Roger Martin

How did a close-call bill almost dismantle Florida's thriving hemp industry? Here's the inside scoop 👇 Last Friday afternoon, Florida's hemp industry breathed a collective sigh of relief. The hero of the hour? Governor DeSantis, who shielded the industry from a potential setback by vetoing SB 1698. The supporters of SB 1698 had certain compelling arguments, claiming the bill aimed to protect children. However, it's becoming evident that the bill's real goal was to undermine and abolish our current local hemp economy. Isn't it odd that market competitors often have the solution to a problem that doesn't exist? Governor DeSantis saw through the facade, opting to shield small businesses from unnecessary regulatory burdens. In his veto letter, he insightfully commented that the bill, though based on commendable goals, would likely do more harm than good. The Governor highlighted the importance of striking a delicate balance. He had signed a bill just the previous year to elevate consumer safety in the hemp market without compromising jobs, consumer choice, or the availability of end-use markets for farming individuals. Citing the example of SB 1676, which restricts the sale of certain hemp products and promotes industry-wide compliance with food and safety standards, he stressed the support of the hemp industry toward rational and balanced approaches. This is the kind of balance the hemp industry has been advocating for across the country and at the Indiana General Assembly for years. But he didn’t stop there! In an inspiring move, he pushed for a collaborative approach. He urged the Florida General Assembly to engage with stakeholders and devise improved quality standards and protections for consumers. Governor DeSantis also used his influence to push the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to exercise its authority to weed out products that defy Florida laws. After all, what good are laws and regulations if there's no force behind them? Kudos to Governor DeSantis and the Florida hemp industry for taking brave measures to protect local farms and consumers' choice in the wellness market. 👏 So I leave you with this question: How important is it for government authorities to play a proactive role in nurturing and defending local industries? Let's discuss! #hemp

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The #Cannabisindustry is a wild ride—high hopes, low margins, and CFOs perpetually #exhausted from balancing both. I should know, I was a #CFO for two years with Grupo Flor in California. It was far tougher than I imagined, and I've been through several #emerging markets. The fastest-growing strain? The strain on your #finances. #CannabisCEOs are flocking to yoga, not for downward dogs, but to get away from their downward spirals. While most Cannabis #startups come with half-baked business plans, the harsh truth is growing profits in Cannabis— is even harder than #growing the plant itself. At Highly Capitalized Network-HCN, we cut through the noise—to deliver authentic, unfiltered Cannabis *business & finance* news. If you want to find out about Gelato strains, we're ''not the droids you're looking for.'' And we do not play the #PRgame because we're no phonies. PR folks have long since stopped calling us to #pump their stories on our #newsfeeds. We don't ''virtue signal'' like others do, because it's so freakin' #dishonest. Follow Highly Capitalized Network-HCN for honest news stories rooted in integrity. HCN stands apart, keeping you informed, entertained, and ahead of the game.  When our content is sponsored it says ''sponsored by'' etc. #Subscribe to our free newsletter at https://lnkd.in/gEC8F3QP because surviving this industry takes more than a good laugh. It takes the truth. #Cannabis

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Finally, the missing tool in the growth-oriented entrepreneur's toolbox: "Founder-Friendly" Capital to fuel your company. Birthing of Giants, in collaboration with Florida State University, has developed a 2-day conference on Founder Friendly funds. Listen up, business owners: this is money on your terms. Apply to this educational conference, hosted by Florida State University. See Link Below.

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Cannabis Firms: Cut the Cost, Not the Capability Many weed companies are busy launching cost reduction programs. Unfortunately, many of these reactive one-off efforts will fail to hit their financial targets, while producing long-term collateral damage to the firm’s morale and capabilities.  Cost-savings initiatives are not pre-ordained to deliver sub-optimal results. What they all have in common is a poorly designed, short term approach. Rather than approaching cost-savings activities as a one-time event, firms should see those cost savings in the context of driving strategic priorities, developing capabilities and aligning their teams.   --> Identify & align on key priorities Common sense dictates that you aim cost savings efforts against non-core, low-priority corporate activities. However, in a complicated business or in the absence of a comprehensive strategic plan these priorities will not always be apparent.  Asking 2 fundamental questions will help shed light on your true cost picture. First, what are the major short-medium term product priorities and capabilities that guide your capital deployment? Second, do most of your costs and resources line up against these priorities and capabilities? --> Focus your cuts Once a spend-priority misalignment is identified, the key challenge becomes where, what and how to cut - and where to reinvest for growth. Hasty executives radically cut costs but at the same time carelessly damage key competencies and hurt morale. On the other hand, hesitant managers aim only for easy, superficial savings, ignoring the considerable amount of fat lurking just below the surface. Managers need to cut spending in areas that do not support growth-focused product initiatives and differentiating capabilities.  Start by classifying spending into one of three cost centers. Of course, each firm will bucket their costs differently depending on its competitive position and strategic choices: 1. Differentiating products & capabilities that drive your value proposition and growth. 2. ‘Table stakes’ activities such as customer service and logistics can yield sizeable savings through operational enhancements like adopting vendor management and lean practices. 3. ‘Keep-the-lights-on spending.’ These cost centres (e.g., HR, facilities management, IT) frequently have the fat to deliver major savings through strategies like outsourcing or service/feature cutbacks. In my cannabis experience, most firms (inefficiently) allocate ~85% of their capital to buckets 2 & 3, while starving mission-critical bucket 1 initiatives.   The conclusion is apparent:  focus cost cutting against buckets 2 and 3 activities. If you have more than 2-3 bucket 1 initiatives, it’s time to prune the list and fund/resource the remaining priorities appropriately. Call me.  I help management painlessly reduce cost and position their firms for growth. #cannabis #cannabisindustry #MSOS #LPS #costreduction 

