Are you scared?
Heather was likely referring to the fact that we were both traveling solo. India wasn’t new to her, but it was to me, and we were each navigating the trip with a bit of uncertainty. Advice had poured in from all directions, from what to avoid eating, whether to take probiotics or antibiotics, and how to brush our teeth. Some warnings came with an extra layer of concern: We were women traveling alone to a male-dominated industry event. Subtle (and not-so-subtle) cues urged us to lead, but not too loudly. Dress modestly, but stay cool. Blend in, but expect to stand out.
Yes, Heather and I, who typically fit right in at any conference from New Jersey to Las Vegas, were about to become the minority in a sea of Indian business executives in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical sectors. It seemed that everyone was making sure we knew about this fact.
So, when I saw Heather’s text again—Are you scared?—I paused. Honestly, I wasn’t scared of the stares, the food, or the heat. What really made my stomach flutter was the responsibility ahead: Opening the Sumflex as its first female emcee and correctly pronouncing a dozen unfamiliar Indian names in front of a packed auditorium with cameras rolling. What I feared most wasn’t messing up for myself, it was the thought that if I did, it might make it harder for the next woman to take the stage.
Are you ready?
That was the question I kept asking myself from the moment I accepted the invitation. And I always do. Because when a big opportunity comes along, I don’t overthink it, I say yes and figure it out later. That’s the entrepreneur in me. I rarely feel “ready.” I just commit, then prepare like crazy.
When Fabien Cousteau asked me to publicize his underwater Mission 31 science expedition, I said yes, without realizing it would evolve into a global media campaign that nearly drowned me in unpaid work. I figured it out.
When Team USX, a group of U.S. Army soldiers and veterans, asked for help publicizing their PTSD awareness expedition to Mount Everest, I said yes, then stayed up around the clock monitoring their safety while feeding updates to the media. I figured it out.
After three decades in communications, I’ve learned you rarely know what you’re getting into when you say yes to something bold. But if you hesitate, the opportunity passes. Say yes, and you’ll rise to the challenge.
So, when Amit Srivastava, founder of Nutrify Today, asked me to emcee the Sumflex, I didn’t map out a pro-con list or run a safety assessment. I just said yes. Like always, I knew I would figure it out.
Are you moving “it” forward?
Whatever your “it” is—your business, your idea, your health—you must pause and ask: Am I progressing or stuck? Too many people remain in place for years, frozen by fear of the unknown. But here’s what I’ve discovered: Success doesn’t hinge on skill, connections, or even timing. It’s about boldness. The simple act of saying yes moves the needle.
If more women said yes to leadership roles before they felt “qualified,” we’d already be running the world. If you said yes to 15 minutes of exercise each day, you’d feel healthier in a month. If you said yes to that unproven idea that doesn’t yet show a clear ROI, you might already be building something extraordinary. But saying yes also means doing the work.
When I agreed to emcee the Sumflex, I had no idea what the role fully entailed or how high the stakes felt as the “first.” I didn’t let fear paralyze me. I did my homework. I asked for help.
Amy Summers and Akansha K. met in person for final name pronunciation prep before taking the stage at Nutrify Today C-Suite Sumflex
First, I called on a trusted William Reed media correspondent, Danielle Masterson, who suggested I work with someone on the ground in India to record name pronunciations. That person became Akansha K., a powerhouse behind Nutrify Today’s events and marketing. She met with me on Zoom, pronounced every name slowly and clearly, and sent me an audio file to study.I also turned to my Indian colleagues stateside. Shaheen Majeed, CEO of Sabinsa, warned me not to tell jokes, because it may not translate. Anand Swaroop of Cepham, and one of Nutrify Today’s co-founders, reminded me why I was chosen in the first place—to open the door for more women. “Show them what’s possible,” he said. And then there was Amit, who gave me the advice that made everything click, “Just be Amy.”
Just be you.
It sounds simple, but in high-pressure moments, it can be easy to forget. So, I reminded myself of who I am: I prepare, I practice, I shine the spotlight on others, and I respect the platform I’m given. I took the stage grounded in that and I didn’t try to become someone else. I just showed up as myself.
Amit Srivastava presenting Amy Summers with a Nutrify Today C-Suite Sumflex award.
At the end of the event, Amit surprised me with an award, something usually reserved for speakers and presenters. I wasn’t expecting it. But I carried it home, stuffed awkwardly in my suitcase next to all the medical supplies I never ended up needing. My backpack felt lighter, not just because I had taken all my supplements, but because the weight of doing something new had lifted.
Each time I say yes, I rise a little more.
And I’ll keep rising, not just for myself, but for the next woman who needs to see it’s possible, for the entrepreneur who hasn’t yet discovered what’s inside them, for anyone standing at the edge of something big, wondering if they’re ready.
Say yes. You’ll figure the rest out.
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