What It’s Like To Be A Woman In Canna-Biz
Art By Rebekah Jenks
Nowadays after being in the cannabis sector a few years, I love walking into a networking event or conference and being greeted with excitement by my fellow women in the industry! Every single time I think to myself; “I am so grateful for connecting with some of the most amazing women I have ever met in my professional career!” Many of us have dissimilar backgrounds, but all possess one thing in common….GRIT!
Women who demonstrate passion and perseverance towards their goals in cannabis, despite the challenges and mountains they must climb, have GRIT! I like to think they also know how to break those GRASS CEILINGS! It is not easy, and I’ve had my fair share of times I’ve thought to myself “this is the hardest thing I have ever done”- but I also know that working in the cannabis industry is the best decision I have ever made! Every single day I am grateful to be a part of this movement. While the reality of the challenges are there, it continues to be the most rewarding professional experience for most of us, hands down!
My journey started by being only one of few women in cannabis meetings, gatherings, and collaboration events. As years passed, more and more women seemed to pop up at these events. All are there to support and be part of one of the greatest movements in our nation’s history! As I said already and will say it again, I have met some incredible women in this industry from all different sectors- including nurses, growers, bud tenders, managers, security guards, business owners and the list goes on.
They all have similarities besides just GRIT. Women in cannabis seem to gravitate towards collaborative environments where sharing ideas, stories, challenges, referrals, or just the “Hey girl, what do you think about this?” won’t go amiss. We all know, historically speaking, women have been paid lower salaries than men in the same role, even with the same qualifications. This is no different in the cannabis sector. Women have significantly less opportunities in the corresponding male-dominated culture, so challenges women face as the minority are prominent.
I truly believe that the women within the industry who will last know that the only way to truly excel and survive is to support and empower each other any chance we get. Lest we forget our power in numbers, which we are seeing more evidence of everywhere in the cannabis world, employment and buying alike. Working together, we can amplify our voices, needs and make a huge impact in the world of weed. Luckily, compared to other industries I’ve worked in prior, I have seen more women encouraging and supporting other women to break those “grass ceilings and barriers” than I have ever seen in my professional experience. Despite the work ahead of us, the good news is we see more women-led cannabis support groups, minority and social equality/equity programs popping up across the nation!
Breaking into the cannabis industry doesn’t have to be any more difficult or intimidating than transitioning careers in any other industry. After coaching hundreds of women on the ins-and-outs of transitioning into the industry, the doubts and fears they express are very similar; “Where do I start? How do the salary ranges compare to my current industry? What if I don’t have any experience? Who should I talk to in the industry? With my current skills, do I even qualify to work in the industry?”
As a recruiter and cannabis career coach to women, the first thing I encourage is to find a networking group she can relate to; where she can learn from other females already in the industry. This helps as a primer, to familiarize her and gauge the challenges, making them less scary, so to speak. I have found that being active in networking groups like this not only fosters a humble yet empowering community, but it also makes lasting professional connections - even if cannabis isn’t always the industry in common. Trust me when I say, “Someday, you are going to help another woman in the industry and it will come back in your favor ten-fold!”
Secondly, I highly encourage women aspiring to work in the cannabis space to strengthen their LinkedIn profile. Utilize LinkedIn to its fullest! It is a fabulous tool to utilize to search for cannabis jobs and careers, or to just build your own network with like-minded people in the industry. Additionally, LinkedIn has helpful resources galore for learning content related to the industry and relevant skill sets.
This brings me to my third suggestion: Self-Education. This skill, if developed, is a secret weapon crucial to success. I say start by reading relevant articles of interest, maybe take certification courses or budtend to learn terminology and basics. Perhaps seek add-on programs related to your current skill set, such as a cannabis science degree or certification. There are many colleges and universities as well as private institutions offering cannabis related education, though it still likely will require financial investment to achieve.
Do some homework on companies you would like to work for. Visit the company website, social media sites, and google general information about the organization. This will help you decide if you think the company is a good fit for you as well, should you land an interview for the perfect cannabis job you have been dreaming of!
Lastly, work with a cannabis recruiter or agency. Agencies like mine are there to connect you to opportunities with sometimes as little as one resume submittal. Cannabis recruiters are also aware of the first opportunities on the horizon that have not been officially posted as jobs for applications yet. So seeking an agency that provides coaching and resume services as well for free is also a good way to be on a recruiter's “need-to-know” list. This is crucial to help you land the cannabis job of your dreams!
Stay tuned for more details on transitioning into the cannabis industry, including from non-cannabis to cannabis, as well as transitioning legacy to legal.
