Building a Women-Owned Spirits Brand with Mara Smith, Founder/CEO, Inspiro Tequila LLC

Women Leaders on the Move - HerCsuite® Radio

Discover the ingredients of building a women-owned spirits brand in this episode of Women Leaders on the Move. Host Natalie Benamou sits down with Mara Smith, Founder and CEO of Inspiro Tequila, LLC, to discuss her extraordinary journey from corporate lawyer to visionary entrepreneur. Mara shares her story of redefining the spirits industry with an all-women-led company that is female-owned, operated, and funded by women investors.

A former attorney at a large law firm, Mara left her corporate career to focus on raising her children, including twins born prematurely. After a 16-year break from the workforce, she reentered with a bold goal: to create a premium tequila brand designed with women in mind.

Launching Inspiro Tequila during the pandemic came with significant challenges, including sourcing ingredients from Mexico and navigating complex industry regulations—all while managing her family at home. Mara’s determination to deliver a product rooted in quality and transparency drove her success.

Highlights include:

• Her career pivot: “I realized there were no role models showing me how to balance corporate life and family, so I decided to create my own path.”
• The inspiration behind Inspiro Tequila: “Women told me they loved tequila, but I didn’t see brands connecting with them. That was the spark I needed.”
• Funding her business: “I wanted the brand to reflect its mission—being created, owned, and funded by women.”

From working with a female master distiller to building a team of women investors, Mara’s journey reflects her commitment to inclusion and innovation.

Listen to this inspirational episode to learn how you can create a brand that stands out and serves with purpose and transparency.

Keep shining your light bright. The world needs you.

About Mara Smith

Mara Smith is the founder and CEO of Inspiro Tequila, a clean, additive-free tequila brand crafted with discerning female consumers in mind.. She is a mother of three and a former attorney and corporate strategist.

https://inspirotequila.com

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Connect with Host Natalie Benamou, Founder HerCsuite®

Natalie is the host of "Women Leaders on the Move'', a top 25 Women's Leadership podcast by Feedspot. She is also the Founder of HerCsuite®, a powerful women's network with membership programs that advance women in the second half of their career. Natalie is also the President of HER HEALTHX, a nonprofit focused on improving health outcomes for women.

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