An EMPATHIC GANGSTER® – Torie Smith’s Humane Legacy Without Limits, Division, and Hierarchy
Torie Smith’s career uniquely combines hospitality leadership, brand strategy, creative communications, and consciousness-based advisory work. Yet, her approach to looking at this multidisciplinary journey is convention-breaking. She says, “Firstly, it’s important to note that there is no compartmentalization. Even though I have gained experience and knowledge through individual facets of my experience, they are all integrated into who I am, and the lens through which I view humanity, the Universe, and my work.”
Torie was born an artist, fascinated by every genre and medium under the sun. She graduated from a private art school with a BA in Visual Communications. She recently received an Honorary Doctorate in Advanced Studies of Psychology based on her contributions to humanity in the field of consciousness, which came from her writing about consciousness after she was unexpectedly approached by Source Frequency one evening and started channeling information in 2018.
She has been a hospitality professional for almost 20 years. She is also an athlete and a mom, wife, which greatly affects how she moves, operates, and relates to the physical world and the heartbeat of existence.
With all that, how she leads today is filtered through a very specific lens and internal knowing. “Galactic Law is my baseline; every dynamic and situation processes through that knowing first,” she smiles.
Building Humanity’s Own Space
EMPATHIC GANGSTER® has become a distinctive platform and personal brand. Torie’s whole life, she has been that friend, that community resource, people came to, to share themselves with, for non-judgmental, straightforward feedback.
“EMPATHIC GANGSTER® started birthing itself through me shortly after I began channeling.” She started channel writing daily, started a YouTube channel, and began sharing her perspective on what it meant to be an Empath.
“I had never heard of the term “empath” before it was being revealed, that I am that.” When she went online to understand more, all she found was the victim stance within its meaning. Never in her life has she resonated with being a victim of anything. She knew immediately that she would be redefining and laying a new path and paradigm for these encoded capabilities.
Today, the clarity and accuracy with which Galactic Law provides her drives all forward. Sharing who she is organically, while being a neutral sounding boarding (for humanity), who will hold you in unconditional love.
She views herself as a neutral mirror for others to perceive themselves through, honoring their specific uniqueness and individuality.
Torie shares that her next phase entails creating a boutique hospitality community experience that will duly support other artists and their work. A place humanity can come to experience a version of themselves they have never accessed before.
The Encoded Universal Constant Truth
As a visionary leader, Torie feels the encoded Universal constant truths of this reality are foundational. As a hospitality leader, she grounds herself in humanity-centric ways of operating. She has been in ‘their’ position for 20 years, she treats people the way she would like to be treated, holding individuals to a level of heart-known competence and capability.
“A lot of companies expect their employees to sacrifice for their job; give up their lives, time, energy… I don’t function that way. My goal is to support their lives; to ensure their health, wealth, and vitality. I want their cup and excitement pouring over.”
She is consciously aware that an employee’s time with a company is momentary, temporary, a stepping stone upon their journey; she wants to make sure that time spent together is valuable, supportive, and collaborative for both of them. “If it’s not a win-win, it’s not my definition of success.”
“The Lessons I Learned!”
Sharing the key lessons she learned, Torie says that humanity is the greatest mirror; people are beautiful, funny, and full of life.
“People impress me every single day; their openness, unique personalities, their hearts and minds are brilliant. I can’t help but see the impressiveness and magnificence in all of us.”
Even those whose social programming runs strong, their hearts shine through, like beckons of light. She believes that a leader’s ability to ground into the human heart and bypass programming is crucial.
When a leader is guiding someone, they have to be able to cut through everything that isn’t the heartbeat of the situation, while simultaneously ensuring the proper execution of the task at hand.
A great leader has to be able to successfully finesse and support not just the physical but the energetic spirit of situations.
Leadership requires a significant level of self-mastery and self-awareness. It’s not just a physical experience, it’s energetic, it’s relationships, communication, organization, being in flow, substantial muscle memory is involved, multi-tasking with your head on a swivel, paying attention to subtle cues and fine detail.
It’s like being an athlete; one has to prioritize one’s own rest, nutrition, and physical strength.
Leadership life can be demanding; you still have to have enough left over for yourself and your loved ones.
A leader’s energy affects everyone around them; they have to know how to manage and maintain it with precision.
One of her favorite quotes: “If your manager is having a bad day, but chooses not to make everyone feel it too. They’re not a manager, they’re a leader.”
A leader who doesn’t function from a baseline of neutrality and heart — stillness within will most likely unravel and burnout.
The Significant Challenges Outsmarted
Torie recalls she’s gone toe-to-toe with Presidents, GMs, and Owners, calling them on their bullshit, requesting change, illuminating idiocracy, and illegal practices; going as far as reporting them to the BBB and sending Corporate, full-blown feedback letters.
“Something within me feels the need to leave places better than I found them. Leave co-workers in a more supportive environment.”
Organically, she’s found herself in leadership positions and roles, most likely because she prioritizes health, safety, liability, and humanity.
“I’m kind of like a walking confessional, people tell me their qualms and concerns, their desires and requests; I make sure they are heard and addressed.”
She adds, “I can’t stand it when those at the top look down on their staff, rather than across at them, as equals.” Like everyone who works for them isn’t the reason they are even able to pull off every single day.
As one of the featured leaders in Top 20 Leadership Stories of Visionary Icons – 2026, Torie wants people to remember that we are infinite divine beings, that to be here is a special and rare opportunity; have fun with it, make the most of it. “We are all a part of the same living organism; hierarchy is merely an illusion — love one another, respect one another, cherish one another.”