Mara Smith is the Founder of Inspiro Tequila, a women-owned- and led clean, additive-free tequila brand. A former attorney and corporate strategist, she began her legal career at a large law firm in Chicago before joining the corporate strategy team at McDonald's. Mara launched Inspiro Tequila to bring more female perspectives into the spirits industry.

Women entrepreneurs face unique challenges in breaking into male-dominated industries, but by amplifying their voices and championing each other, they can redefine entire markets. How can you foster systemic change to elevate opportunities for women?

Mara Smith, a former corporate attorney and strategist, founded Inspiro Tequila to disrupt the spirits industry by bringing more female voices to the forefront. Recognizing that women were a major segment of tequila consumers yet largely ignored by existing brands, she created a premium, additive-free tequila that speaks directly to them. Through initiatives like the Purple Bicycle Project and the Inspiro Connectors Collective, Mara uplifts female entrepreneurs, providing mentorship, funding, and community-building opportunities to support their journeys.

In this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Mara Smith, the Founder of Inspiro Tequila, joins Andrea Heuston to discuss how she elevates women's voices in the spirits industry. She shares her experience re-entering the workforce after 16 years, the challenges of launching a brand in a male-dominated space, and how to become a B Corp.

Kathy Andrews is the Founder and Managing Director of Cinga Leadership & Learning Inc., a boutique leadership consultancy. With over 20 years of experience as a people and culture strategist, executive coach, and master facilitator across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, she specializes in aligning business strategy and culture through high-impact leadership programs. Before Cinga Leadership, Kathy held various senior HR and leadership development positions at several global organizations. She also hosts For Leaders By Leaders, a podcast featuring global thought leaders and executives.

Creating an inclusive workplace requires more than just hiring diverse talent; it demands a culture where every employee feels heard, valued, and empowered. When leaders foster psychological safety and open communication, they create an environment where diverse perspectives lead to stronger decision-making and innovation. How can organizations shape their cultures to eliminate bias and create lasting inclusion?

Leadership expert Kathy Andrews encourages leaders to make calculated hiring and promotion decisions. Unconscious biases often occur in rushed choices, so leaders must challenge their initial assumptions and seek diverse input. Additionally, storytelling is an influential leadership tool, as authentic narratives can allow leaders to communicate their values, build trust, and inspire action. By weaving personal and organizational stories into their leadership approach, executives can foster deeper connections with their teams and reinforce inclusive practices.

Tune in to the latest episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show as Andrea Heuston welcomes Kathy Andrews, the Founder and Managing Director of Cinga Leadership & Learning Inc., to talk about fostering inclusive leadership. Kathy shares how to build psychological safety within teams, her sustainable organizational talent strategy, and how to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy conflict in leadership.

Emilia D'Anzica is the Founder and Managing Partner of Growth Molecules™, a management consulting firm that helps companies protect and grow their revenue. With two decades of experience as a chief customer officer in Silicon Valley, she has been named the Top Customer Growth Advisor of 2024 by IAOTP. Emilia is also the co-author of Pressing ON as a Tech Mom.

Sabina Pons is the Managing Director of Growth Molecules™ and the Co-founder of SoCalCX, a community fostering collaboration among go-to-market leaders to deliver exceptional customer experiences. As a fractional chief customer officer and tech industry thought leader, she has scaled companies from $14 million to over $100 million. Sabina is also the co-author of Pressing ON as a Tech Mom.

Women leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs often face loneliness as they navigate rejection, especially from men in similar roles. This may cause them to parallel men's leadership styles to conform to established norms and stereotypes. How can women identify and hone their personal leadership styles?

Women undertake many roles, some including mother, mentor, and leader. Rather than trying to emulate men while juggling personal and professional pursuits, Emilia D'Anzica and Sabina Pons maintain that women should tap into their unique and dynamic skills. These include high levels of emotional intelligence and empathy and supportive natures. Women should also support each other in their roles and share their individual experiences to dismantle stereotypes, bias, and sexism in corporate work environments.

In this week's episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston welcomes Emilia D'Anzica and Sabina Pons of Growth Molecules™, to discuss how they broke the glass ceiling in corporate tech. Together, Emilia and Sabina share the women's stories featured in their book, the loneliness epidemic among women leaders, and how to address workplace sexism.