The Shero Universe: A Fireside Chat With Shequeta Smith

The CineOdyssey Animation Festival, is thrilled to host a fireside chat at the Gantt Center inside MODA with Shequeta L. Smith, award winning writer, director, and enterpreneur. Known for her dedication to empowering women and girls of color through storytelling and technology, Shequeta is a visionary in the world of comics and animation. She is the founder of Shero Comics, a platform that champions female superheroes and highlights stories centered on women of color. Join us as we delve into her experiences, challenges, and triumphs at transforming the landscape of content creation.

Shequeta L. Smith is an award-winning writer, director, and entrepreneur dedicated to empowering women and girls of color through storytelling and technology. A North Carolina native and NC State graduate, she founded Shero Comics in 2016, launched SheroCon in 2019—the only all-female comic convention in the U.S.—and was selected for Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Impact program. Her work has received support from JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Pivotal Ventures, and she was honored with the 2025 Los Angeles Lakers Woman of Diversity Award. In 2025, she expands her mission with the launch of Shero Games.

Founded in 2017, the transition of CineOdyssey from a live-action to an animation film festival is a compelling narrative of adaptation and innovation, rooted in the challenges and opportunities presented by the global pandemic. When the world was grappling with the consequences of COVID-19, including lockdowns and social distancing measures, the realm of cinema and film festivals faced unprecedented hurdles. Traditional venues and formats were suddenly impractical, pushing organizers and creatives to rethink how to connect with audiences without sacrificing the communal spirit and cultural exchange inherent to film festivals.

Learn more at cineodysseyfest.org.