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In this insightful interview, Eliza Yvette Esquivel, the founder of Love & Order and Radical Sabbatical Consulting, shares her journey from a distinguished corporate career to entrepreneurship. Delving into the core principles of her consulting ventures, Esquivel discusses the importance of championing a long-term view of the future and embracing conscious leadership. She sheds light on methodologies such as the imaginal realm and conscious leadership styles, emphasizing the need for a holistic and sustainable approach to business innovation. Additionally, Esquivel explores the concept of radical sabbaticals, highlighting the challenges professionals face and the transformative power of taking intentional career breaks. Drawing on her expertise in meditation and mindfulness, she offers valuable insights into navigating the balance between spiritual principles and business practices. As the world evolves at a rapid pace, Esquivel envisions a future where radical sabbaticals become more commonplace, driven by generational shifts and the changing dynamics of work. Dive into this conversation to discover how Love & Order and Radical Sabbatical Consulting are shaping the future of leadership and career development. About Eliza Yvette Esquivel - - Eliza is the founder of Love & Order and Radical Sabbatical Consulting. - She has over twenty years of experience in global marketing and brand strategy. - She is honored as one of Business Insider’s 30 Most Creative Women in Advertising. WATCH:https://lnkd.in/dTzB4Pvn . . . #LoveAndOrder #RadicalSabbatical #FutureLeadership #CareerDevelopment #Mindfulness #LeadershipConsulting #Innovation #Sustainability

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How will you play in the sandbox that is the HBS classroom? Is dorky good? Myths and truths are spelled out here by former HBS AdCom. https://hubs.la/Q02DvlFW0 Stacy Blackman Consulting #sponsored #stacyblackman #harvardmba #hbsmba #bschool #business #education #mba

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"After passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, manufacturers have developed products derived from hemp (cannabis containing <0.3% Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol [Δ9-THC]) featuring emerging cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD), Δ8-THC, cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabinol (CBN). It is currently unknown how widely these products are used. Our goal was to characterize past-year use prevalence and factors associated with use of CBD, Δ8-THC, CBG, and CBN among US adults." Read more at: https://lnkd.in/dv4uzGJF

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Happy Thursday and welcome to another amazing Social Capital book suggestion from Elaine Pofeldt. This week it's Talent, Strategy, Risk: How Investors and Boards Are Redefining TSR. "In the past few decades, long-term corporate value was defined almost solely in terms of shareholder profits. But Social Capital leaders are redefining the equation. In Talent, Strategy, Risk, Bill McNabb, former chairman and CEO of Vanguard, teams up with Dennis Carey, vice chairman of Korn Ferry, and well-known business advisor Ram Charan to look at the upside that comes when companies shift their mindset to one focused on long-term value creation. People are a big part of this, playing a critical role in spotting new opportunities and adding to a company’s competitive advantage. If you’re looking for ideas on building the kind of future-focused company where the best talent wants to stay, you’ll find many ideas on how to do that." Be sure to check all the rest of our picks and suggestions below. https://lnkd.in/de7imW9F #books, #leadershipinsights, #socialcapital, #ceomindset

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Promise of rate cut drives CEO confidence [Q3 Vistage CEO Index] Exciting news out of the new Q3 Vistage CEO Index report! 📈 CEO confidence rose 1.8 points to 85.1 in Q3, driven by optimism over interest rate cuts. Check out the latest Vistage blog for more insights. #SmallBiz #CEO #EconomicTrends

