The Aim Higher Podcast

This week, Liesl is joined with Jon Saco, COO of the San Diego based company March and Ash. Jon talks about building the March and Ash brand around community, a few of the challenges he has overcome in the cannabis industry, and what we can expect down the road as March and Ash expands. He and Liesl also discuss why personality and a curious mindset matters when building a team of adaptable and positive team members.

Arian Roman, CEO and Founder of Alysida Health, has a mission to streamline the consumer experience, destigmatize the cannabis industry one step further, and educate users on the next generation of supply chain demands. Arian discusses how his background in the Puerto Rican community and studying biology at MIT both paved the way for a deep connection in the cannabis industry. He and fellow Alysida teammates Cynthia Heinz and William Clark also talk about their interdisciplinary approach to health and a few exciting things on the way for Alysida.

Kaiya Bercow, Co-Founder & CEO of Utopia Cannabis joins the show this week to discuss his mission to bring transparency, quality, and great value to everything they do. He discusses how he and his wife decided to join the cannabis space, how they have created a "product first" brand where the products speak for themselves, and more about the value brand Headstash. Kaiya also discusses the importance of a company culture that provides mentorship and an all hands on deck team approach.

Adrian Sedlin joins the show this week to share his experience as a leading entrepreneur in cannabis. Adrian is the CEO and founder of Canndescent, a company focused on creating premium cannabis products. Additionally, he has launched a new brand, Justice Joints, a collaboration with Last Prisoner Project which donates all of its profits to social justice causes within the industry. Adrian talks about how he has developed the Canndescent brand, specifically in a way that makes cannabis more approachable to a mainstream audience. He also reflects on the importance of balancing excellence with gratitude, and what he does on a day-to-day basis to operate from a position of thankfulness. Lastly, Adrian discusses Last Prisoner Project and his commitment to social causes, as well as the responsibility industry leaders like himself have to help provide a second chance for non-violent drug offenders that paved the way for them.

This week, Liesl is joined by Shawn Gold, Founder of Pilgrim Soul and longtime professional and leader in the marketing world, including a position as the CMO at MySpace. Shawn discusses how Pilgrim Soul is creating products to help people focus and enhance their creativity in safe yet effective ways. He also talks about building a brand in cannabis from an entrepreneurial perspective, the importance of telling a brand's story, and where he sees branding going in the future of the cannabis industry. Shawn also shares a few of his favorite books and inspirations for keeping that creative edge as an entrepreneur.

Dahlia Mertens is the founder and CEO of Mary Jane’s Medicinals, an industry leader in topical healing products based in Telluride, Colorado. Dahlia joins the show to share how she founded her company, and how her past experiences - which include a background in massage therapy and a theater degree - came together and helped her become a successful business leader in the cannabis industry. She also talks about what led her to develop an interest in herbal medicine, as well as how her positive intention and energy manifest themselves in her products. Lastly, Dahlia discusses the unique challenges she faces as an entrepreneur in the cannabis industry, and what she looks for when bringing in new executives to her company.

Vince Ning, founder and CEO of NABIS Distributions, joins the show this week. NABIS Distributions is a leading distributor of cannabis products servicing hundreds of licensed businesses in California. Vince shares how he came to be a leader in the cannabis industry, as well as the lessons he brought with him from his past experiences, which include building startups in Silicon Valley and being a delivery driver for medical cannabis products. Vince also enlightens us on the key differences between working in cannabis as opposed to more traditional industries, and what he looks for when hiring talent.

Leah Heise joins the show and shares the story of how she ended up in the cannabis industry, from starting out working for the federal government to her battle with chronic pancreatitis. Leah is the chief administrative officer for Ascend Wellness, also formerly serving as the CEO of Women Grow and the president of Chesapeake Integrated Health Institute. She talks about what it takes to be successful in the cannabis industry; as well as being a woman in the industry, and the importance of valuing and advocating for yourself. Leah also retells some funny moments from her career in cannabis.

This week, Liesl is joined by Max Simon, CEO & Co-Founder of Green Flower Media, a global leader in cannabis education. Max shares a few of his personal tools for staying balanced, focused and centered during this time. He and Liesl also discuss how Green Flower adapted to the current times using a three-pronged online approach for educating and training, and how it's a great time for expanding your knowledge and network using a credible platform.

Casey Georgeson, CEO and Founder of Saint Jane Beauty, joins the show this week for a conversation about launching the luxury skincare brand, the namesake behind Saint Jane, and what challenges she has overcome in launching and controlling her business. She also talks about her background in developing beauty and wine brands for huge corporate clients such as Marc Jacobs beauty, Kat Von D Beauty, and Cupcake Vineyards, and how they gave her the knowledge to launch her own business provide a product and package that reflects a dedication to excellence and eye on the emerging world of CBD and clean beauty.