BuzzWorthy: Ladies Who Lunch and Launch

By Allison Priebe Montgomery

On February 27, just before Women’s History Month kicked off on March 1, a room filled with accomplished women gathered at L’Avant-Garde Georgetown for an afternoon that was equal parts strategy session, storytelling circle and power luncheon. The occasion: Ladies Who Power Lunch: Personal Brand Workshop, hosted by Next ChaptHER.

Designed for high-performing women ready to refine their narrative and elevate their presence, the luncheon and workshop delivered on its promise of transformation. Rather than focusing on surface-level branding tips, the conversation went deeper into identity, reinvention and the courage required to define what comes next.

The program was facilitated by branding and marketing expert Anina Belle Giannini, co-founder of Next ChaptHER and PR, marketing firm Savoir Faire and wife of L’Avant-Garde chef and owner.  Giannini challenged attendees to view personal branding not as self-promotion, but as alignment—the disciplined act of articulating who you are now and where we aim to venture.

A dynamic panel featuring Emmy nominated host & producer Erin Como, group publisher for Modern Luxury DC Jessica Powers and real estate and lifestyle guru Sara Azani.  The diverse panel provided real-world insight into how personal branding has shaped their respective careers. Each woman spoke openly about pivots, visibility and the evolution of identity in highly public-facing roles. Their stories reinforced a central theme of the workshop: success is not static, and neither is a woman’s brand.

Through practical storytelling frameworks, women examined how their expertise, lived experiences and even setbacks could be translated into a clear and differentiated personal brand. The emphasis was on ownership: shaping the narrative before others do.  Creating authentic and honest content was repeatedly mentioned as was getting more comfortable with AI or even taking a dip into podcasting!

Welcoming the group alongside Giannini were the Next ChaptHER founders Lindsay Gill, Alicia McKenzie and Hilary Phelps, who helped foster an atmosphere that was both candid and supportive. The tone of the afternoon balanced polish with authenticity—a refreshing departure from traditional D.C. networking events.  The big news was that Next ChaptHER was beginning 2026 under new status as a not for profit entity, allowing for more flexibility and fundraising.  Scholarships and grants were also mentioned and awarded at the luncheon.

Attendees, many of whom have already built impressive careers and resumes across business, media, nonprofit and creative sectors, left with tangible tools, from messaging frameworks to clarity around positioning and perhaps more importantly, renewed confidence.

In a city where titles often precede introductions, the workshop offered something more personal and more powerful: the reminder that your narrative belongs to you. For the women who attended, February 27 was not simply about branding — it was about stepping intentionally into the next chapter of leadership, visibility and impact. More events to come with more opportunities.  Follow Next ChaptHER on Instagram here or subscribe to emails and newsletters here.

A gallery of photos from the event can be found below.

tagsanina belle gianniniBusinessbusiness lunchchaptHERGeorgetownGeorgetown businessL'Avant Gardeladies who lunch