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SOCIAL CAPITAL IN ACTION: Delta Airlines was hit hard by the CrowdStrike outage, but, in true Social Capital spirit, CEO Ed Bastian made no excuses. Instead, he did all he could to make customers whole, issuing travel waivers so they could change their itinerary at no charge and providing impacted customers with SkyMiles and travel vouchers. He also inspired his team to work tirelessly around the clock to restore service. With many Social Capital leaders seeking inspiration to navigate the challenges in front of them, we saw fit to share Ed’s update, which embodies the best of the Social Capital spirit, in our “In Pursuit of Excellence in Business” feature. https://lnkd.in/gw2i46gK. #delta, #ceomindset, #socialcapital, #leadership

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🛡 Building a Bridge of Trust: Greenshield - Designed for Businesses & Consumers🛡 The cannabis industry is rapidly evolving, and public trust is paramount. Greenshield by Global Cannabinoid Solutions bridges the gap, empowering both businesses and consumers. How Greenshield Serves Your Business: ✅ Public Reputation: Earn the trust of consumers by demonstrating a commitment to safety, quality, and education. ✅ Regulatory Compliance: Minimize risks and ensure adherence to industry regulations through comprehensive training. ✅ Build Stronger Communities: Foster positive relationships by demonstrating responsible practices and community engagement. How Greenshield Benefits Consumers: ✅ Peace of Mind: Gain confidence knowing you're purchasing products from a business committed to safety and ethical practices. ✅ Informed Choices: A knowledgeable workforce empowers you with accurate information to make informed choices about cannabis products. ✅Enhanced Experience: Benefit from exceptional customer service provided by an educated team who can answer your questions effectively. 📞 Speak To Our Team & Join the Movement:: https://lnkd.in/eJGKb95K Greenshield - Building trust, one informed interaction at a time. #publictrust #cannabisconsumers #greenshield #buildingbridges P.S. Download our FREE Cannabis Crash Course eBook, "The Ultimate Guide to Cannabis Literacy for Industry Professionals" for valuable insights and a sneak peek into the business of cannabis.

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https://lnkd.in/ePE4BMMQ Bookmark this! A valuable resource to check all enforcement actions in NM Cannabis. I check this twice a week for updates. #newmexicocannabis #cannabisdata The Data Heard

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What is Brand Value in Cannabis?   Most MSOs and LPs profess to being brand-driven companies.  Encouraging them on is an army of consultants (including me) and talking heads promoting the importance of brands for long term corporate success.  Yet, few define what they mean by a strong brand, or the value said brand delivers. I will. Let’s start with first principles.  According to the financial web site, Investopedia, “BV is the value premium that a company generates from a product with a recognizable name when compared to a generic [peer] equivalent.” Truth be told, there are only a handful of cannabis brands that are generating important financial yardsticks (mentioned below), and can be compared to the likes of Red Bull, Levis or Tesla. Cannabis marketers will frequently cite brand awareness, celebrity endorsements, or creative packaging as evidence of BV.  While these may help drive value, they are not by themselves an outcome. What matters in brand development is the value that the band delivers, not its ingredient parts. A harsh but necessary truth:  most cannabis marketers fly blind, dropping the ball on brand strategy and even worse wasting lots of money and effort in brand building [sic] activities.  This checkered track record begs a fair question:  why invest in brands if you can’t explain the value they generate or create compelling marketing plans that will further your business objectives?  This is not an academic issue.  Brands matters to producers, resellers, and retailers not to mention investors, equity analysts and consumers. Fundamentally, products that are not effectively branded or contain unique IP are essentially commodities residing at the bottom of the food chain.  Conversely, powerful brands are strongly correlated with industry-leading margins and market capitalizations.  It stands to reason that brand investments must be linked to financial goals (in addition to marketing ones).  I have helped investment bankers estimate the value premium of various global brands.   A strong brand consistently delivers economic value, such as…    1. High purchase loyalty or some other relevant brand equity metric (e.g., high Net Promoter Scores); 2. Sustained price premiums versus the competition; 3. The power to secure and keep distribution without listing or co-op marketing fees and; 4. An ability to spend less on marketing than your peers to achieve the same results. Conversely, you don’t automatically have a strong brand if your product has… > Been in market a long time; > Widespread distribution; > Sales results that are overly dependent on discounting. Now you know. Go out and build real BV.  How you attain that holy grail is a topic for another day.  Let me know if I can help your firm create differentiated, authentic and consumer-relevant brands that drive real financial benefit. #cannabis #cannabisindustry #brands #marketing

