Free Education Series Preps CEO’s of Color for Cannabis

Black CannaBusiness magazine and Parallel’s Goodblend are continuing their successful collaboration on a national education series aimed at CEOs of color in the cannabis industry. The Black Cannabusiness CEO Intensive Program is a free, executive training program for cannabis business owners, featuring both virtual and in-person workshops and training. The launch of the 2023 series will be in Pittsburgh, PA will take place the first week of February.

Black CannaBusiness is a Black woman-owned multi-media company helping Black professionals accelerate their involvement in the cannabis industry through curated B2B content, events and media. The first Black CEO to lead a major public cannabis organization in the U.S. came only in 2021, with the appointment of Troy Datcher as the CEO of Jay-Z’s cannabis company, The Parent Company.

The educational initiative partnering Black CannaBusiness and vertically-integrated, multi-state cannabis company Parallel began in Boston in 2022 and has worked with aspiring cannapros in Tampa, Denver, and Chicago.  Goodblend, headquartered in Austin, TX is one of only three medical cannabis operators licensed to operate in Texas and has been on a mission to educate the public about cannabis.

Minority cannabis business owners will participate in n-person session with cannabis founders and professionals, completing structured exercises and receiving expert mentorship from leading subject matter experts and practitioners in the industry. Fortune magazine reports that Black cannabis entrepreneurs account for less than 2% of the nation’s marijuana businesses.

Sessions:

• The BCB Mastermind CEO Intensive with Parallel, February 1st & 2nd Bidwell Training Center Metropolitan St, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. In addition to the two-day intensive, BCB Mastermind and Goodblend will also host a networking reception and power panel discussion at St. Clair Social, a local Pittsburgh establishment. The reception is open to individuals with a general curiosity about the industry. Tickets can be reserved here.

• CEO Intensive Networking Mixer, February 2nd, 5:30-8:30 PM St. Clair Social S. St. Clair Street Pittsburgh, PA 15206  The event will take place on February 1st & 2nd at Bidwell Training Center. Participants join the cohort by submitting an application about their business, movement, and mission. Applications are open now and all Pennsylvania minority business owners in the cannabis space and those interested are encouraged to apply.

Program co-founder and instructor Todd Hughes, who was born and raised in Pittsburgh, says it is only a matter of time until new licensing and ancillary business opportunities open in Pennsylvania.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time to plant a tree is now,” said Hughes. “Now is the time to prepare a cohort of local minority entrepreneurs for success by facilitating an interactive learning experience and providing them with the coaching, tools, and resources necessary to win.”