Best Buds in the Business

For many, running a cannabis company is a dream job. In which other profession does one get to be an entrepreneur and an advocate, a philanthropist and an industry pioneer? When overcoming obstacles and setting new precedents, strategic partnerships between two or more individuals often ensure continued success. There are plenty of cannabis companies that are run by couples, best friends, families and close-knit pairs or groups of like-minded individuals. Outstanding professionals shared with CULTURE how they work together to run a prosperous company and thrive in a competitive market.

Whoopi & Maya

This California-based company is run by none other than beloved actress Whoopi Goldberg and her extremely successful business partner Maya Elisabeth, a woman known for leading the thriving company Om Edibles. Whoopi and Maya offer cannabis products for menstrual relief, providing an outlet for women who need help in an area that is sometimes embarrassing to talk about. Elisabeth told CULTURE some secrets to how the two women work together poetically. “Whoopi is amazing; she is truly inspirational and I look up to her so much,” Elisabeth explained. “I think our partnership is really positive. One of the things we have in common is our business, and also our connection being women.” Not only do both women have a positive attitude, but Elisabeth explained that their business ultimately started after they met and hit it off right away. “Being a pair is actually really beautiful because we get along,” Elisabeth said.

“We joke that it gives us a competitive advantage; anyone who isn’t married to their business partner can’t possibly spend as much time at work and keep a spouse.”

Kushmoji

Colorado entrepreneurs Ben Tyson and Olivia Mannix saw a serious gap in Colorado’s industry that needed to be filled. Marketing and advertising are extremely competitive and move at a fast pace, but because there are so many companies out there, brand recognition and solid associations with companies are hard to come by. That is why buddies Tyson and Mannix decided to work branding into something extremely easy to share—emojis. While similar personalities are one reason some business partners find success, others like Tyson and Mannix find strengths in their differences.

“Our relationship is fantastic, but intensely complicated, as our personalities and communication styles could not be more different,” Tyson explained to CULTURE. “I regard that in a positive light, though, because our various approaches to problem solving within the business allow us to see things from a variety of angles.” Although they do have many differences and see their relationships as a type of yin and yang balance, over time the two have realized that they may not be as opposite as they once believed. “Ironically, the more we work together, and the more we problem solve together, the more we realize how alike we actually are,” Tyson said.

Oregrown Industries

As the name suggests, Oregrown focuses on growing organic, quality cannabis in the state of Oregon. Run by four close friends, the company relies on do-it-yourself, homegrown ethos to power a successful business. The friends have known each other for 20 years, giving them an unbreakable bond that is deeper than business, but gives Oregrown Industries a solid foundation.

“In a nutshell, because we’re so close we’ve been able to get through monumental obstacles,” explained Aviv Hadar, co-founder of Oregrown. “We stay unified and that gives us a huge competitive advantage. We trust each other without question.” Hadar continued to explain that the four friends have no problem making decisions. The four are able to run the company easily without issues arise between them due to their long withstanding friendship

“Our relationship is fantastic, but intensely complicated, as our personalities and communication styles could not be more different. I regard that in a positive light, though, because our various approaches to problem solving within the business allow us to see things from a variety of angles.”

Love’s Oven

The idea of cannabis and family values going hand-in-hand may sound peculiar to some, but it’s prevalence in the cannabis industry cannot be denied. Not only has the plant repaired the lives of many families with sick children, those who recognize its healing properties realize just how beneficial it can be while also bringing loved ones together. At Love’s Oven, Peggy Moore, one of the company’s founding business partners, realizes the importance of community and family. She runs the business along with Teresa Walz, her younger sister, and Joshua and Walter Nettles, her two sons.

Moore opened up to CULTURE about how the family members are able to keep business problems separate from their family lives. “We’ve certainly had our fair share of business disagreements over the years but we really set a guideline that we will never allow any business ‘stuff’ to affect our familial relationship,” Moore explained. “A positive that we’ve noticed is the ‘trickle down’ effect of a family-run business, where all employees at Love’s Oven feel like family and really treat each other that way, which makes for a great work environment.”

Kiva Confections

Close partnerships are extremely helpful for successful businesses in new and experimental industries, so it makes sense that a married couple who is already committed wholly to one another would make for a great team. Kristi Knoblich married her husband Scott after meeting him in photography school. The two founded Kiva Confections in 2010 from their kitchen at home, with the hopes of making some high-quality edibles for those who need relief. Kristi explained to CULTURE how running a company alongside one’s spouse could be the upmost advantage for business and marriage.

“Working together has allowed us to spend a lot of time at the office,” Kristi explained. “We joke that it gives us a competitive advantage; anyone who isn’t married to their business partner can’t possibly spend as much time at work and keep a spouse. But seriously, we can accomplish a lot when we are both fully committed to the same goal, which is seeing Kiva succeed.” Together, Kristi and Scott are able to put running a successful business at the top of their priority list, while not allowing their marriage to become neglected as a result.