Building a Cannabis Business: Insights from Point7 Group's Ashley Picillo

In this episode of the Bodacious Women in Cannabis podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ashley Picillo, the Founder and CEO of Point7 Group and author of "Breaking the Grass Ceiling: Women, Weed, and Business." Ashley shared her fascinating journey into the cannabis industry, which began somewhat accidentally in 2014 when she was working on a non-cannabis project in Colorado. Her path led her to meet influential figures in the industry, and she eventually founded Point7 Group, a management consulting firm dedicated to cannabis.

Ashley discussed the challenges and opportunities she faced while building her business, emphasizing the importance of compliance in the cannabis industry. She highlighted how Point7 Group helps clients achieve licensure and maintain compliance, ensuring they have the knowledge to operate autonomously. Ashley also touched on her second business, Grove Cannabis, which provides fractional compliance services to small and mid-sized operators.

We delved into her book, "Breaking the Grass Ceiling," which explores the role of women in the cannabis industry. Ashley reflected on the progress and setbacks women have faced in this space, noting that while there are opportunities, the industry still mirrors many of the challenges seen in other sectors.

Throughout our conversation, Ashley's commitment to honesty, ethical business practices, and supporting women in the industry shone through. Her insights and experiences offer valuable lessons for anyone looking to navigate the ever-evolving world of cannabis.

Listeners can connect with Ashley and learn more about her work through the Point7 Group website and her social media channels. It was an inspiring and enlightening discussion, and I hope you find it as engaging as I did.

00:00:16 - Introduction to Bodacious Women in Cannabis Podcast
00:00:32 - Meet Your Host: Susan Burns
00:01:07 - Guest Introduction: Ashley Pacillo
00:01:43 - Early Collaboration and Insights
00:02:23 - Ashley's Journey into the Cannabis Industry
00:06:00 - Founding Point7 Group
00:09:26 - Core Focus of Point7 Group
00:11:08 - Importance of Compliance in Cannabis
00:13:58 - Challenges with Changing Regulations
00:15:14 - Educating Regulators and Social Equity Programs
00:22:19 - Inefficiencies in State Compliance
00:22:30 - Ashley's Book: Breaking the Grass Ceiling
00:28:00 - Women in Cannabis Industry: Challenges and Opportunities
00:30:01 - Overcoming Challenges and Building a Business
00:34:22 - Coping Skills and Support Systems
00:37:07 - Realities of the Cannabis Industry
00:38:22 - What Makes Ashley Bodacious
00:41:19 - Core Values and Leadership
00:44:50 - How to Connect with Ashley Pacillo

Produced by PodConx

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Sound Design by Jamie Humiston

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