diff --git a/app/api/testimonials/route.ts b/app/api/testimonials/route.ts
index 78585af..b59d213 100644
--- a/app/api/testimonials/route.ts
+++ b/app/api/testimonials/route.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export async function POST(request: Request) {
     const data = await request.json();
 
     // Basic validation
-    if (!data.name || !data.role || !data.email || !data.content) {
+    if (!data.name || !data.role || !data.content || !data.cta) {
       return NextResponse.json(
         { error: 'Missing required fields' },
         { status: 400 }
diff --git a/components/submit-testimonial-modal.tsx b/components/submit-testimonial-modal.tsx
index ee7b8b6..3a8dd4c 100644
--- a/components/submit-testimonial-modal.tsx
+++ b/components/submit-testimonial-modal.tsx
@@ -155,11 +155,10 @@ export function SubmitTestimonialModal() {
             </div>
 
             <div className="space-y-2">
-              <Label htmlFor="email">Email *</Label>
+              <Label htmlFor="email">Email (Optional)</Label>
               <Input
                 id="email"
                 type="email"
-                required
                 value={formData.email}
                 onChange={(e) => setFormData({...formData, email: e.target.value})}
               />
@@ -202,6 +201,19 @@ export function SubmitTestimonialModal() {
               />
             </div>
 
+            <div className="space-y-2">
+              <Label htmlFor="cta">Message to Readers *</Label>
+              <Input
+                id="cta"
+                type="text"
+                placeholder="Join Dev Weekends to level up your skills"
+                required
+                value={formData.cta}
+                onChange={(e) => setFormData({...formData, cta: e.target.value})}
+              />
+              <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Short call-to-action or closing thought.</p>
+            </div>
+
             <div className="space-y-2">
               <Label htmlFor="videoUrl">Video URL (Optional)</Label>
               <Input
@@ -214,18 +226,6 @@ export function SubmitTestimonialModal() {
               <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Link to a YouTube video or similar.</p>
             </div>
 
-            <div className="space-y-2">
-              <Label htmlFor="cta">CTA / Message to Readers (Optional)</Label>
-              <Input
-                id="cta"
-                type="text"
-                placeholder="Join Dev Weekends to level up your skills"
-                value={formData.cta}
-                onChange={(e) => setFormData({...formData, cta: e.target.value})}
-              />
-              <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Short call-to-action or closing thought.</p>
-            </div>
-
             <DialogFooter>
               <Button type="submit" disabled={loading} className="w-full">
                 {loading && <Loader2 className="w-4 h-4 mr-2 animate-spin" />}
diff --git a/models/Testimonial.ts b/models/Testimonial.ts
index 2cac3ff..f4edf5f 100644
--- a/models/Testimonial.ts
+++ b/models/Testimonial.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ const TestimonialSchema = new Schema<ITestimonial>(
     },
     email: {
       type: String,
-      required: [true, 'Email is required'], // For internal contact/verification
       trim: true,
     },
     content: {