Queen Me! with Ashley Lynn Priore

In this episode of Queen Me, we interview Mara Smith, founder of Inspiro Tequila, a clean, additive-free tequila brand. Mara shares her journey from being a lawyer to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the skills gained as a stay-at-home mom, the importance of thorough research, and the challenges of starting a business during the pandemic.

In this episode of Queen Me, we discuss the concept of empowerment in three steps: understanding empowerment, empowering oneself, and empowering others. We emphasize that empowerment is about increasing one's capacity to make choices and transform their lives, not just through physical strength but also mental resilience.

Regan Robinson believes in the power of possibility. She is a holistic futurist and business strategist that empowers visionary companies to turn uncertainty into advantage and effortlessly innovate and strategize for their future. Her resolute mission is to rewire our culture and put us on a path of revolutionary transformation and limitless human potential by doing less, not doing more.

There are other ways to build your brand without a fancy website. How do you get here? This episode, we will discuss becoming non-negotiable with your brand (aka how you want to put yourself out into the world and be seen). We dive into branding yourself, asking others to “brand” you, and researching to find inspiration.

We are going to help you achieve your personal “queen me!” and find your voice through seven prime categories. Our show isn’t just top women in the industry sharing their insight and advice…it’s a network of women, myself included, outlining ways we found our inner queen and how you can too.

Becca Levian is the founder and creative director of Skye High Interactive, a marketing agency that creates unforgettable brands and websites for established entrepreneurs who believe that business is human. Becca has over 15 years of web design and visual brand strategy experience.

Brandi Dugal is the founder and CEO of The Fidget Game, an interactive and exciting educational game that will help your children learn grade level skills in weeks. The Fidget Game has reached 50,000+ schools in the USA. With passion and joy, Brandi continues to ignite the love of learning in children and is committed to making education affordable, effective, and enjoyable.

Sahaana serves as a Player Services Coordinator for the Cleveland Browns where she empowers players on and off the field. Sahaana began her career in sports at Tulane University where she served as Equipment Manager for Tulane Green Wave.

Alaina Percival is the CEO and co-founder of Women Who Code, a nonprofit empowering diverse women to excel in technology careers. Alaina envisions a tech industry where diverse women and historically excluded people thrive at every level.

Lindsey Smith is an entrepreneur, literary agent, and bestselling author of eight books, including the award-winning Eat Your Feelings. Lindsey’s #1 passion is helping you take your book project from “idea” to “done.” She is also the founder of One Idea Press.

Julia Shatilo currently serves as the Programming Director of SXSW EDU, a vibrant and dynamic event that brings together the brightest minds in education to share ideas, network, and create the future of teaching and learning. Julia is a graduate of UTA.

Meredith Goldberg-Morse is the Director of Social Impact for MTV Entertainment Studios at Paramount where she develops storyline integrations and content-led impact campaigns across major brands.

Jennifer Justice is the founder and CEO of The Justice Dept., a female focused advisory, consulting and law firm advocating for female founders, talent, execs and brands. They represent bo$$ ladies to make them money.

Janice Liu is a business and technology leader serving as the co-founder of Filling the Gap, a Toronto-based non-for-profit women’s empowerment conference. She has founded numerous start-ups and advises new entrepreneurs on everything business.

Kara Goldin is the Founder of Hint, Inc., best known for its award-winning Hint® water, the leading unsweetened flavored water. She led the company as CEO for 17 years and is still on the Board. Kara is also the author of Undaunted.

Natalie Bencivenga is a socially conscious journalist, media personality and digital media consultant. She is the co-founder of XSquared Media, LLC and hosts a weekly show for KDKA Radio.

Maya Myers is an award winning lifestyle documentary photographer based in Los Angeles and New York, specializing in luxury weddings and special events. She is also the founder of the lifestyle brand All Moringa.

Andrea Flack-Wetherald is social worker turned comedian and the author of The Funny Thing About Forgiveness: What every leader needs to know about improv, culture and the world’s least favorite F word. She is also creator of Mindful Improv Thinking.

Erin Lydon is the President of Poker Power, an edtech company with a mission to teach one million women how to play the game…the game of poker and the game of life. Erin is passionate about helping women succeed from the classroom to the board room. She is also a Money 20/20 RiseUp Advisor.

Dr. Lucy Houghton is an award-winning speaker, author of the Courage Cultivation Theory, and co-author of the Post Burnout Growth Theory. Her research focuses on the importance and role of courage in women’s leadership and the intersection between courage and wellbeing.

Sonali David has 14 years of gender and inclusion experience that ranges across development agencies like UNDP, World Bank and the government of India. She co-authored the World Bank's India Gender Portfolio Review 2018. She serves as Senior GESI Expert at Equilo.

Michelle Beyo is a thought leader, speaker, and advisor currently serving as the CEO & founder of FINAVATOR, an award-winning FinTech and Payments Consultancy. She has 20 years of extensive industry experience driving innovation across the retail and payments industry.

Nicole Jones serves as an Operations Analyst for a global cybersecurity consulting firm. Nicole is an advocate for positive change, a waymaker, and complex problem solver who focuses on delivering efficient solutions.

Diana Kapp is a journalist and author of Girls Who Run The World and Girls Who Green The World. Her work has has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, ELLE, Marie Claire, & O the Oprah Magazine.

Founding Aerial in 2009 at the age of 21 with the mission of elevating people and places, Britnie Turner’s career has been built on empowering people, sustaining the planet and utilizing capitalism as a force for good.