Alexis Meruelo, a self-described lover of conferences – “conference junkie!” – is hosting her inaugural the Business of Her conference at Sahara Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 15, and the Meruelo Group Chief Vision and Purpose Officer answered questions over lunch about the reason for The Business of Her, what she hopes to accomplish, her inspirations and more.

VegasPublicity.com: Please tell me about the Business of Her.

Meruelo: The Business of Her is a one-day conference on Nov. 15, and it’s going to be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a Pinot & Prosecco Party from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The mission of the conference is to build and empower the next generation of powerful female leaders here in Las Vegas.

We’re going to meet women exactly where they’re at. We have women who are college students who want to attend, we have business owners who want to attend, we have women who are seasoned executives who want to attend.

It’s about meeting women exactly where they’re at and providing them with tools and resources to take that next step. What is that next step and let us help you get there.

VegasPublicity.com: What was the catalyst for the Business of Her?

Meruelo: Since I was young, I have loved being on stages and entertaining and bringing people together. But truthfully, I have become a lover of conferences. It’s where I attribute most of my success. I’ve been able to meet so many incredible people and hear stories candidly and in real time.

It’s become a community and network that have inspired me in my life. I knew that if I could build something in this community and be a resource, that to me would mean the world.

VegasPublicity.com: I’ve never heard anyone describe themselves as a lover of conferences. I think that’s great!

Meruelo: Conference junkie! I don’t know if it’s just the energy or the vibe. You like meeting people and hearing their stories – to me it’s everything. I used to think the most powerful person in the room was the one sharing their story, but what I’ve come to learn is that the most powerful person in the room is the one who can bring everyone together and then create a space for everyone to share their stories.

I’m so beyond excited and blessed. This is everything, to be able to create a space for other people. That’s how you’re going to make an impact.

VegasPublicity.com: What are you looking forward to most with your first the Business of Her conference?

Meruelo: A million things! My top two are 1) the fact that we were able to get more than 50 college students to sign up for The Business of Her, and the demand is there. People reached out asking for student tickets, and I was able to find sponsors for the more than 50 college students.

The second part that I’m most excited about is our $10,000 grant. We are going to be doing a mini “Shark Tank” in partnership with Aristocrat Gaming. We’re going to be giving away $10,000 to a female-owned small business here in Las Vegas. We had more than 75 applications and picked the top three. They’re amazing!

They’re going to go live on stage for 5 minutes and pitch their business, followed by a 5-minute Q+A. At the end, we’re going to announce the winner at the Pinot & Prosecco Party chosen by three judges who are all experienced business leaders.

VegasPublicity.com: Mayor Shelley Berkley is among the lineup for the Business of Her. She is such a great ambassador of the city.

Meruelo: I walked into her office like any young girl who was a little scared. She could say no, but I started telling her about the Business of Her. Instead of saying, “I’ll think about it” or “I’ll let you know,” she pushed back in her chair and asked, “Hey, what’s my calendar look like in November?”

We sat there and waited and thought, “Is she going to do it?” The response was you’re free, and she replied, “I’ll be there.” Somebody like her who has been through so much and has so much experience, we need people like her to be sharing their stories authentically with young women.

It was really important for us to get leaders across all industries because no matter where you work, I wanted women to be able to sit in a room and see at least one leader whose story resonates.

VegasPublicity.com: Who inspired you growing up, and who inspires you now?

Meruelo: Being Cuban, growing up I obviously wanted to be Celia Cruz. As I got older, my top inspiration became Sara Blakely (American businesswoman and philanthropist), along with Melinda Gates and Michelle Obama. They’re incredible women, and I’m obsessed with their podcasts. They want to make change, and I’m going to learn from them.

VegasPublicity.com: What has been a surprising challenge in bringing the Business of Her to fruition?

Meruelo: When we were starting this, I shared the idea with a mentor of mine. This individual told me that it would be a disaster, that if I didn’t have more than 800 people in the room, it was a failure. It would be an embarrassment to our brand.

It took me a bit to get back up from that, but the reason I was able to keep going was when that person said 800 people was too small, I disagreed because every girl matters, every person matters. Even if I get 10 people in a room, that’s still significant. I believe that every person matters, so we’re still doing this.

The universe will throw challenges at you even if you’re maybe on the right path just to test it. It became very crystal clear that this is what we’re doing, this is what I’m going to commit my life to. After that, every door has been opening, and it’s always been “Yes, and how can I help, how can I connect you?”

I find Las Vegas to be filled with amazing people, and the good people know the good people.

VegasPublicity.com: What should the Business of Her attendees focus on at the conference?

Meruelo: I really want the women to take a day for themselves. For one day, turn your phone off, focus on yourself, and absorb everything that’s going on in the room. Take the time to not only be inspired by the people on the stage, but also think about how this applies to your life – take time for you.

More: BusinessOfHer.com