I GO! | Edition 15: Authentic Communication, an Act of Presence & Love

Fresh off a plane from Kazakhstan, this week I travelled to Versailles. Then straight to Nice. And after less than 24 hours in London, now I’m writing this in transit, on my way to India, literally whilst on the GO!

Yes, June 2025 is shaping up to be one of the busiest, craziest, most exhilarating months of my professional life (but that also means temporary but significant sacrifices — notably family life and sleep).

In the midst of this transcontinental, red-eye flights, events whirlwind, two themes keep returning like a quiet drumbeat: first, how much I freaking love what I do.

It’s taken 46 years of soul-searching, challenges, small wins, epic failures, constant faith, crippling doubt, self-hatred at times, support, lack of it, criticism, encouragements, and so much work, so much passion to reach a climax: the moment where the sum of all the experiences converge and the equation becomes:

I am what I do = I do what I am

=

I love what I do = I do what I love

Second insight, though not a new one: authentic communication requires presence.

Presence at each engagement to fully immerse yourself in it, augment the experience, give it full attention and total commitment — physical, intellectual, emotional — because that's how magic happens, and your energy, your passion, becomes infectious.

From Versailles: Presence & Knowledge as Privilege

At an intimate and elegant gathering in Versailles mid-week, I spent a whole day on stage conducting conversations in the majestic setting of the Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace (and of course didn’t get a minute to enjoy it nor the neighbouring Grand Trianon — Louis XIV’s retreat built in the Versailles Estate but sufficiently away from the intrigues and pomp of the Court so the king could enjoy his affair with the Marquise de Montespan).

The opening night set the tone: a colourful and modern — somehow — opera performance (Purcell) in the Chapelle Royale, a wonderful cocktail in the Basse-Galerie of the Palais (privatised for the occasion!!!), overlooking the gardens illuminated by the crescent moon. Pinch-me moments!

Then a full day of dialogue on stage with renowned figures from politics, academia, media, business, and civil society — we concluded the day very harrowing story of Nobel Prize winner Nadia Murad, and the fight of a Yazidi woman for justice.

The best speakers (and leaders!) are always the most generous — who give all of themselves: their successes, their failures, their struggles, their fire, their humour, their intelligence — whilst embarking the audience in the story.

They talk TO, not AT people. My speakers all did that — and candidly and patiently answered the audience's questions.

Prior to it, this simple but almost radical invitation from our host, a leading financial institution, to their clients:

“Be present. Switch off your phones. Be here, fully.”

So that's what we did — all day, and at night after that, when watching a poetic equestrian show by Bartabas at the Ecuries Royales, in the pure French tradition, followed by an exquisite dinner. Precise and elegant. Privilege, again, in Versailles.

And this thought: in a world of noise, presence is the new luxury.

From Nice: Presence as Urgency

From palatial Versailles to the buzzing port city of Nice, I had the honour of serving as Master of Ceremonies for the Ocean Rise & Coastal Resilience Summit, a milestone event ahead of the historic third 2025 UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), co-hosted by France and Costa Rica.

No abstract discussion. We talked about real cities, real people, and real coastlines — disappearing or under threat. Communities that had to be forcefully relocated due to rising sea levels, like the Guna Yala in Panama.

And in the midst of policy, science, and urgency, one leader reminded us of something even deeper:

“This is about love.”

— Mayor LaToya Cantrell, New Orleans

An absolute powerhouse, she was the only global leader at the summit to say the word out loud. And of course, it’s no coincidence that a woman should say it. Former US State Secretary and Special Climate Envoy John Kerry concluded the morning’s plenary with a passionate (but seemingly neverending - quality over quantity folks!) sermon on the need for action but my overall winner, the one who touched us all was the formidable Latoya.

Because at its heart, all this — the speeches, the science, the governance, the adaptation — it’s about Love. For place. For people. For the generations who come next.

This highly stimulating, high-stakes week reminded me of what good, authentic communication looks like:

A Balance of Masculine & Feminine Energy

Authentic communication blends:

Masculine clarity, structure, direction

Feminine empathy, intuition, receptivity

It’s not just about speaking well, looking composed, sharing powerful arguments, impressing, dominance — it's almost the opposite: resonance.

Leading with Empathy & Presence

Great communicators don’t just speak — they tune in.

What is your audience afraid of? What do they hope for? How can your words serve them? What would energise or motivate them?

When you speak from that space, you create a shared human moment.

Make It a Love Story

Not a romance. A story powered by connection and care.

Communication at its best is an act of love. Empathy and empowerment. It says: “I see you. I care. Let’s build something meaningful — together.”

Final Thought: Your Energy is the Message

So next time you step into a room, a meeting, a summit, or simply a conversation, ask yourself: What kind of energy am I bringing? You see, it's all about frequency & vibrancy.

Show up fully in life. And reap the rewards.

Until next week,

Charlotte x