Rachel Layton Smith for Woman Leadership of the Year

In my brief tenure as Managing Partner of I Love Juice Bar, I demonstrated an innate ability to lead teams across the country and share my love for healthy, produce-packed products with as many customers as possible. I have a natural gift for rejuvenating brands from the ground up, even helping to close I Love Juice Bar's gap in Year over Year sales by 12% in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a teacher and mentor, I invest in young professionals and have been instrumental in the development of many hospitality industry leaders. Women of all ages have been inspired by my drive, passion for her job and acumen in the field.

Though my career spans less than 10 years, I already made a lasting impact on Nashville’s hospitality and produce industries through my infectious energy, drive and passion for serving others. Prior to joining the I Love Juice Bar team, I served as the Vice President of Marketing + Growth at Taziki’s Meditteranean cafe for two years, making me the brand’s first-ever female executive. In this role, I helped same-store sales surge by double digits and drove growth through the implementation of customer loyalty programs, retail gift card strategies and other new revenue streams, along with leading a refresh in brand design and marketing materials, overhauling reputation management and other key tasks.

In addition to my roles at I Love Juice Bar and Taziki’s, I served as Director of Marketing for A. Marshall Hospitality from 2014-2018. During my time in that role, I created lasting partnerships and memorable philanthropic campaigns with local organizations like Nashville Rescue Mission and Second Harvest Food Bank, which garnered accolades in the region and on the state level. I received her MBA from Belmont University in 2015. In 2017, I received the Nashville Emerging Leader Award from the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, the NBJ Women of Influence Award, and the Stars of the Industry Award for both the Greater Nashville Hospitality Association and the TN Hospitality and Tourism Association.