The Marie Claire Energy Play Summit wasn’t simply one other branded panel occasion—it was an inspiring, generally emotional, and all the time trustworthy have a look at what it actually takes to rise, thrive, and keep on the prime. From Olympians to entrepreneurs, artists to execs, the room was stuffed with highly effective ladies sharing the true tales behind their spotlight reels. I walked away moved by their vulnerability, energy, and refusal to dim their mild.

Listed below are a few of my favourite takeaways from three standout panels that includes Jordan Chiles, Marsai Martin, and Kandi Burruss.

Leveling Up Your A-Sport with Jordan Chiles, Morgan Shaw Parker, Chelsea Fishman, Laura Correnti, and Tabitha Turner-Wilkins

Olympic gymnast Jordan might have medals and journal covers to her identify, however her mindset is refreshingly grounded. “The day I finally feel pressure,” she stated, “will be the day I know there’s still more for me to learn.” For her, pleasure—not stress—is the gas. Her confidence isn’t performative; it’s rooted in household, self-worth, and authenticity.

“Everything I’ve done in my career—tattoos, long nails, rocking my crew at the Olympics—that’s all me. It’s not because someone told me to do it. It’s because I felt confident doing it. And that’s where my ambition comes from: being my authentic self.”

For Morgan Shaw Parker, President & COO of the Atlanta Dream, the dialog round stress went even deeper. “Legacy work” is how she described her mission—navigating male-dominated areas, generally pregnant and pumping on NFL group planes. “After COVID and George Floyd,” she shared, “it became clear to me: vulnerability is power. You don’t have to show up perfect to lead.”

Chelsea Fishman, founding father of Atlanta’s first bar devoted to ladies’s sports activities, Jolene Jolene, shared how the haters (particularly the Reddit form) had been her affirmation: “All those comments saying it would fail—those were the signs that I was doing something right.” She’s hosted 25+ watch events already and is constructing the very neighborhood they stated would by no means come.

This panel additionally touched on ambition, authenticity, and proudly owning your energy—each in sneakers and in fits. The most effective mic-drop moments got here when the moderator flipped the query: “What if we stopped making ‘power’ a bad word for women?” A nod-worthy reminder that we’re not right here to play small.

Making Your Voice Heard with Marsai Martin, Carol Martin, Miss Milan, and Heather McMahan

This panel was a masterclass in staying grounded whereas rising up—or glamming up—on the worldwide stage. Actress and producer Marsai talked about what it’s like to point out up in high-pressure moments when your confidence is low however the world continues to be watching. From pink carpets to lengthy shoot days, she reminded us that even if you’re not at 100%, you continue to discover a strategy to push by means of.

“There have been days where I wasn’t feeling the best, but I still had to show up on this carpet. Or it was that time of the month, but I still had to go on set. I just didn’t feel as confident—but it’s about how you take care of yourself in those moments and still keep pushing.”

Her mother and enterprise accomplice Carol Martin dropped gems about motherhood and mentorship: “It’s like teaching your kid to ride a bike over and over again. Now the bike is a movie or a brand.” That stability between guiding and letting go? Not straightforward—however important if you’re elevating a mogul and working an organization.

“There have been days where I wasn’t feeling the best, but I still had to show up on this carpet. Or it was that time of the month, but I still had to go on set. I just didn’t feel as confident—but it’s about how you take care of yourself in those moments and still keep pushing.”

Miss Milan, Grammy Award-winning DJ and Doechii’s right-hand girl, lit the gang up together with her no-nonsense vitality. “I built my own table,” she stated. “When you build it, they can’t tell you you can’t sit.” From journaling her desires to manifesting Grammys, her story is certainly one of resilience and intention—and an entire lot of religion in her personal imaginative and prescient.

This panel didn’t draw back from onerous truths both: the unhappiness that may include success, the worry of fading relevance, the criticism that hits in a different way when it’s private. However Marsai stated it finest: know your why. And let it evolve with you.

The Price of Beginning Your Personal Enterprise with Kandi Burruss and Nikki Ogunnaike

Kandi doesn’t sugarcoat the grind. From chart-topping songwriter to multi-business entrepreneur, she’s constructed her empire one danger—and one reinvention—at a time.

“Fear equals failure. If you don’t even try, you’ve failed automatically —and you did it to yourself. I’d rather take a risk and lose money than play it safe and never know what could’ve happened.”

She broke down the true prices of entrepreneurship: cash, time, and emotional bandwidth. “You think you’re going to work less when you work for yourself?” she laughed. “You’re going to work more.” For Kandi, mommy guilt and monetary setbacks are a part of the package deal—however so is the satisfaction of seeing an concept by means of.

She opened up about scaling again on her clothes retailer and briefly closing the unique Outdated Girl Gang location. “It felt like failure,” she admitted, “but sometimes you have to step back to make things better.” Nonetheless, she’s not one to give up. She simply pivots—with precision.

One in every of her most memorable reflections? How her music profession hiccup led her to songwriting—finally writing the mega-hit “No Scrubs.” That tune grew to become the important thing to a brand new lane and legacy. “You may think you’re working on one dream,” she stated, “but it could open the door to another.”

Additionally? Kandi needs you to cease emailing her from a Gmail. “You’re doing million-dollar business on a bootleg budget,” she joked. “Invest in yourself. Start with a domain name!”

The Marie Claire Energy Play Summit was a robust reminder that ambition, authenticity, and vulnerability aren’t separate traits—they work in tandem. Whether or not you’re constructing a bar, a model, or a enterprise from scratch, the secret is to remain rooted in your voice, your story, and your why.

And in the event you want an indication to go for it? Think about this your inexperienced mild.

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Characteristic picture by Paras Griffin/ Getty Photos for Energy Play