AACE INTERVIEW: Jenn Wong / VP of Marketing for Select/Curaleaf
Jenn Wong of Curaleaf
I am proud of Asian Americans that look beyond the stereotypes and propaganda that we have been inundated over a century about cannabis and I am even prouder when I see API women enter the industry. They are a special breed, to one manage the workplace as a woman of color and two to navigate an industry that has that “grass ceiling”. As Jenn is VP of Marketing for Curaleaf's Select brand, she has to market a product that is new to consumers, education is the highest priority to dispel any misconceptions and to provide correct information on the benefits.
Today I have the honor to introduce you to Jenn Wong of Curaleaf.
How have your views on cannabis changed?
I got my medical card and began using cannabis in 2014, but even as a medical patient, I still didn’t understand the true medicinal powers of the plant until I started meeting other people in the industry in 2019. There is not a ton of mainstream media coverage around the medicinal benefits of cannabis, so even though I knew people were using it to manage all sorts of symptoms, I really didn’t know much beyond what I had seen in TV and in films.
What was the impetus of that change?
I work with and meet a lot of people who use cannabis not just recreationally, but because consumption is crucial to maintaining their quality of life, whether it be for very serious medical conditions or for casual use. Seeing how useful cannabis can be for certain people creates a larger sense of responsibility in our mission to normalize usage. It makes me feel good knowing our products actively make people's lives better.
How does your family feel about your cannabis businesses?
Most of my family lives outside of the U.S., in Canada and overseas. Most Canadians have a much more evolved point of view when it comes to cannabis. It’s still not perfect over there, but cannabis usage is certainly becoming more normalized. There is still a stigma around cannabis in the Asian American community and in a lot of other communities of color but overall, my family is pretty supportive of what I do. The fact that Curaleaf is traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange certainly helps!
Where do you see the cannabis industry in five years?
Cannabis is a space race and we’re all building this ship as we fly it. Regulatory decisions are going to dramatically shape what the next five years look like. As those changes happen, we have a really unique opportunity to help shape this industry for the better, not just in the products we make, but in the way that we hire and grow the people who work with us. Representation is incredibly important, and people of color are wildly under-represented in the legal cannabis industry. Those of us making hiring decisions have a responsibility to bring on a diverse team with a wide range of perspectives and experiences.
Find online:
Linkedin: Jenn Wong (with the most magical URL name of “Wongton”)