Mentorship has never been a side project for our team—it has always been a core pillar of how we show up in this industry. From the earliest days of our work in cannabis, we’ve believed that if this sector is going to mature responsibly, equitably, and creatively, leadership must be broader, more representative, and more willing to bring new voices into the room.
Over the years, we’ve been proud to host visits from various colleges and universities and to serve as mentors through historic and impactful programs like Eaze’s Momentum program, The Initiative, and Our Academy. These programs aren’t just résumé builders—they are onramps. They create access to knowledge, networks, and confidence for people who may not otherwise see a clear path into cannabis entrepreneurship and leadership. And that access matters.
We’ve long held the belief that cannabis leadership cannot remain concentrated among a narrow demographic if we expect the industry to thrive. Representation at the leadership level doesn’t just change boardrooms—it changes policy conversations, hiring practices, product development, consumer education, and ultimately public perception. Mentorship is one of the most effective tools we have to expand that representation at scale.
This work also extends well beyond career development. Education—real, nuanced, industry-informed education—is a critical component of cannabis normalization and destigmatization. When we equip a broader swath of the public with accurate information about cannabis, we don’t just build better professionals; we build better advocates, voters, parents, and policymakers. And that education is especially critical for younger generations who are inheriting both the benefits and the consequences of the systems we build today.
The reality is that more than 70% of the U.S. population now lives in legal, regulated cannabis markets where products are tested, labeled, and safe for consumption. The cultural shift has already happened. Consumers are here. Patients are here. Workers are here. What lags behind is institutional mindset. If the perspectives of our leaders—across government, education, and capital markets—can evolve to reflect this reality, access will follow. Barriers will soften. Innovation will accelerate.
Frankly, many of those “leaders” who continue to dominate government and financial leadership need to step aside—or at least learn to listen. The next generation understands this issue through lived experience, data, and cultural fluency. They aren’t burdened by decades of stigma-driven thinking, and they see clearly what cannabis can be when treated as the legitimate agricultural, wellness, and consumer industry that it is.
That’s why our COO Joyce Cenali is incredibly proud to be a featured subject matter expert in the new Green Flower Cannabis Career Certificate programs, now offered online through more than 48 universities and colleges across the country. This is exactly the kind of institutional shift we’ve been working toward—one that bridges real-world industry expertise with formal education.
These certification tracks are powered by some of the most respected voices in cannabis, spanning every major sector of the industry. They allow students to expand their education beyond the limits of traditional curricula and gain insight directly from professionals who are actively shaping the market. The programs are designed not as theoretical overviews, but as practical, career-aligned pathways that deliver the knowledge, skills, and credentials employers actually value when hiring.
Joyce is specifically contributing to the Cannabis Cultivation Specialist Certificate Program, but Green Flower also offers certificates in compliance, product development, medical cannabis, retail, and sales—reflecting the true breadth and sophistication of this industry. Whether you’re drawn to plant science, policy, product innovation, or customer experience, there is a pathway designed to meet you where you are and help you grow.
If you’ve ever been curious about working in cannabis—or if you’re already in the industry and looking to expand, specialize, or level up—these 100% online programs are an accessible, credible, and forward-thinking way to do exactly that.
This is mentorship at scale. It’s an opportunity to share lived experience, hard-earned lessons, and industry context with thousands of learners who will become the next generation of operators, advocates, and leaders. And that, ultimately, is how real change happens.