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The beer industry’s oldest trade organization is raising its glass to a new debate: hemp beverages and their tax implications. As hemp-based drinks grow in popularity, the Beer Institute is advocating for these products to face the same tax rates as traditional beer. Their argument? A level playing field for an evolving beverage market. (Source: https://lnkd.in/evfQTqsc) This is a critical moment for the alcohol and alternative beverage industries. Tax policy changes could have significant ripple effects on pricing, market competitiveness, and even product innovation. Businesses in these sectors will need to stay agile, balancing compliance with strategic growth. At Unbridled Advisory, we help companies navigate complex industry shifts like these—whether it’s understanding potential impacts of tax changes or developing strategies to remain competitive in evolving markets. If your company has questions about how to adapt to this changing landscape, let’s connect. #BeverageIndustry #HempBeverages #AlcoholIndustry #TaxStrategy #BusinessStrategy #Innovation #FoodAndBeverage #UnbridledAdvisory

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ENTREPRENEUR WISDOM   "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." Winston Churchill Venture With Vision 😎   Steven James “SJ” Maranville, Ph.D. is chairman of Maranville Enterprises—a tiny titan catalyzing unicorn-bound ventures that it scouts, skills, and scales. A Strategic Advisor and Board Director, SJ is the Guide by the Entrepreneur’s Side. He uses his extensive expertise in business strategy to lead visionary entrepreneurs through the chaotic complexities of starting and scaling their high-growth ventures. These ventures are distinguished by the Intelligence Advantage. By partnering with Maranville Enterprises, entrepreneurs accelerate fledgling start-ups into gazelle scale-ups and escalate those gazelles into shake-up unicorn ventures that learn, adapt, and dominate.   ✔️ Let's keep the conversation going! Share and discuss in the comments! ✔️ Let's spread the message! Share this with your network.   #Entrepreneur #Startups #StartupDevelopment #StartupVentures #BoardDevelopment

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I’ve often said anecdotally that tourists are “doing it for the gram.” Sadly, I’ve seen places like El Yunque quickly deteriorate due to their popularity on Instagram. Recent data shows that nearly 50% of respondents look to influencers for travel inspiration, with a staggering 86% choosing their travel destinations based on social media content posted by friends, family, or peers. Additionally, 40% of British adults aged 18 to 33 cite “how Instagrammable” a destination is as their primary motivator when deciding where to go on vacation. Despite this trend, many Federal Land Management agencies don’t allow individual Instagram accounts for National Forests and National Wildlife Refuges. This means that influencers, not agencies, are driving the narrative of what people see. This highlights the need for collaboration among those who manage tourist attractions and destination marketing organizations. By working together under the umbrella of destination management, they can steer the influence toward sites that can handle mass tourism or fund improvements to those that have already been impacted. #TourismManagement #SustainableTourism #SocialMediaInfluence #DestinationManagement #MassTourism #EnvironmentalConservation #TravelTrends #DigitalMarketing #ResponsibleTourism #TravelInspiration

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🚨🚨🚨 Attention #DMVecosystem community! Are you an entrepreneur, investor or community leader who actively attends (or hosts) in-person events here in the region? If so, we want to hear from you! 👉 Do you wish there were more ecosystem events that YOU found interesting, valuable, and fun? 📣 Then fill out — and share — this survey to TELL us what you *actually* want to experience from local events! We're collaborating with ecosystem partners to learn what people love, hate, want, and need from in-person events in the region. 🎉 💁‍♀️ We are looking to gather all perspectives in this study, but are especially interested in hearing from women, so please spread the word with your female friends and contacts. 📚 We will be sharing all of the ideas and feedback we learn from you with our community partners so that they can host and design events that more people CAN attend, WANT to attend, and LOVE to attend. ✅ Survey takes just 7 minutes, and we're collecting community responses for a week. 🚀 After you complete your own survey, please share the link with 3-5 local contacts you know. Socially pressure them, as needed. 😅 The more data we collect, the better the insights we can use! 💃 #GreaterWashington #WashingtonMetro #WashingtonRegion #DMV #techecosystem #DCtechecosystem #DCcommunity #communityfeedback #DCstartups

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Proud to share that I have completed the "Understanding the Brain: Using Neuroscience to Deliver Better Business Results" program from Wharton University! 🧠✨ This program provided invaluable insights into how neuroscience can drive business innovation and improve understanding of human behavior. Key learnings include brain function, decision-making, marketing, and leadership. Excited to apply these insights to foster growth and create impactful business strategies in the Creator Economy 💡 #Neuroscience #BusinessInnovation #WhartonUniversity #ProfessionalGrowth #Leadership #Marketing #DecisionMaking #Innovation

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