Actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas teamed up with Marshalls to talk about ambition, insecurity, and (of course) fashion

For Priyanka Chopra Jonas, confidence is a s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 that requires practice, and she’s eager to cultivate it alongside other women. At the Marshalls Good Stuff Social Club event in Chicago on October 5, she shared insights about her partnership with Marshalls’ inaugural accelerator program and the experiences that have shaped her self-identity.

The event brought together hundreds of women for interactive panels focused on happiness and financial wellness, along with networking opportunities. It also promoted the upcoming accelerator, which will select 40 women to receive $5,000 grants, mentorship, and peer coaching over the next year.

“A lot of brands talk the talk, but this is actually walking the walk,” Chopra told PEOPLE. She emphasized the tangible impact she witnessed, describing the excitement on women’s faces as they networked and connected.

Chopra believes in the importance of discussing fears and insecurities, stating, “I want to talk through how you regain or gain confidence to take the next step and make your ambitions a reality. It can be daunting to put your ambitions out there.”

Juggling her career and motherhood with daughter Malti, Chopra finds her best self through preparation and self-awareness. When not feeling her best, she reminds herself, “Thoughts are not facts.”

Addressing personal style, Chopra reflected on her fashion journey, emphasizing that figuring out her style involved introspection. She learned that “less is more,” a mantra that shifted her perspective from “more is more” in her early career.

On her days off, she prioritizes comfort and relies on stylists for professional events, preferring to avoid the pressure of personal styling. Advocating for sustainable fashion, she believes in reusing clothes and maintains a ‘Pass Me On’ shelf in her closet for sharing with friends and family.

As she has evolved personally and professionally—moving from India to the U.S., winning Miss World, marrying Nick Jonas, and becoming a mother—Chopra embraces change as a constant in life. “I don’t read my books backwards,” she said, encouraging others not to dwell on the past or feel overwhelmed by the future. “If today is great, you look back and you’ll say, ‘Wow.’ If every day is great, life will be great.”