Why the table still matters. Even when life feels overwhelming.
There is something deeply human about gathering — not the event, not the logistics, but the intention behind it.
A table is never just a table.
It is a declaration that people matter.
That their presence is welcome.
That what they bring — stories, exhaustion, hope — deserves room.
In the nonprofit world, where many women serve endlessly and often invisibly, gathering becomes more than hospitality. It becomes leadership.
Because when you gather people intentionally, you’re saying:
• I see you.
• You don’t have to shrink here.
• Your presence has value.
• We can breathe together, even for a moment.
When I prepare for a conversation — whether I am setting my dining table for guests or settling into my home office to support nonprofit leaders — I begin the same way: by shaping the atmosphere. I light MBW No. Five, with its grounding magnolia warmth, or MBW No. 20, with its bouquet of roses, lilies, and hyacinth. Each carries its own kind of welcome. To ensure the scent lingers, a spritz of MBS Adrienne provides the perfect finishing touch.
These gestures are small, but they speak loudly:
This moment matters.
You matter.
Candles are never the only actors in the room. I place roses at the center of the table, a magnolia branch nearby, and allow the space to hold a softness that encourages people to exhale. None of it is decoration. It is intention — made visible and felt. Please click here to learn how you can experience MBW No. Five and MBW No. 20.
Leadership begins long before we speak.
Often, it begins the moment we make room for others — and for ourselves.
May we continue to gather with purpose — and lead with presence.
With gratitude and intention!
Monique
