find the right way to say something. Over time, as I tried to assimilate into American culture, I picked up filler words just to keep things flowing. And on top of that, add my natural shyness, stage fright, and a constant fear of being judged.

Not exactly a strong foundation for becoming a great speaker. To be honest, I didn’t really care that much either. I was an engineer. I studied engineering. And somewhere along the way, I convinced myself:

That’s what matters, right?
Wrong.

I took an Advanced Presentational Speaking class senior year of college and that’s when I really started to challenge myself. It taught us about ‘presentations in corporate board rooms, orientation meetings, banquet halls, and public forms.’

If you have big goals, speaking isn’t optional. At some point, you’ll need to:

The older I get and the more I experience the real world, the more I believe this:

Speaking well might be the most important skill anyone can master.

I see this play out all the time at work.

I have a coworker, Elsey, who’s an incredibly strong speaker. In meetings whether it’s a one-on-one or a large group people pay attention when he talks. Phones go down. Conversations pause. There’s a level of presence that’s hard to ignore.

And it made me realize something simple but powerful: People who speak well don’t just share ideas…they shape them.

They’re able to tell stories, influence decisions, and build trust in a way that goes beyond their technical skills. When you look at leaders across tech, business, or even politics, this pattern shows up again and again. The people at the top aren’t just knowledgeable; they know how to communicate that knowledge in a way that resonates.

That ability to hold a room is a form of leverage most of us underestimate.

Over the past two years, I’ve felt this more directly in my own life.

Speaking has become a much bigger part of my role; whether it’s presenting in team meetings, sharing updates in larger forums, or driving initiatives that require alignment across multiple stakeholders. Some of these moments are in front of large groups, some are virtual, and some are with senior leaders.

And if I’m being honest, each one of them is equally as intimidating.

At the same time, I’ve been working toward a personal goal of becoming a speaker: someone who can share ideas, tell stories, and hopefully inspire others along the way.

So I’ve been practicing. A lot.

I’ve started paying attention to how people phrase things. If I hear a word or a sentence structure I like, I write it down and look it up. I’ve put myself in situations that feel uncomfortable…speaking in front of students, saying yes to opportunities at work, and putting myself out there for events where I have to show up and deliver.

None of it feels natural yet. But it’s starting to feel possible.

Last week was one of those moments that made everything feel worth it. I had the opportunity to host a workshop in NYC for around 30 women on how to speak and present more effectively in meetings. I called it Own The Room.

Even as I was preparing for it, part of me couldn’t believe I was the one teaching this topic. This is something I’ve been actively working on for years and now I was standing in front of a room trying to help others do the same.

But what stayed with me most wasn’t the workshop itself. It was what happened after. People came up to talk. They shared what resonated. They said thank you.

And I had this brief moment where my internal voice kicked in……wait, people actually want to hear from me?

That imposter feeling didn’t completely go away. But for the first time, it didn’t take over either. I was able to recognize it… and keep going. And I think that’s the shift.

Confidence isn’t something you wait for before you act. It’s something you build by putting yourself in situations where you have no choice but to grow into it. So even though it’s hellla uncomfortable for me to put myself out there, that’s been the only and best way to build my skills and confidence.

Recently, I saw this super inspirational video of @babystepstothemic on Tiktok and it’s inspired me to continue practicing my speech.

I’ll now be spending 2 minutes everyday on my speaking (you might see them in form of social media posts) but really it’s me practicing the art of speaking.

I also started a small accountability group for people who want to be more intentional and want to have a system for their goals. If that’s something you’re interested in, reply to this and I’ll add you to the WhatsApp group.

I’ll leave you with 5 quick tips I’ve learned over the years & am still learning:

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through all of this, it’s that your ability to communicate will open doors that your work alone won’t.

And if you’re anything like me a few years ago, it’s easy to underestimate just how important that is.

It’s a skill. And like any skill - it can be built.

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Thank you so much for being a part of the INTENT community. I rely on word-of-mouth for growth. If you enjoyed this newsletter, I’d love for you to share it with a friend.
Your commitment to living with purpose is exactly why this space exists. Can’t wait to share more in the next edition!

Until next time,
Radhika
Creating a life of purpose, wealth, and growth

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