I (Heart) NY...and Luminary Live!
I knew I was wearing the jacket.
The minute I heard that Cate Luzio was bringing Luminary Live back to NYC, the I Love NY blazer hanging proudly in my closet leapt to mind.
And the second I saw that Danielle Becker, founder and CEO of Lefty's Right Mind and the artist behind the piece, was joining the kickoff panel Building While Flying, it was like stars aligned.
What is so special about the jacket?
It's not just an anniversary collaboration between Lefty's Right Mind and Veronica Beard paying homage to my favorite city in the world.
It doesn't just draw comments any time I wear it in Manhattan - whether out to dinner, on a TED-Ed stage or on the floor of the NYSE.
It's just a love letter to a city that I can wear like a billboard.
A city that, whether staring down traffic, facing down headwinds or building up connections, does it all with an empire (state)-sized heart.
Exactly like Luminary Live.
Self-described as Luminary's "signature event series bringing together ambitious professionals, entrepreneurs, community builders, and industry leaders for meaningful connection and real-world learning," the day is a joy from start to finish.
So when I watched Danielle Becker speak last week alongside Katie Palencsar, Melissa Gallardo and Diane Britt-Smith, touching on courage, dedication and an unrelenting willingness to make decisions in midair, it resonated a bit more wearing the product of such grit.
Who else spoke at the event?
The full agenda can be found here, and topics ranged from AI to cash flow, networking with vendors and differentiating your brand in a saturated market. Big topics, wise words and engaged audiences that passed the mic and shared the wealth.
How did it feel? Like coming home.
Luminary has long been a favorite place of mine to connect and grow, from the launch of my first book when Cate set up author tables so teen Être participants could sign books on Day of the Girl, to a multi-author discussion around the launch of my second.
Images via Être
Indeed, I'm headed back to Luminary tomorrow, October 6th at 6:30pm, to interview epic author Fran Hauser about her newest marvel Twenty Minutes Is the New Hour and I cannot wait.
And while I won't repeat the jacket so soon, the vibe that it carries will fit the moment like a glove. Because only in the heart of New York City, amid women investing, scaling and succeeding, can a place like Luminary bring us together in it's glow.
I love that jacket.
I adore this city.
Especially because it draws luminaries from every corner and borough to inspire each other.
Looking forward,
Illana
ÊXTRAS: Three more ways to join the fun at Luminary this week you won't want to miss: sign up for tomorrow's book launch with Fran Hauser here, see all upcoming events here, and think about hosting an event here!
