“The Power of Presence”: Inside The Legacy League’s Intimate Evening at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria

Photographer: Krysta Rene Photography

The Legacy League turned a corner of Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria into something closer to a salon than a store event, and by the time the evening began, every clear chiavari chair in the room was filled.

Guests arrived dressed for the occasion, in tailored dresses and statement blazers, each holding one of the evening’s signature striped totes, and settled in among the racks of the boutique’s own floor, the retail space itself doubling as the backdrop. A green hedge wall stamped with the Neiman Marcus and Legacy League logos anchored the front of the room, a single white orchid resting on a glass table beside it, the kind of detail that signals nothing here was left to chance.

This was a packed house of curated guests, women in leadership from across the DMV who came not to network in the transactional sense, but to sit in a room built specifically for them. The energy in the space matched the intention behind it. Guests leaned forward. They applauded mid-conversation, more than once, hands raised together in the kind of spontaneous appreciation that happens when a panelist says the thing everyone in the room was quietly thinking.

At the front, four women sat in conversation against the hedge wall backdrop: relaxed, laughing, fully present with each other and with the room. It was an intimate setup by design, close enough that the audience wasn’t watching a panel so much as sitting inside one.

The Legacy League built the evening around a simple idea: presence is power.

Hosted in partnership with Neiman Marcus and Tysons Galleria, the curated conversation, titled “The Power of Presence: How Women Lead, Pivot & Build,” centered on reinvention, visibility, and the courage to build on what’s already been established.

The panel was moderated by Yasmeen Shields, founder of The Legacy League, a private membership alliance for women in leadership across the DMV region. Shields built her platform on two decades of hosting brunches, philanthropic salons, and mentorship circles, after first rising to prominence with her lifestyle brand Yasmeen’s Sassy Wreaths, work that earned her a 40 Under 40 honor.

She was joined by three panelists whose careers each represent a different model of building and pivoting:

Dr. Mary Jean Stack, founder of Great Falls Physical Therapy, who returned to her hometown in 2018 to open a practice built around one-on-one, hands-on patient care, since recognized as a top physical therapy practice in the region.

Pastor Yvette “Vetta” Cash of FLOW Church in Bowie, who brings a ministry-rooted perspective on leadership and community.

Angela Carter, founder of Carter Group Creative, a boutique event planning and design firm she launched in 2022 after two decades in corporate events, with work spanning weddings, corporate galas, and events at institutions like the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

By the end of the evening, the room hadn’t just listened; it had connected. Guests lingered by the hedge wall backdrop, traded contact information, and continued conversations that started mid-panel long after the last question was answered.

About The Legacy League

The Legacy League is a private membership alliance for women of extraordinary caliber, executives, founders, philanthropists, investors, creatives, and cultural leaders across the DMV region, united by shared values and a pursuit of legacy that goes beyond individual success. Founded and led by Yasmeen Shields, the organization’s mission is to empower high-impact women to walk boldly in their purpose and lead with elegance, intention, and lasting influence, guided by three core values: grace, strength, and diversity.

Membership isn’t structured around networking in the traditional sense. Every gathering, from luxury garden salons to fireside dinners to evenings like this one, is intentionally designed to foster real dialogue and aligned connection. The Legacy League’s fall cohort membership applications are now open for women in leadership across the DMV region.

About Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria

Located at 2255 International Drive in McLean, Virginia, Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria has anchored one of the Washington, D.C. area’s premier luxury shopping destinations since Tysons Galleria opened in 1988. The store describes itself as a specialty retailer dedicated to merchandise leadership and superior customer service, offering the finest fashion and quality products in a welcoming environment.

Beyond its curated designer collections, the store is built around a level of personal attention that made it a fitting host for an evening centered on women in leadership. Its personal shopping team works as private stylists, curating looks to fit a client’s individual style or tracking down a specific piece on request, while its tailoring services ensure every purchase fits perfectly. That same spirit of hospitality and individual care extended naturally to hosting The Legacy League, offering its floor as a backdrop for a gathering built around presence and connection rather than a transaction.