Nayana Ferguson is the co-founder of multiple award-winning Anteel Tequila and the first Black woman in the world to own, co-own and lead a tequila brand.
Nayana has received national attention as a pioneer in the spirits industry as well as being a 16-year pancreatic cancer survivor and a 10-year breast cancer survivor.
Nayana is a National Advocate for PanCAN, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, where she helps spread awareness about pancreatic cancer through sharing her story of resilience to provide hope to those affected by this horrific disease. Her story of overcoming pancreatic cancer has been featured in a national television commercial and a PanCAN mail campaign that was sent to millions of homes nationwide. Nayana has appeared in several global media outlets such as Forbes, Essence, and The Kelly Clarkson Show and was also a panelist at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture where she shared her story of adversity in life and the spirits industry.
In 2021, Nayana was honored to virtually speak to Congress to educate them about pancreatic cancer and encourage them to increase funding for pancreatic cancer research.
Nayana is a graduate of famed Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan that boasts many well-known alumni such as Diana Ross, Lily Tomlin, Della Reese, Naima Mora, and Big Sean.
Nayana, who holds an MBA, is a serial entrepreneur having previously owned or co-owned multiple businesses. When she met her husband Don, the two mapped out how to create a legacy together and build multiple companies from the ground up.
In 2017 the couple formed Teeq Spirits, Inc to create their own tequila brand that was unlike any other brand on the market at that time. Anteel Tequila was released in late 2018 and since 2019 the tequila brand has won 46 awards and accolades, been featured in Forbes, Essence, Tasting Panel Magazine, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Cheddar News and in hundreds of additional multimedia sources around the globe.
The name, Anteel, is short for Antillean Crested Hummingbird which pays tribute to the hummingbird logo of the brand. This was the species of hummingbird that the couple saw during a trip to the Dominican Republic in 2016, where they got engaged and first discussed the possibility of creating a tequila brand.
Anteel boasts four expressions in its unique portfolio including the world’s only Coconut Lime Blanco, the first Tarocco Blood Orange Blanco, a Reposado rested in charred Tennessee whiskey barrels and an unaged Blanco.
Together, Don and Nayana also own and co-own multiple companies including DOPE Water, Teeqlife Media Group, and Curious Inception Business Consulting where the couple helps business owners and beginning entrepreneurs with business structure, operational procedures, marketing, and brand development helping to turn their dreams into a reality.
Last updated on October 20, 2022