The Cannabis Business Coach Podcast Episode 29: Joy Beckerman, Hemp Ace International
The Cannabis Business Coach Michael Zaytsev interviews Joy Beckerman, Founder of Hemp Ace International and 2019 Hemp Industries Association Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Joy has been relentlessly committed to her mission of singing the praises of hemp and helping to integrate hemp back into society for almost 30 years now.
Joy's leadership experience and positions in the hemp industry are too numerous to list, but suffice it to say she's one of the world's foremost experts and authorities on all things related to hemp business, policy and education.
In this episode of The Cannabis Business Coach Podcast, we discuss: the current state of hemp affairs as well as the future of hemp policy, regulations, and more.
Recorded on 12/02/2020
Additional Resources:
The Cannabis Business Coach Podcast Episode 28: Michael King, Kings Garden
The Cannabis Business Coach Michael Zaytsev interviews Michael King, Co-Founder and CEO of Kings Garden.
King was born in Russia, grew up in NYC, worked on Wall Street, became a professional powerlifter, earned a graduate degree in criminal justice and international law, and transitioned to a successful career in real estate –all before getting involved in the Cannabis industry.
Earlier in his career, Mike worked on the Street at WorldCo, a top equity trading firm, as well as iCap Trading, where he managed more than $200 million of capital. He later developed a successful career in real estate, representing clients in transactions valued at more than $300 million. He also facilitated private equity transactions for prominent clients across multiple industries.
As CEO of Kings Garden, Michael King has grown the company into one of the most successful Cannabis brands in California, scaling up from 10,000 square feet to now building out over a quarter million square feet of cultivation space. King shares his perspective and experience on raising money, building a team, why so many brands failed, and much more.
In this episode of The Cannabis Business Coach Podcast, we discuss:
why it’s important for the executive team of any Cannabis business to have both Cannabis and business expertise
reading thousands of pages, meeting hundreds of people, taking dozens of trips, and why putting in all those hours was necessary before really getting into the Cannabis business
Michael’s secret to being able to put deals together quickly and how he raised millions of dollars for his Cannabis business in less than 24 hours
why it's absolutely necessary to be relentless and commit to the process if you want to be successful. spoiler alert! the process is going to be painful
how Michael’s immigrant work ethic and knowing where his parents came from, drives him to provide a great Life for his kids
the expensive nature of indoor Cannabis cultivation and how one mistake can end up costing millions of dollars
how so many Cannabis product brands got it wrong by taking a backwards approach and putting brand before product
why you can never be comfortable as a CEO
Recorded on 11/30/2020
Additional Resources:
The Cannabis Business Coach Podcast Episode 27: Jenny Argie, Jenny's Baked at Home
The Cannabis Business Coach Michael Zaytsev interviews and coaches Jenny Argie, Founder and CEO of Jenny's Baked at Home.
Jenny's story is nothing short of amazing. She was a successful entrepreneur and innovator in the children's furniture business, then got diagnosed with breast cancer. She turned to Cannabis medicine as an alternative to pharmaceutical treatment options, which worked out really well for Jenny, who is now cancer free. This inspired Jenny to dedicate herself to helping other women and medical patients who didn't have access to good information and safe products.
Jenny became one of the first licensed Hemp processors in New York State and has been helping people achieve health and wellness with her Jenny's Baked at Home products ever since.
In this episode of The Cannabis Business Coach Podcast, we discuss:
how true innovators raise industry standards and why that’s especially important in Cannabis
how Jenny’s battle with cancer inspired her mission and the joy she gets from improving people’s health and quality of Life with Cannabis & Hemp
the life changing power of cannabinoids and the importance of cannabinoid variety in the diet
why it’s so difficult to find quality CBD products and some ways to do so (hint: avoid buying gas station CBD)
how Jenny’s commitment to customer service and building deep relationships with her customers has allowed her to standout and sustain in a hyper crowded CBD market
In the coaching segment, we work on the fatigue of dealing with shark investors during the Cannabis & CBD fundraising process.
Recorded on 11/11/2020 and originally streamed at www.Twitch.TV/HiMikeZ.
Additional Resources:
Check out this awesome clip of Jenny baking with 2Chainz.
The Cannabis Business Coach Podcast Episode 26: Leo Bridgewater, CWCBEducation
The Cannabis Business Coach Michael Zaytsev interviews and coaches Leo Bridgewater Chief Innovation Officer of CWCBEducation. Leo, a U.S. Army Veteran, is also National Director of Veteran Outreach for Minorities for Medical Marijuana, and serves on the Boards of MPX New Jersey and Veteran’s Ananda.
Leo has been instrumental in advocating for greater access to medical Cannabis for the patients of New Jersey. So much so that Harmony Dispensary in New Jersey named a strain after Leo for his activism work. On this episode, Leo offers deep insights into the New Jersey Cannabis market, shares his principles for Cannabis business success, and we have a meaty discussion about Cannabis equity and restitution for the victims of the War on Drugs.
In the coaching segment, we work on communicating urgency without having it be received or perceived as arrogance. Recorded on 10/28/2020 and streamed at www.Twitch.TV/HiMikeZ.
Additional Resources:
The Cannabis Business Coach Podcast Episode 25: Chirali Patel, Esq. Blaze Responsibly
The Cannabis Business Coach Michael Zaytsev interviews and coaches Chirali Patel, Founder of Blaze Responsibly. Chirali is an attorney at Carella, Byrne, Cecchi, Brody & Agnello. Prior to that, she worked in various public service roles as an attorney for Bergen County and for Hoboken in New Jersey.
Chirali got involved in activism after having a family member with cancer struggling to get access to medical Cannabis. Since then, she’s become an advocate for greater access and also for diversity, inclusion and equity in the Cannabis industry. We discuss the state of New Jersey, applying for Cannabis business licenses, the need for widespread decriminalization, and more.
In this coaching segment, Mike Z helps Chirali navigate social media marketing and how to use it to build a Cannabis brand or business without being sucked into the toxic and addictive aspects of social media. Recorded on 11/4/2020
Additional Resources: