Gladys Mezrahi
Gladys Mezrahi is a seasoned entrepreneur, event strategist, and media personality with more than 35 years of experience in the event production and marketing industry. Based in the Miami–Fort Lauderdale area, she is the CEO of Indigo Events, where she specializes in designing high-impact experiential events that integrate branding, public relations, and strategic marketing. Her career began at the age of 15, when she organized her first large-scale fundraising event, and has since evolved into a distinguished track record of working with global organizations including Visa, Avianca, Disney Institute, and the Miami Book Fair.
Throughout her career, Mezrahi has built a reputation for creating innovative, results-driven campaigns that elevate brand visibility and drive engagement in highly competitive markets. Her expertise spans corporate, social, and marketing events, with a focus on concept development, strategic alliances, and immersive audience experiences. In addition to her work in events, she is the author of the award-winning book Mas Wow y Menos Oops, a television host of El Poder de los Tacones, and a sought-after speaker known for her insights on branding, leadership, and experiential engagement.
A passionate advocate for women’s empowerment and social impact, Mezrahi is the founder of The Power of the Heels Foundation, an initiative dedicated to mentoring and supporting women and girls. She has held numerous leadership roles, including former Vice Mayor of Aventura and past president of NAWBO, and continues to serve on multiple advisory boards and global organizations. Through her work as a mentor, speaker, and community leader, she remains committed to fostering leadership, creating opportunities, and inspiring the next generation of women to lead with purpose and vision.
• University of Miami
• The Best Weddings
• International Business Woman of the Year Award
• Power of the Heels Foundation
• NAWBO
What do you attribute your success to?
I think I saw an example in my parents - that whatever you set your mind to, you can do it. The event business came out of life taking me to it, because I did my first event when I was 15 years old to raise funds for school, and what I learned in that event is what I'm doing now. When I had my cosmetic business for 20 years, I couldn't compete with the big boys because I didn't have the funds for publicity, so I created events to bring the people into the stores. Everything prepared me for what I'm doing now. In my house, we were always pushed to do whatever we set our minds to. I raised my kids exactly the same - just do it. If you fail, you fall, you sit down, you stand up, and you continue. We already have a no, so let's go for the yes. Everything that I have tried, I've set my mind to do, I've done. I call my life a rollercoaster ride - there's been many ups, but many downs too, and in the middle there's the loops. But the example that I saw was that I set my mind on doing something, and I do it. That's what I'm trying to inspire and teach the girls that I mentor, because I mentor a lot of girls for the hospitality industry. There's nothing that can stop you if you really want it. The first thing is, if you have the passion to do it, go for it.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The biggest advice I give young women is get internships. Get your feet wet. I've had interns that see events in a very glamorous way, but putting together a big event can take up to 6 months or more - I've worked on events that take up to a year in planning. It's like a puzzle that you put all the pieces together, so it looks very different from the outside. I had one young woman who had a job and wasn't happy, wanted to go into event planning. I told her, don't quit your job - do an internship with me, work this weekend, I have two events, and you'll see what it's really like. At the end of the weekend, she said thank you so much, I'm never doing this. It's not a 9-to-5 job. This is something that you have to be very focused, and you don't have a second chance. I cannot tell the client tomorrow, oh I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you tomorrow because sound didn't work. That's what I tell the girls I mentor for the hospitality industry - there's nothing that can stop you if you really want it. If you have the passion to do it, go for it.