Top Qualifications and Characteristics for Cannabis Executives
What does it take to excel as an executive in the cannabis industry? We look at the top qualifications and characteristics that lead to success in these roles.
The cannabis industry is booming, and many professionals are interested in this fast-growing industry. If you want to break into this market or work your way up to an executive-level role, where should you place your focus? What qualifications and characteristics does it take to succeed in these higher positions? And what unique skill sets are required?
This article will be diving into:
Qualifications and background for executive-level cannabis professions
Personality characteristics to have
How Drive Talent can help with placement and recruiting
Qualifications and background
Here we look at the key qualifications an executive in the cannabis industry should possess.
Industry knowledge
It is important to have a thorough knowledge of the process and market to land an executive-level position in the cannabis industry. This includes staying abreast of news and information such as:
Changing laws on the federal and state level
Uses of medical cannabis
How the supply chain works
Best practices for management
This knowledge can come from experience working in the cannabis world, from farming to distributing and dispensaries. Having this in-depth knowledge can better position you for a change to an executive role.
Management experience
It is favorable to have experience managing supply chain operations, coordinating multiple business functions, and overseeing staff, even if this experience is outside of the cannabis industry. These roles will help you manage the daily challenges that executives face. Your previous managerial experience will have equipped you to lead a cannabis team effectively.
Relevant training
There are many cannabis-related training courses and programs offered around the country. While these opportunities are not necessarily required to break into the industry or become an executive, they can help you understand how everything runs and where your role might fit into the larger picture.
Personality characteristics
Next, we will cover the personality traits and motivators that will help cannabis executives excel.
Interest in a new industry
It takes a special person to be effective in a top-level role in a young industry. These roles take patience, persistence, motivation, and creativity. Because executive-level cannabis roles are relatively new, there is often no roadmap for how to lead. It takes using what you know from other industries and businesses and applying it to this unique world.
Understanding of its potential in helping people
It is also crucial to recognize the product’s benefits and not be solely focused on financial opportunities. It takes someone who is willing to learn because discoveries about cannabis’s benefits continue to emerge as new research is conducted. Optimism is essential for workers in the cannabis industry.
Flexibility and versatility
Because the commercial cannabis industry is still young, it is important that executive candidates are ready and willing to adapt to whatever comes next. They should have an open, creative mind, and be willing to pivot when necessary.
Communication and people skills
The cannabis supply chain has many moving parts, and all must work together to get the best products on the market. As an executive, it may be your responsibility to manage multiple people and functions to ensure everything runs smoothly. This takes excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and expertise in dealing with people.
The bottom line: cannabis executives need to have the right mix of experience and knowledge of the industry and a creative, adaptable spirit. When these characteristics can come together, executives can lead in this new industry with confidence.
Looking for employment in the cannabis world?
The team at Drive Talent LLC is here to help. We help place executives in the right roles and work with companies within the cannabis industry to find the perfect candidates. We have a vast knowledge of the industries we serve so that we can better place talent.
Drive Talent is based in Chicago and is woman-owned. Contact our recruiting firm today to learn more about what we do and who we serve.