Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Roye.
Hi Courtney, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio to a working-class family. My childhood was enjoyable, but I always knew I wanted more. During my sophomore year of college there was a professor that really helped me to believe that I had a special gift to share with the world and the skillset to achieve whatever I put my mind to. After graduation, I went on a summer-long volunteer experience to Cape Coast, Ghana. This felt like one of the biggest risks I had taken to date. What felt like a huge risk at the time ended up being one of the greatest experiences of my life. Since then, calculated risks were no longer a fear of mine. Throughout this experience, I learned to trust myself and my ability to achieve, though this may not have happened when it did if it were not for a trusted mentor I had in my life.
After Ghana, there was the U.S. Army and many other calculated risks that brought me to where I am today. My time in military service ended just as COVID-19 was starting to take over the world. Sitting at home like all other people globally, watching current events unfold on national television, I saw news about killings of unarmed African Americans. The murder of Breyona Taylor made me want to be an advocate of safety for black women. It was at this point that I knew I had to take another calculated risk, which was starting my first business.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been challenges from the start, personally and in business. One of the biggest challenges I faced personally was feelings of imposter syndrome. As my brand continues to grow, it’s easy to question what makes me qualified to do the things it encompasses.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Main Squeeze Worldwide is a passion project that has grown from a weapons safety business into a safety, travel, and lifestyle brand that advocates safety, curates travel and speaks life into women all over. Main Squeeze is most well-known for our warm approach to concealed carry classes and 1-1 firearm safety lessons. We entered a male-dominated industry and provided a safe space for women to learn about weapons safety. We advocate the importance of self-protection and safety for families. Our family-friendly approach, persistence, and love for others is what separates us as it pertains to weapons safety.
Main Squeeze Worldwide also offers retreats of all sizes in the U.S and internationally. The tourism industry has grown over the last decade and so have the dangers of traveling. We teach women how to travel safely and provide opportunities for them to embark on adventures with like-minded women to learn, grown, and have fun.
We are currently booking for our Mindset Retreat to Montego Bay, Jamaica May 2024. This retreat is at an all-inclusive resort and filled with excursions, activities, and mindset workshops for one reasonable price.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories is all the fun times spent at Tower City with my mom. We used to ride the train to Tower City every Saturday to hang out, just the two of us. I am the oldest of 7, so any time I get to spend just mom & me was always special. On Saturday’s I would wake up to the smell of my favorite breakfast, grits, and bacon, then prepare for the one day out of the week that was just about the two of us. We would get lunch at Tower City, see movies, participate in the endless activities they always had going on, then my favorite part. My mom would take me to the Disney store and let me get whatever I wanted. I was super young, so I’m not even sure she knows that I remember, but those were very special days to me.
Pricing:
- All-Inclusive Retreat to Montego Bay, Jamaica 23-27 May 2024. $2200
- Safety Training $50/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: mainsqueezeworldwide.com
- Instagram: @CoolAsCourtney & @MainSqueezeWorldwide
